George Gasparini is a Republican Party of Florida State Committeeman, member of the Critus County Republican Executive Committee Board, and according to his own statements, he is the chairman of the RPOF's Second Amendment Committee.
https://rpocitrus.org/republican-party/
On November 2, 2022 in Crystal Oaks, FL at the Citrus County Republican Executive Meeting. George Gasparini, speaking in an official capacity as the Chairman of RPOF's Second Amendment Committee made the following statement to the crowd attending the monthly Citrus County Republican Executive Meeting. Audio of that statement was provided by a trusted source that Gun Owners of America wishes to keep their identity private and anonymous for that person's own security.
Below is a transcription of that audio recording.
This is not the first time that George Gasparini has openly spoken against the Second Amendment rights of Floridians in an official capacity for the RPOF. At a previous RPOF Quarterly Meeting (March 25, 2022 in Orlando), he chaired the meeting since the previous Chairman was not there.The position I have in the state of Florida and the Republican Party. The Republican Party Chairman of the state is Senator Joe Gruters. And we all respect Joe, *inaudible*, Joe, the legislators, and he's a great legislator. Mike and I, we all know him.
*inaudible*
And he appointed me the chair the Second Amendment committee of the state of Florida. Now, I wasn't chairman until six months ago.
*inaudible*
But the former chairman was *inaudible* by different organizations, like Gun Owners of America.
And Gun Owners of America was definitely trying to destroy state statute, and actually, they had a state legislator who wrote up *inaudible*, which replaced 790.
Now, these are just words to you, 790 is the state statute that protect guns, gun ownership, concealed weapons, how you think the statute - *inaudible*.
And, you to know [meaning, know Chapter 790] if you're going to be sitting on a committee, well, they actually tried to destroy this.
I've had quite a few battles with them at the state level at our meetings, quarterly meetings. Uh he ended up resigning [meaning Ben Paris, the former 2A Chair], these people no longer come there and I am the chairman of that committee right now and the reason why is because the legislators in the past have put together a very, very good bill in the state of Florida.
They're trying to pass a bill for Open Carry [he confuses Open Carry for Constitutional Carry]. Open Carry for Gun Owners of America was saying that it is a Second Amendment right.
Anyone can carry a gun, any time, any place with no training in the state of Florida.
As an NRA instructor, as a retired law enforcement officer for 40 years, and as a current special law enforcement officer, which I am. And as a certified pistol instructor, I don't believe in that.
George Gasparini openly stated that he is against Constitutional Carry and that Gun Owners of America is wrong in supporting Constitutional Carry. This was after Governor Ron DeSantis made statements supporting the passage of Constitutional Carry and defending the Second Amendment.
To put a one hour meeting into a quick summary.
George Gasparini stated the following.
1. Florida doesn't need Constitutional Carry and there needs to be a continued permitting system in place to control who can and can't exercise their rights.
2. Government grants you your rights, you're not born with them
3. He's retired New Jersey police officer and is covered under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (Federal Law that allows retired cops to carry nationwide, even in restrictive locations like New Jersey and New York) and since he is a special deputy with one of the Sheriff's Offices in FL, that makes him more qualified to own and carry firearms than the common citizen.
4. That what stops bad guys isn't a good guy with a gun, it is judges and penal institutions after the fact a crime happened.
Remember, the national Republican Party supports Constitutional Carry and it is part of their platform.
