Florida Concealed Carry banner

URGENT! ** ROUND 3 ** HELP Us Protect Gun Owner's Trust Fund Money

2K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  TheSaiga308 
#1 ·
Got an email from NRA-ILA on upcoming legislation that needs to be passed in FL to help us keep the CCW program going and to prevent government from taxing the fund that was set up to keep this program running.
If you value the CCW program that allows us to carry in FL for our own self defense then please take the time to email and let our legislators know that you want them to pass this legislation that would help secure this program.

Thanks! :thumsup

************************************************** ***

URGENT!
** ROUND 3 ** HELP Us Protect Gun Owner's Trust Fund Money


DATE: February 25, 2010
TO: USF & NRA Members and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President

SB-1158 by Senator Charlie Dean (R) has been scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor Tuesday, March 2, 2010 -- opening day of legislative session.

SB-1158 is a bill to STOP legislative raids to remove (confiscate) gun owner money from the Division of Licensing Trust Fund -- that holds funding to administer the Concealed Weapons & Firearms Licensing program.

Last year the legislature 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)

Governor Charlie Crist stood up for gun owners and VETOED that trust fund raid.

Senator Dean's bill (like Rep. River's bill in the House) will stop raids in the future.

You must act quickly. URGENT! The Senate Must Hear From You!

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY EMAIL Members of the Florida Senate!


In the subject line put: SUPPORT SB-1158 -- Protect the DOL Trust Fund

(Block and Copy All email addresses into the "Send To" box)

alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov,
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov,
aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov,
atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov,
baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov,
bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov,
bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov,
constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov,
crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov,
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov,
detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov,
deutch.ted.web@flsenate.gov,
dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov,
fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov,
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov,
garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov,
gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov,
gelber.dan.web@flsenate.gov,
haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov,
hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov,
jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov,
joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov,
justice.charlie.web@flsenate.gov,
lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov,
lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov,
negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov,
oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov,
peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov,
portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov,
rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov,
richter.garrett@flsenate.gov,
ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov,
siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov,
smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov,
sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov,
storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov,
thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov,
villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov,
wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov,
wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov,

BACKGROUND

SB-1158 provides protection to the Division of Agriculture's Division of Licensing Trust Fund which handles the fees paid by gun owners to administer the Concealed Weapons and Firearms licensing program

In 1987, passage of the concealed weapons and licensing law had a financial contingency:

1. The legislature insisted that the statewide "Shall Issue" licensing process not require nor be dependent upon General Revenue or any government funding whatever. (Certain members of the legislature were determined that no tax dollars ever be used to fund gun owner programs.)

2. The NRA, Unified Sportsmen of Florida and gun owners, insisted that licensing fees be only the amount necessary to administer the program, no more, no less. Further, we insisted that the fees be held in a trust fund and used solely for the benefit of and administration of the program.

That was the agreement. And language was put in the bill to insure that the terms of the agreement were met. – OR at least it was language everyone THOUGHT would protect the agreement and the money.

We've kept our part of the agreement. In the more than 22 plus years that this program has been in effect, not one single dime has ever come from general revenue or any other government fund.

100% of the program funding has come from gun owners.

The other half of the agreement needs to be kept. Raids cannot be tolerated.

That money is held in "trust" until needed to administer the program, including buy or upgrade computers, buy or upgrade other essential equipment and stay technology in a position to run the program appropriately.

This specific trust fund needs to be protected because these funds facilitate the exercise of a constitutional right.

REMEMBER:

When government takes citizen money for general use by government, IT'S A TAX.

When government confiscates user fees from trust funds intended to be used to administer specific programs and converts it to government use for other purposes, IT'S A TAX.

When government leaders claim to oppose tax increases and promise not to create new taxes but then raid trust funds, they have deceived you because THEY HAVE CREATED A NEW TAX.

When the Florida Legislature raids the concealed weapons and firearms licensing trust fund they have CREATED A TAX ON THE EXERCISE OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

Courts have ruled that states may not tax the exercise of a right protected by the federal constitution.
IT IS URGENT THAT YOU EMAIL THE SENATE TODAY!
 
See less See more
#4 ·
#5 ·
Good job Netmage, Hogar and Goldsamurai26! I can always count on you guys!
 
#6 ·
Reply I just received from Senator Charlie Dean (R):

Brian,



Thank you for writing about my bill, SB 1158. I appreciate your support and it has helped us get this bill through committees and onto the special order calendar where we will vote, and hopefully pass, this very good bill during the first week of our Legislative Session. As you know, our second amendment rights are of upmost importance to me and I am honored to be sponsoring this very important bill. Thank you again for your email.



-Charlie
 
#8 ·
I feel good...and so should you.

Excellent work guys!!! Your perseverance and commitment to this has reaped the rewards we were looking for. I know it is not easy but rarely is anything substantial easy. Just wanted to update everyone and encourage you all that when we do put in the efforts to protect our most sacred rights IT DOES HAVE AN EFFECT. Especially when we all stick together!!!

Alright!
:dancingbanana:dancingbanana:dancingbanana

****************************************************

**UPDATE ON ROUND 3 & 4 **
Gun owners Trust Fund Bills Moving Along


DATE: March 3, 2010
TO: USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President

REPORT ON ROUND 3 -- SB-1158 Trust Fund by Senator Charlie Dean (R)

Senate Bill 1158 by Senator Charlie Dean (R) was heard on the Senate floor yesterday afternoon (Tuesday March 2, 2010 -- opening day of legislative session) for discussion, questions and for the hearing of any potential amendments.

SB-1158 is a bill to STOP legislative raids to remove (confiscate) gun owner money from the Division of Licensing Trust Fund -- that holds funding to administer the Concealed Weapons & Firearms Licensing program.

Your emails to Senators were very effective (profuse thanks for your help). There were no attempts to amend or harm the bill. Under the rules, the bill will next be heard on third reading and final passage -- hopefully today when the Senate comes back into session.

REPORT ON ROUND 4 -- HB-651 Trust Fund by Representative David Rivera (R)

House Bill 651 by Representative David Rivera (R) was heard in the House Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development yesterday (Tuesday March 2, 2010 -- opening day of legislative session).

HB-651 is a bill to STOP legislative raids to remove (confiscate) gun owner money from the Division of Licensing Trust Fund -- that holds funding to administer the Concealed Weapons & Firearms Licensing program.

Once again your emails to Committee Members were very effective (many more thanks for your help). Some committee members commented to us about the outstanding quality and quantity of emails from NRA/USF members and supporters. There were no attempts to amend or harm the bill and no negative comments. After testimony and favorable questioning, the committee voted unanimously 16 to 0 to pass the bill out of committee.

The next stop for HB-651 by Representative David Rivera is the House floor.

Thanks again for all your emails to Senators and Representatives. They listen when you speak.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top