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Letters to the EditorsBe careful or felons could end up with guns, voting rights
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 16, 2001 Editor: Voting rights for felons is certainly controversial. Several bills have already been introduced for the 2001 Legislature to fully restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentence. There is another right that can be restored for felons who have completed their sentence, one that has little or no public support. Most people are unaware that the National Rifle Association, you know that organization that claims it supports vigorous enforcement of our nation's gun laws and efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, has actually worked to put guns back into criminals' hands. Under federal law, convicted felons are forbidden from purchasing or possessing firearms and explosives. In 1965, the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 was amended to allow convicted felons to apply to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for relief from this disability. This act has not only given relief to felons, but also to errant corporations as well that had lost their licenses to make and sell guns. The amendment to the Firearms Act of 1938 was created to provide relief to Olin Mathieson, a gun manufacturer which had acquired felon status. It seems corporations and individuals who make their living with guns were severely handicapped if convicted of a felony. The big bucks and support from the NRA rolled in and the law was changed. With Olin Mathieson obtaining relief, it wasn't long before felons discovered they too could obtain relief. To date over 20,000 have applied. There were not minor felons, as the list included those guilty of transferring explosives to terrorist, aggravated assault and robbery, sexual assault and rape. In 1968 the NRA backed a law called, "The Firearm Owners Protection Act" which expanded the ability of felons convicted of gun crime to obtain relief. And gun criminals have taken advantage of this new program. To date, taxpayers have paid over $20-million to rearm felons. The history of the guns for felons program proves the blatant hypocrisy of the NRA. The NRA on one hand calls for tougher enforcement of gun laws while at the same time works hard to rearm criminals. Congress should eliminate this relief program once and for all.
Wasn't lottery money supposed to help schools?Editor: Regarding impact fees on new construction of homes, increasing the cost of a new home; this puts the cost of a new home out of reach of a lot of new-home buyers. My question is what happened to the lottery money that was suppose to take care of education costs? You don't ever hear of how much our educational system is deriving from the lottery. All one hears is new taxes for education. I would appreciate some information on the lottery money and how much is going into education. I think we all should know.
Council member disputes statement in storyRe: Port Richey attorney won't talk about run, Jan. 12 Editor: When I accepted the appointment to serve on the Port Richey City Council the first piece of advice that I received was "Don't talk to the press." Little did I know how quickly I would be put to the test. My comments in your articles written this week were, for the most part, correct. However, the statement, "If Marino were to win, the arrangement wouldn't be the usual City Council/city attorney relationship," was not. First, I never refer to a person only by his/her last name. Also, when questioned by you regarding Mr. Marino's possible run for Clearwater City Council, I said that I had heard nothing about this, that I felt Paul was "responsible, professional and ethical," and "if he does it, it will be because he knows he can do it." There was no mention as to City Council/city attorney relationship, which, had I been asked, would have said that the same relationship that now exists would continue. Port Richey is fortunate indeed to have Mr. Marino as its counsel. His knowledge and expertise is unmatched, and his behavior unquestioned. Perhaps a lesson is to be learned from this: "Ethical," "responsible," "professional," are not words to use arbitrarily. They are, and rightfully so, earned. The Pasco Times needs to find a way so that these words can be used to describe its actions.
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