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NRA bags 110-6 'shooter voter' win in House

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published April 20, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Score another political win for the National Rifle Association, this time over the objection of people who run Florida's elections.

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to require businesses that issue fishing, hunting and trapping licenses to offer voter registration cards as well. The 110-6 vote was a victory for NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, who said her goal was to expand opportunities for people to become voters.

"We owe it to the people of the state of Florida to make it as convenient as possible for them to register to vote," Hammer said. "People who work for a living don't want to have to go down to the courthouse to register to vote."

Despite the lopsided approval for the "shooter voter" bill (HB 125), the debate turned sharply partisan when Rep. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, tried to add an amendment that would require voter registration cards to be offered to new teachers who get their state certificates.

"It's the American way to get more people to vote," Justice said.

Republicans protested that the amendment was never heard in a committee, and that it was a partisan move by Democrats to bolster ties with the state teachers union. Democrats said the GOP's resistance shows Republicans are more interested in bending to the will of the gun lobby than expanding the pool of registered voters.

Some Democrats believe the NRA would not demand voter forms at bait or tackle shops unless it felt it would boost Republican registration. But Republicans said Justice's amendment was calculated to portray Republicans as being opposed to education.

Justice's proposal failed, 82-37. Two Republicans, Frank Farkas of St. Petersburg and Juan Zapata of Miami, voted for it.

Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill, president of the state association of supervisors, said "I can't believe that" when told of the 110-6 vote.

Gill said the bill amounts to a mandate and is unnecessary because people can register to vote at driver's license offices, city halls, libraries, banks and even online. She said her office had a voter registration booth at a fishing tournament in Inverness two weeks ago.

"We're quite proactive," Gill said. "I don't think we really need it."

In the end, Justice and most other lawmakers voted for the bill. The only no votes were cast by Democrats Bob Henriquez and Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, Susan Bucher and Priscilla Taylor of West Palm Beach, and Eleanor Sobel and Ken Gottlieb of Hollywood.

The proposal's chances of overall success are still uncertain. A Senate version is stalled in committee with slightly more than two weeks left in the session.

Another National Rifle Association legislative priority got moving in the Senate Wednesday when the Criminal Justice Committee voted 5-2 for a measure (SB 206) to guarantee people the right to keep guns in their cars while parked at their workplace. But with time growing short, it faces two more committee hurdles before it can reach the floor.

One of those who voted against it was Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor and typically votes with the gun lobby.

"The easy vote for me is to vote for this bill," Smith said. But he said the rights of property owners are sacrosanct in American law. "I'm telling you, the NRA's wrong on this."

Those in favor included Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa.

A similar bill is moving through the House.

Steve Bousquet is at 850 224-7263 or bousquet@sptimes.com Information from the Associated Press also was used in this report.

[Last modified April 20, 2006, 01:48:15]