The National Rifle Association isn't the only special interest to write its own laws in the Legislature, but it could be the most audacious. Consider this NRA-inspired language in gun registry legislation passed by the Senate:
"A list, record or registry of legally owned firearms or law-abiding firearm owners is not a tool for fighting terrorism," begins the bill (SB 1152) that will hamper police agencies' ability to keep records of gun sales through pawn shops. So in Florida, it's the NRA that decides how we will fight terrorism.
The nerve of NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer doesn't stop there. Another bill (SB 1156) would make taxpayers clean up a polluted gun range in Pinellas County. That bill is a wholesale bailout of the range, Skyway Trap and Skeet Club, which has polluted Sawgrass Lake in mid-Pinellas with lead from pellets fired into the wetlands. When Skyway refused to clean up the mess it had made over decades, the state Department of Environmental Regulation sued the club. But if the Senate bill becomes law, the lawsuit would have to be dropped and Skyway could then sue the state (that means taxpayers) for millions of dollars. So the polluter would profit.
Meanwhile, Florida's 400 other gun ranges could be let off the hook for cleanup costs if they follow the state's best management practices. Of course, the Senate provided no money to clean up polluted sites, so dangerous amounts of lead could accumulate in the environment, creating a public health threat. We all know who will pay in the long run.
The registry bill would force police agencies - under threat of criminal penalties - to destroy databases of gun sales through through pawn shops after 60 days. Currently, some law enforcement offices - including the sheriff's departments in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties and the St. Petersburg Police - keep such records to track down stolen property or identify weapons used in a crime.
So this bill would make it more difficult for police to do their jobs, and it would burden them with more bookkeeping expenses. "We may have to hire a position to go in and make sure those guns are expunged within the 60-day period," said Lt. Rod Reder, Hillsborough sheriff's spokesman.
While those bills have to be approved by the House, there is no indication those members will have any more courage. The truth is, lawmakers are more afraid of the NRA than they are of taxpayers or even the police.
The following Tampa Bay area senators voted for these regressive bills: Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon; Victor Crist, R-Tampa; Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island; Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, voted for the gun registry bill but did not vote on the gun range bill.
Only Sen. Les Miller, D-Tampa, voted against both bills.
