Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW - The Firearms Forum

SaddleSarge · 05-12-2009, 10:34 AM

From the NRA/ILA:

***ALERT for All Florida CCW License Holders***

Legislators Raid CCW Trust Fund - Try to Intimidate Governor

DATE: May 11, 2009
TO: USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President

In a last minute sneak attack on gun owners, the Florida Legislature raided the concealed weapons and firearms licensing trust fund. This not only effects resident CCW license holders, but non-resident Florida license holders as well!

They took $6 million from the Division of Licensing Concealed Weapons and Firearm Trust Fund that is intended, by law, to be used solely for administering the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program. (Read background information below)

Please Call, Fax, or Email Governor Charlie Crist IMMEDIATELY, and ask him to veto the $6 Million trust fund sweep from the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Licensing authorized under Section 59 of the Conference Report of SB-2600.

Please send your email today!!!!!

And/or please contact the Governor's office by phone or fax ASAP.

Phone number: (850) 488-4441 or (850) 488-7146
Fax number: (850) 487-0801

Send your email to the Governor at this address: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

BACKGROUND:

Right now, the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program is backlogged and overloaded, due in part, to the refusal of budget officials and the Legislature to allow the Division of Licensing to use its own trust fund money to hire more employees and expand/upgrade equipment.

Crates of unopened mail containing license and license renewal applications sit in storage. The backlog of mail sitting unopened, at times, has extended beyond 90 days while existing licenses are expiring because renewal applications haven't been opened and processed.

Currently (although the Division of Licensing has been working weekend shifts to clear the backlog), it is taking 13-14 weeks to process a "perfect" application once it has been opened. That is an unequivocal violation of the law that requires issuance or denial of a license by a specific time –– a violation of law that legislative leaders are condoning by their actions.

THE LAW REQUIRES THE DIVISION OF LICENSING TO ISSUE A LICENSE WITHIN 90 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION -- or deny the license "for cause", based upon the criteria set forth in the law. Theft of operating funds by the Legislature is not "just cause" for failure to issue licenses or renewals within 90 days.

While applications sit gathering dust, legislative leaders took $6 million of approximately $8 million held in the trust fund. That $6 million is supposed to be used to pay employees, buy upgraded equipment, upgrade or replace computers or software and to otherwise administer the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program.

BUT, feigning a desperate need for funds for education and health care, legislative leaders recklessly and ruthlessly confiscated trust fund money. Why? Because they were building a so-called "working capital" fund for the 2010-12 legislative term, reported now to be in the neighborhood of $1.8 BILLION DOLLARS. This so-called "working capital fund" is for the use of future legislative leaders.

They didn't take that money for education. They didn't take that money for health care. They didn't take that money to save jobs. They didn't take that money to avoid pay cuts, or budget cuts -- they took the money to help build their own fund.

While Senate leadership reportedly fought to stop the ruthless raids on trust funds, in the end, they simply caved and let the House of Representatives prevail.

The bad behavior doesn't end there.

Obviously fearing the Governor would use his line-item veto to stop trust fund raids, proviso language was inserted in the bill in a clear attempt to intimidate the Governor.

The proviso language, states that if any portion of the moneys swept from this and other trust funds does not become law (meaning it is vetoed), that portion of the money shall be deducted from the EDUCATION BUDGET. This is clearly designed to keep the Governor from vetoing trust fund sweeps, and prevent trust fund money from being taken back out the House leadership's so-called "working capital" fund.

Money in the concealed weapons trust fund came from gun owners. No money to administer and run the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program has ever come from general revenue, or any other state fund or revenue source. The taking of these gun owner user fees is an unauthorized tax on the exercise of the Second Amendment.

AGAIN, Please call, fax and email Governor Crist IMMEDIATELY, and ask him to veto the $6 Million raid on the Concealed Weapons & Firearms Trust Fund!

Send your email to the Governor at this address: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

Please send your email today!!!!!

You may also call the Executive Office of the Governor at: (850) 488-7146.

