Thursday, April 18, 2013
The U.S. Senate voted down a measure that would require tougher background checks for those who purchase guns. We’d like to get your take on the issue!
President Barack Obama called the U.S. Senate’s April 17 vote denying stricter background checks for gun purchases “shameful.” The proposed law was shot down 54 to 46 with some Democrats joining Republicans in rejecting the measure, which was hoped to curb gun violence like that witnessed in the Newtown, Conn., massacre last year, according to the Huffington Post. The number of votes was less than the 60 needed to break a filibuster. If approved, the measure would have extended the country’s background check system to include gun shows and Internet purchases of weapons. The failure of the measure likely signals defeat for any other major legislation meant to clamp down on gun violence, the Post says. Other measures that “appear headed for …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Pinellas County Commissioners added a discussion about gun background checks to their legislative agenda.
Pinellas County Commissioners have added a discussion of gun background checks to their legislative agenda. Commissioner Janet Long said as elected officials, it is their responsibility to look at gun violence and gun policies in the interest of public safety. She said there are many holes in the existing background check system, including lags in time between when a person is officially listed as a felon and not. “Are you comfortable knowing the background check is not really a background check in terms of identifying people who are potential problems?” Long asked the commission Tuesday. “Are you aware that this is a real glitch in our state law and are your comfortable with it?” She said a person can be arrested for a violent crime on …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Local city and community leaders from across Florida asked their local legislative officials Monday to stand up and support President Obama's gun violence prevention policies.
City leaders and community activists rallied around the state Monday to advocate for stronger background checks in hopes local legislative leaders would support President Barack Obama's new gun control initiatives. At the St. Petersburg City Hall on Monday, leaders called on U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Indian Shores) to support Obama's gun violence prevention proposals. St. Pete resident Lisa Brown began her speech Monday by reading the names of gun violence victims in St. Pete and Pinellas County. "Officer Crawford." "Paris Whitehead." "Officer Yaslowitz." "Destynee Burkes." She concluded by saying one last name, her son, "Cabretti Wheeler". "All victims of gun violence," Brown said Monday. "Victims that were murdered senselessly. …
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
"Children are impressionable and they spend endless hours killing, beheading, and murdering with just a push of their thumbs. If you want to bans something, start with the video market."
Editor's Note: This letter to the editor was received from Dunedin resident Bill Coleman in response to recent public support for more gun control after the Dec. 14 slayings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Dear Editor, Seems some male youth of today has no concern for life. The million dollar question is “Why?” No one seems to have an answer or explanation. How does it happen, where do it all start? Is banning guns the answer, I don't think so. Think about this. Have you ever seen the video games our children are playing? Killing, war, mayhem and the bombs that blow up everything and everyone. Children are impressionable and they spend endless hours killing, beheading, and murdering with just a push of their thumbs. If you …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
As America continues to reel in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., slayings we asked Dunedin residents to weigh in about proposed gun control legislation.
As people across the country talk about tightening gun control legislation in the aftermath of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Dunedin residents have their own opinions on the topic. When Patch asked people across Tampa Bay what they thought about banning assault weapons, here’s what New Port Richey Patch readers and Facebook fans had to say: I have at least four handguns and have not killed anyone with them. I served in Korea and Viet Nam and probably killed several people, ( hope so) but never thought about turning guns on my own people, especially children............... A very sad day for all. - Bob Jackson, Dunedin Patch reader Our Forefathers lived in a different time and repeatedly told us to update …
In light of the Newtown, Conn., shootings major retailers across the county are pulling certain assault weapons from their shelves. The National Rifle Association has even issued a statement that it’s ready to make “meaningful contributions.”
As the cry for tighter gun control laws sounds louder throughout America and right here in Tampa Bay, major retailers are reacting. Walmart has announced plans to stop selling the Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine M4A3 Rifle through its online store. That particular assault rifle is in the same family of guns as the one Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old shooter in the Newtown massacre, reportedly used in the massacre, the Huffington Post reports. Dick’s Sporting Goods, which has a number of Tampa Bay area locations, has also announced a shift in its stocking preferences. That store has suspended the sale of some semi-automatic weapons from all stores in the chain. In a statement, the store said it ordered the move out of respect for the victims …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Florida is poised to become the first state to have issued 1 million concealed gun permits. Why?
As Florida is poised to become the first state to have issued 1 million concealed firearm permits, Patch wants to know: Why are there so many guns here, and is there such a thing as too many guns? Florida had issued more than 993,000 active permits as of Nov. 30, Bloomberg.com reports. Adam Putman, Florida’s commissioner of agriculture and consumer affairs, said at a news conference Wednesday that the state will pass the 1 million mark next week. “Floridians have a great respect and appreciation for their Second Amendment rights,” Putnam said. The news comes just days after a shooting spree at an Oregon mall left two people dead, as well as a murder-suicide by an NFL player, which prompted some high profile calls from the media for gun …
Dan Pressler
12:04 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013
the question is - would any of these laws prevent the people who already get guns illegally anyway from getting them now ? If not what is the point of the law - more gov't? more ›