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Antigun ads take aim at Florida's tourism-based economy

Antigun ads take aim at Florida's tourism-based economy

Re: The shoot first state? Ads warn about new gun law, Sept. 29.

The Brady Campaign's characterization of Florida law is so twisted and self-serving that the propaganda it is spewing should be a crime. The Web site, press releases and fliers produced by this group completely mischaracterize and misstate Florida law, with the sole purpose of scaring away tourists to put pressure on the Florida government and Gov. Jeb Bush.

I hope that people outside of Florida understand that "nervous and frightened" Florida citizens cannot start shooting tourists walking our streets. A person has to be in legitimate fear for his life or the life of another before deadly force can be used, and only then by a person who has lawful possession of a means to deliver such deadly force.

Law abiding tourists, even those with short tempers, have nothing to fear in Florida. Armed and violent criminals, however, should consider going to areas where firearms are more restricted, so that they can prey upon their victims with less fear of lawful self-defense.

Make no mistake that this is an attack on Florida and its main business - tourism. The Brady Campaign hopes to scare off tourists and hurt Florida's business owners and citizens, all in the hopes of furthering its own political agenda. The "Shoot First Law" campaign of fear-mongering and false information is irresponsible, and designed to hurt Florida. Shame on them.

What they don't tell you

Re: The shoot first state? Ads warn about new gun law.

In an irresponsible attack on our civil liberties, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has taken its propaganda public in an attempt to scare away tourists from Florida by claiming the state has become a "Wild West" type place.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The group fails to mention that Florida's new law applies only to those citizens who have completed a background check, have been fingerprinted, photographed and have completed an approved gun safety course. Of the millions of citizens in Florida, only 350,000 people have qualified for this constitutional right to bear arms in a concealed fashion. I wonder how many of these people have robbed a bank? My money is on none.

The only thing these misinformed people are going to accomplish is to hurt the economy of Florida for reasons only they understand.

Fair warning to criminals

Re: The shoot first state? Ads warn about new gun law.

Florida residents should thank the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for spending its money for ads and billboards making the tourists aware of our new gun law.

It has the serious effect of convincing criminals not to come to Florida but go to some other state where the citizens cannot protect themselves!

A different hospital strategy

Re: Tampa General's plan to stay put "touchy," Sept. 24.

The renowned hospital systems in greater Boston have built satellite hospitals and clinics for several years. It is past time for hospitals here to do the same, beginning with Tampa General and with its most critical units.

You ran a story on Sept. 13 about how we are in for a 20-year cycle of hurricanes due to Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, or AMO (Our 10-year forecast: Summers will be wet ). Brush in the rising sea levels, and you have painted the picture.

Don't meddle with women's choices

Re: Gallagher backs mandatory wait for abortion, Sept. 27.

Tom Gallagher said he wanted a statutory waiting period "to give women a chance to access information in regard to the abortion that they have applied for." Who is he (and others like-minded) to believe women are so stupid and/or inept to have not explored all avenues before making that choice to have an abortion?

No matter that you may wish to have the baby, sometimes there are circumstances that make the woman decide abortion is the only answer. It is not an easy decision to come to, no matter who you are. But the fact remains that we have the choice to make that decision ourselves without these pompous men telling us we haven't really thought about it. How dare they!

Wiesenthal deserved better

Re: A small, vain man who did God's work, Sept. 24.

If this article was intended as a tribute to Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter who died Sept. 20, it falls short of its purpose: "small, vain... unpleasant, deeply bothersome... curt... difficult... publicity hound... "

How about "courageous" for having survived four years of torture in death camps? How about "martyr" for having lived a long life with memories of his immediate and extended family, almost a hundred of them, murdered in the death camps? How about "hero" for living the past 60 years in a country (Austria) where 98 percent of its Jewish citizens were Holocaust victims, where little acknowledgement of Nazi complicity has ever been admitted, where he continually endured death threats for his work of exposing Nazi criminals?

Should a person living with such tragic, unrelenting adversity be expected to show a cuddly, warm disposition? He was desperately embittered, angry, perhaps (heaven forbid) even vengeful... and had every right to be. If God ever created a human person more dedicated to humanizing a world rife with hatred, that person was Simon Wiesenthal.

Price pinch in paradise

Re: Many more asking: What can I cut out? Sept. 27.

Eight years ago we retired. We packed up all our worldly goods, tossed the snow shovel and came to Florida. Ah - retirement in the land of sunshine. We didn't have a whole lot, but figured we should get by.

That was then. Now, what a difference: The cost of living here is going out of sight, gas prices beyond reality, and now my mobile home park is for sale. Heaven knows what my cost will be to stay here. Looks like I'll have to get a new snow shovel.

Focus on the funny bones

Re: Homebodies, by Don Morris.

In these stressful times that stretch our emotions to the limit, it is refreshing beyond description to see the artistry of Don Morris. As opposed to the use of rusty scrap iron to make unrecognizable shapes called "modern art," he has captured the funny bones in all of us to relieve the tension of our lives, if only for a moment.

The Sept. 29 front page of the Floridian section should be immortalized!

[Last modified October 4, 2005, 12:15:23]