Bill on Gov. Rick Scott's desk divides gun rights activists
TALLAHASSEE — The former president of the National Rifle Association and Florida's most powerful gun rights lobbyist is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a bill restricting gun purchases.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Marion Hammer, the NRA's longtime Florida lobbyist and founder of the United Sportsmen of Florida, emailed about 200,000 gun rights supporters this week asking them to show support for HB 1355, which would prevent some mentally ill people from buying guns.
Though it passed the Legislature with just one "no" vote, the bill has sharply divided gun rights activists. Scott, who has until July 2 to sign or veto the measure, has already received more than 17,000 emails and nearly 3,000 phone calls in opposition.
The source of much of the opposition, Hammer says, is out-of-state gun rights groups who are presenting "patently false" information.
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The opposition is a "gimmick" and a fundraising stunt on the part of a Colorado group called the National Association for Gun Rights, Hammer said. The group did not respond to requests seeking comment.
"These are not organizations that are here on the ground, working the issue," said Hammer, who worked with the bill's sponsors during the legislative session. "They are full of disinformation designed to inflame and upset people and help them raise money."
Read More: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/bill-awaiting-gov-rick-scotts-signature-has-gun-rights-activists-sharply/2127972
= new reply since forum marked as read
scortt is, was, and always will be a crook.
in Florida including "shall issue" concealed carry, stand your ground self defense and take your gun to work.
If she favors the governor signing a law that would restrict the purchase of firearms by certain people there has to be a legitimate reason for her support. There is:
"Gun owners are being deceived by reckless people who are sending out email blasts attacking the bill as being anti-Second Amendment," Hammer wrote.
The premise of the bill is relatively simple. It would extend a ban on purchasing firearms to people who voluntarily seek mental health treatment after being examined under Florida's Baker Act statutes. The Baker Act applies to people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Under current law, people involuntarily committed for treatment are prohibited from purchasing a firearm, but those who volunteer are not.
Volunteering for treatment is more common. Miami-Dade County Judge Steve Leifman told the Times/Herald that only 1 percent of the 115,000 people processed under the Baker Act last year were involuntarily committed. The other 99 percent voluntarily submitted to treatment, which means they could purchase guns upon their release.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/bill-awaiting-gov-rick-scotts-signature-has-gun-rights-activists-sharply/2127972
Obviously those people who have deemed as being a danger to themselves or others under the Baker Act should not be able to walk into a gun store and purchase a firearm when released.
Florida Mental Health Act
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 (commonly known as the "Baker Act"Florida Statute 394.451 (2009 rev.) allowing for involuntary examination of an individual.
The Baker Act allows for involuntary examination (what some call emergency or involuntary commitment). It can be initiated by judges, law enforcement officials, physicians, or mental health professionals. There must be evidence that the person:
has a mental illness (as defined in the Baker Act).
is a harm to self, harm to others, or self neglectful (as defined in the Baker Act)....emphasis added
Examinations may last up to 72 hours after a person is deemed medically stable and occur in over 100 Florida Department of Children and Families-designated receiving facilities statewide.
There are many possible outcomes following examination of the patient. This includes the release of the individual to the community (or other community placement), a petition for involuntary inpatient placement (what some call civil commitment), involuntary outpatient placement (what some call outpatient commitment or assisted treatment orders), or voluntary treatment (if the person is competent to consent to voluntary treatment and consents to voluntary treatment). The involuntary outpatient placement language in the Baker Act took effect in 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Mental_Health_Act
