Florida Ban on Military-Style Firearms and Disqualifications for Firearm Possession Initiative

[gobber]

The anti-gunners never give up! They have 2019 to gather 766,200 valid signatures.

The Florida Ban on Military-Style Firearms and Disqualifications for Firearm Possession Initiative (Initiative #18-03) may appear on the ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020.[1]

Details: https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Ban_on_ ... ive_(2020)

The requirements to get an initiative certified for the 2020 ballot:
Signatures: 766,200 valid signatures are required.
Deadline: The deadline for signature verification is February 1, 2020. As election officials have 30 days to check signatures, petitions should be submitted at least one month before the verification deadline.

[Odessaman]

Clearly, the people backing this are the most hardcore of anti-gun zealots, and will likely fail due to their over-reaching. Remember, the Supreme Court must approve the language of the proposed amendment before it gets on the ballot (that would be the same Supreme Court that just gained three appointees chosen by Governor DeSantis.)

This one over-reaches by completely doing away with the current Right to Bear Arms provision of Article I, Section 8, and basically saying that the State has a right to protect itself superior to the rights of its citizens. It draws a clear line between "them" and "us."

It classifies ALL firearms - including handguns - that hold more than 7 rounds of ammunition (and, significantly, not limited to semi-automatics) as "Military Style Weapons." This would include a Ruger Mk I .22 pistol, and a Smith & Wesson 627 revolver with an 8 round cylinder, and a Marlin 1894 lever action that holds 9 rounds of .357 in its tubular magazine.

There is a one-year "amnesty" period, during which such so-called "Military Style Weapons" must be surrendered for destruction, without just compensation to the owner, and no licensing or registration provision to allow them to be retained by otherwise law-abiding citizens.

Under the supposed purpose of "protecting the population of the state," it strips ALL firearms rights from anyone convicted of "three or more misdemeanors" or anyone "who has had their drivers license suspended or revoked for DUI, careless or reckless driving, or excessive speeding," or anyone who "has been the subject of two or more domestic abuse emergency calls or investigations." (Note, it doesn't require you be convicted of domestic violence - just that somebody called 911 on you twice.)

Obviously, the far left is tired of waiting on "incremental gun control measures." No more boiling the frog - they want it microwaved.

Be wary, be warned, be ready.

(a)
The people of Florida declare that a well-regulated militia is necessary for the security of the State and further designate the National Guard of the State of Florida and organized police forces as its militia. The Militia, while on active duty, while training or in their training facilities shall possess all types of weaponry and arms required to defend the State. The weapons shall include, but not limited to fully automatic weapons, assault weapons, large magazine weapons holding more than seven rounds of ammunition and magazines with capacity over seven rounds. No other person entering or residing in the State shall possess any weapon or firearm that functions like or has the capacity of a military style weapon. Military style weapon means any gun with a magazine capacity of more than seven rounds of ammunition or any weapon capable of firing in fully automatic mode, any weapon capable of being modified in any manner to fire in a fully automatic mode or any weapon classified as a sniper rifle. Any person other than the well-regulated militia who possesses such a gun or weapon, shall within one year of the enactment of this section surrender that gun or weapon to the local police or militia at which time that gun or weapon shall be destroyed. Possessing such a gun or weapon thereafter shall be a felony with punishment by up to one year in prison.

Further, to protect the population of the state no person shall possess a firearm of any kind if: 1) they have been convicted of a felony; 2) convicted of three or more misdemeanors; 3) had their drivers license suspended or revoked for driving under the influence, careless or reckless driving, or excessive speeding; 4) has been the subject of two or more domestic abuse emergency calls or investigations; 5) they are a person whose mental condition has been affirmed as temporarily or permanently psychologically disturbed by a person with a medical degree; 6) or if they are a person who has made any substantiated threat of violence against another person.

The provisions of this section are self-implementing and are immediately in effect upon adoption.[2]

[Miami_JBT]

Stop The Killing is a throwaway group meant to show Ban Assault Weapons NOW! and Americans for Gun Safety NOW! as the moderate ballot initiative that the masses can get behind. They have no major funding or donations. The BAWN/AFGSN coalition has some big names attached to it. Both Republican and Democrat.

That's the real threat.

Florida’s Semi-Auto Rifle Ban Amendment Gaining Ground, Now With Republican Donor Support

[Odessaman]

Stop The Killing is a throwaway group meant to show Ban Assault Weapons NOW! and Americans for Gun Safety NOW! as the moderate ballot initiative that the masses can get behind. They have no major funding or donations. The BAWN/AFGSN coalition has some big names attached to it. Both Republican and Democrat.

That's the real threat.

I don't doubt that - the provisions are too almost too draconian to be legitimate.

So . . . why don't WE have a ballot initiative to strengthen RKBA? Being on defense all the time is getting old - it'd be nice to play offense once in awhile.

[P5 Guy]

the provisions are almost too draconian to be legitimate.

That is by design. When BAWN or whomever withdraws the worst provisions they can DEMAND we compromise and wage a publicity campaign accusing gun nuts for not wanting kids to be safe.

[wlday]

So . . . why don't WE have a ballot initiative to strengthen RKBA? Being on defense all the time is getting old - it'd be nice to play offense once in awhile.

I had the same contemplation and completely agree, we should be on the offense.

[Nick Danger]