Fishing for votes
A Times EditorialPublished January 31, 2006
If the Florida Legislature passes a law that forces owners of gun and bait shops to help customers register to vote, we might overhear conversations such as this:
Angler: Give me one of those fish lures.
Bait salesman: You want the Big Wiggle or the Rattlin' Rogue, and will you be registering as a Republican, Democrat or Surfers Party of America?
It is hard to tell farce from reality anymore in the state Capitol, but the National Rifle Association really is pushing a bill that would require businesses that sell hunting and fishing licenses to take on voter registration duties as well. (And yes, the Surfers Party of America is an officially recognized political party in the state of Florida.)
The first version of the bill (HB 125) levied a fine of up to $2,500 on anyone who failed to offer a voter form along with a hunting or fishing license. Even the bill's sponsor, Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, realized that was an "undue burden." He dropped the fine but maintained the requirement to keep registration forms on hand. "It's just another avenue to get folks involved in voting," said Evers.
Rumor had it that what Evers meant was to get more Republicans registered, presumably because they are more likely to hunt and fish. If the bill is motivated by cliches, then why stop there? Why not add businesses that are likely to have a Republican clientele: Lexus dealerships, country clubs and Neiman Marcus?
Actually, we can blame NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer and her considerable political clout for this bill, which is based on a Georgia "shooter voter" law. It isn't partisan, Hammer said. "We just want people who believe how we do to register to vote."
And what is it the NRA believes anymore? It used to be for less government interference in our everyday lives. Most people go hunting or fishing to get away from the worries of the world, especially politics.
Besides, it's easy enough to register already. A potential voter can get the necessary form at a driver's license office, library, bank, post office, government office, health department, chamber of commerce and many more places, said Susan Gill, Citrus County supervisor of elections and president of the state association. As for bait shops, Gill said, "We're glad to provide voter registration cards to those places, just tell us where they are."
But we don't need a law. The Legislature must have better things to do than invent work for busy people. And they need to let Hammer know there is a limit to her silliness.