Taz · 05-13-2009, 03:56 PM

Aggravating ain't it! E-mailed to complain. Hope enough do as well to change this behavior.

alhefner · 05-14-2009, 10:29 AM

Holding the education budget hostage...how much more underhanded can legislators get?

mrkirker · 05-14-2009, 01:07 PM

Has anyone else ever noticed, that anytime additional taxes are needed, it's always "for Education". Doesn't matter what kind of tax or bond, it's always "for Education", yet the schools are falling apart, teachers are always given minimum salary increases, and there's never enough in the budget to fund capital improvements for educational facilities.

bcj1755 · 05-14-2009, 01:42 PM

And by "education" the liberals always mean "gov't funded mantatory liberal brainwashing of your children with a secondary emphisis placed on actual teaching."

22WRF · 05-14-2009, 03:22 PM

In fiscal year 2007-2008, the Florida Lottery transferred $1.28 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

And........ Florida schools are still some of the worst in country.

http://www.flalottery.com/inet/educa...ToEducation.do

goldenwings · 05-14-2009, 03:33 PM

emailed the man and hope he is a rightous man and not just another snake in the friggin grass.

22WRF · 05-14-2009, 03:41 PM

goldwings your second choice is probably more correct. I send an email also for all the good it will do.
When he was running for gov he came to the gun show shaking hands a patting backs say what a great supporter of the 2nd he was...we shall see
BTW way I voted him.

bcj1755 · 05-14-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22WRF

In fiscal year 2007-2008, the Florida Lottery transferred $1.28 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

And........ Florida schools are still some of the worst in country.

http://www.flalottery.com/inet/educa...ToEducation.do

I gradated from the Florida school system in 97. Granted, it wasn't the best, but I do feel that I'm better educated than the people be graduated from the NC school system. At least back then they did still teach US History, US Government, and Economics. I don't know about now. *shrugs*

kerk · 05-14-2009, 05:45 PM

It 'might' help to contact Crist, but after the way he's schmoozed the Obama administration, and gladly accepted funds borrowed (or possibly stolen) from us and our decedents, from the federal government, I sincerely doubt it.

I voted for him also, but I will vote against him in the primary.

I've had my fill of RINO's.

05-12-2009, 10:34 AM	#1
SaddleSarge Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,025	Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW From the NRA/ILA: *ALERT for All Florida CCW License Holders* Legislators Raid CCW Trust Fund - Try to Intimidate Governor DATE: May 11, 2009 TO: USF & NRA Member and Friends FROM: Marion P. Hammer USF Executive Director NRA Past President In a last minute sneak attack on gun owners, the Florida Legislature raided the concealed weapons and firearms licensing trust fund. This not only effects resident CCW license holders, but non-resident Florida license holders as well! They took $6 million from the Division of Licensing Concealed Weapons and Firearm Trust Fund that is intended, by law, to be used solely for administering the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program. (Read background information below) Please Call, Fax, or Email Governor Charlie Crist IMMEDIATELY, and ask him to veto the $6 Million trust fund sweep from the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Licensing authorized under Section 59 of the Conference Report of SB-2600. Please send your email today!!!!! And/or please contact the Governor's office by phone or fax ASAP. Phone number: (850) 488-4441 or (850) 488-7146 Fax number: (850) 487-0801 Send your email to the Governor at this address: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com BACKGROUND: Right now, the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program is backlogged and overloaded, due in part, to the refusal of budget officials and the Legislature to allow the Division of Licensing to use its own trust fund money to hire more employees and expand/upgrade equipment. Crates of unopened mail containing license and license renewal applications sit in storage. The backlog of mail sitting unopened, at times, has extended beyond 90 days while existing licenses are expiring because renewal applications haven't been opened and processed. Currently (although the Division of Licensing has been working weekend shifts to clear the backlog), it is taking 13-14 weeks to process a "perfect" application once it has been opened. That is an unequivocal violation of the law that requires issuance or denial of a license by a specific time –– a violation of law that legislative leaders are condoning by their actions. THE LAW REQUIRES THE DIVISION OF LICENSING TO ISSUE A LICENSE WITHIN 90 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION -- or deny the license "for cause", based upon the criteria set forth in the law. Theft of operating funds by the Legislature is not "just cause" for failure to issue licenses or renewals within 90 days. While applications sit gathering dust, legislative leaders took $6 million of approximately $8 million held in the trust fund. That $6 million is supposed to be used to pay employees, buy upgraded equipment, upgrade or replace computers or software and to otherwise administer the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program. BUT, feigning a desperate need for funds for education and health care, legislative leaders recklessly and ruthlessly confiscated trust fund money. Why? Because they were building a so-called "working capital" fund for the 2010-12 legislative term, reported now to be in the neighborhood of $1.8 BILLION DOLLARS. This so-called "working capital fund" is for the use of future legislative leaders. They didn't take that money for education. They didn't take that money for health care. They didn't take that money to save jobs. They didn't take that money to avoid pay cuts, or budget cuts -- they took the money to help build their own fund. While Senate leadership reportedly fought to stop the ruthless raids on trust funds, in the end, they simply caved and let the House of Representatives prevail. The bad behavior doesn't end there. Obviously fearing the Governor would use his line-item veto to stop trust fund raids, proviso language was inserted in the bill in a clear attempt to intimidate the Governor. The proviso language, states that if any portion of the moneys swept from this and other trust funds does not become law (meaning it is vetoed), that portion of the money shall be deducted from the EDUCATION BUDGET. This is clearly designed to keep the Governor from vetoing trust fund sweeps, and prevent trust fund money from being taken back out the House leadership's so-called "working capital" fund. Money in the concealed weapons trust fund came from gun owners. No money to administer and run the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program has ever come from general revenue, or any other state fund or revenue source. The taking of these gun owner user fees is an unauthorized tax on the exercise of the Second Amendment. AGAIN, Please call, fax and email Governor Crist IMMEDIATELY, and ask him to veto the $6 Million raid on the Concealed Weapons & Firearms Trust Fund! Send your email to the Governor at this address: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com Please send your email today!!!!! You may also call the Executive Office of the Governor at: (850) 488-7146. -->

