Help is Needed Protecting Florida's Gun-Owners Money from Funding Raids

"HB-651 by Representative David Rivera (R) is scheduled for a hearing in the House Natural Resources Appropriations Committee at 9:30 am, Wednesday, February 10.

HB-651 is a bill to STOP legislative raids from removing (confiscate) gun-owner money from the Division of Licensing Trust Fund – which holds the funds 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)

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

Representative Rivera's bill will stop any future raids.

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY EMAIL Members of the Natural Resources Appropriations Committee!

In the subject line put: SUPPORT HB-651 -- Protect the DOL Trust Fund

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

Ralph.Poppell@myfloridahouse.gov,
Steve.Crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov,
Leonard.Bembry@myfloridahouse.gov,
Debbie.Boyd@myfloridahouse.gov,
Mary.Brandenburg@myfloridahouse.gov,
Greg.Evers@myfloridahouse.gov,
Adam.Fetterman@myfloridahouse.gov,
Debbie.Mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov,
Mark.Pafford@myfloridahouse.gov,
Scott.Plakon@myfloridahouse.gov,
Steve.Precourt@myfloridahouse.gov,
Baxter.Troutman@myfloridahouse.gov,
Charles.VanZant@myfloridahouse.gov,
Trudi.Williams@myfloridahouse.gov,

BACKGROUND

HB-651 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 what so ever. (Certain members of the legislature 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. 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 the 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 granted by the federal constitution.

PLEASE EMAIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY

Like the gay blades they are, gun grabbers choose to go backdoor whenever possible. Can't stop Floridians from carrying concealed firearms? Then bollux up the licensing procedures, stealing necessary funds and diverting them to things like hugging trees, global warming, and last but never least the hiring of even more government workers for do-nothing, mean-nothing jobs that do little else other than engorge the bureaucracy.

Charlie Christ has his flaws but at least he stood up for us when it counted. Now is not the time to rest on our laurels so I encourage all Floridians to contact their representatives and voice strong support for David Rivera's important bill.