05-13-2009, 03:56 PM	#2
Taz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pensacola, Florida Posts: 6	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW Aggravating ain't it! E-mailed to complain. Hope enough do as well to change this behavior. __________________ "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

05-14-2009, 10:29 AM	#3
alhefner V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 205	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW Holding the education budget hostage...how much more underhanded can legislators get? __________________ I hunt with a camera! - my outdoor blog Fighting "Gun Crime" by focusing on the criminal

05-14-2009, 01:07 PM	#4
mrkirker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,067	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW Has anyone else ever noticed, that anytime additional taxes are needed, it's always "for Education". Doesn't matter what kind of tax or bond, it's always "for Education", yet the schools are falling apart, teachers are always given minimum salary increases, and there's never enough in the budget to fund capital improvements for educational facilities. __________________ *I don't know if dogs have a heaven, but there will be dogs in mine.*

05-14-2009, 01:42 PM	#5
bcj1755 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: A wretched hive of scum and villiany Posts: 4,357	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW And by "education" the liberals always mean "gov't funded mantatory liberal brainwashing of your children with a secondary emphisis placed on actual teaching." __________________ History is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - Cicero If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. - Samuel Adams

05-14-2009, 03:22 PM	#6
22WRF Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pea Ridge, FL Contributor Posts: 4,254	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW In fiscal year 2007-2008, the Florida Lottery transferred $1.28 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. And........ Florida schools are still some of the worst in country. http://www.flalottery.com/inet/educa...ToEducation.do __________________ NRA GOA CCRKBA Happiness is a warm barrel

05-14-2009, 03:33 PM	#7
goldenwings Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 27	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW emailed the man and hope he is a rightous man and not just another snake in the friggin grass.

05-14-2009, 03:41 PM	#8
22WRF Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pea Ridge, FL Contributor Posts: 4,254	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW goldwings your second choice is probably more correct. I send an email also for all the good it will do. When he was running for gov he came to the gun show shaking hands a patting backs say what a great supporter of the 2nd he was...we shall see BTW way I voted him. __________________ NRA GOA CCRKBA Happiness is a warm barrel

05-14-2009, 05:45 PM	#10
kerk V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 118	Re: Attn: Florida Gun Owners: CCW It 'might' help to contact Crist, but after the way he's schmoozed the Obama administration, and gladly accepted funds borrowed (or possibly stolen) from us and our decedents, from the federal government, I sincerely doubt it. I voted for him also, but I will vote against him in the primary. I've had my fill of RINO's.