Opinion: FDLE policy on gun database is limited by law

Your June 5 editorial (Don't purge pawned-gun data) completely mischaracterized the position of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding the statewide stolen property recovery (pawnshop) database and that database's impact upon local law enforcement agencies. Let me be clear: FDLE did not "cave" to the National Rifle Association's "pressure" in making its decisions on how to implement the statewide database. We simply followed the clear indication of existing legislative policy on the current issue of firearms.

Had you bothered to contact us we would have been glad to explain the reasons behind firearms being treated differently. In the absence of legislation passing this session, we turned to legislative direction found in F.S. 790.065, related to the Firearms Purchase Program. Under that law, FDLE is required to destroy all information regarding legitimate firearms purchase approvals within 48 hours. Intentional failure to do so exposes FDLE members to a third-degree felony. That is why FDLE has imposed a 48-hour retention limit on firearms pawn information in the statewide database for those "no hit" transactions!

The current statutory obligations of pawnshops to provide pawn information to local law enforcement continues unchanged. All options of local law enforcement regarding how to retain and use that information continue unchanged. In fact, our final decision was based in part upon not wanting to risk jeopardizing the options local law enforcement currently has regarding how to retain and use that information. The statewide pawnshop database is a supplement to those options, not a replacement for them.

FDLE is not taking the place of the local agencies in their relationships to pawnshops. Submission of pawnshop data to FDLE is on a voluntary basis. Local law enforcement will decide whether, and when, to submit that data. They are under no "time limit" on when to submit that information to FDLE. The 24-hour rule you mention in your editorial has no relationship to FDLE or to the statewide database. In no way will the statewide database restrict local law enforcement to "just one more day" to investigate pawned property as your editorial erroneously asserts.

All pawnshop transaction information including firearms received by FDLE will be "run" to determine if the property has been reported stolen or if the person who pawned the property either has an arrest warrant outstanding or is otherwise implicated in a crime. If one of these "hits" occurs, the information is related back to the submitting agency and the information, including firearms "hits," will be retained by FDLE. The database is a valuable and important supplement for local law enforcement. For the first time in Florida, local law enforcement will have a "one-stop" method of checking whether property stolen locally, including firearms, has been pawned in another region of the state.

Companion legislation requiring "mandatory submissions" did not pass this legislative session due to disagreements on how to handle firearms in the database. However, this must not derail our collective efforts to develop and implement this important law enforcement tool.

The Legislature can provide new and specific policy direction on the pawnshop information related to firearms should it choose to do so. In the meantime, FDLE will be working with participating sheriffs and chiefs of police to implement this good and valuable statewide database as a supplementary tool for investigators throughout the state.
-- James T. Moore, commissioner, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tallahassee

The NRA at work

Re: Wife mistakes husband for intruder, fires fatal shots, June 4.

Chalk up another one for Charlton Heston and the National Rifle Association. Their culpability in the latest family tragedy, however infinitesimal, is undeniable. They champion the "right to bear arms" and so, foolishly, millions of American families arm themselves to the teeth and then often times have to live with the tragic consequences.

In the future, how many more husbands (or wives) will be mistaken for intruders? How many more toddlers will find loaded guns poorly hidden and maim or kill a playmate or themselves? How many high school students will break into parental gun collections and then massacre innocent teachers and classmates?

Make no mistake! The 20-million guns guns currently circulating in the United States serve as a guarantee that the slaughter will continue unabated.

Perhaps Charlton Heston has the solution. Let's ask him.
-- Leonard A. Peterson, New Port Richey

President is a man of his word

On Thursday, President Bush fulfilled a promise. All through the campaign, then-candidate Bush promised American taxpayers that they would get some of their own money back, in the form of a tax cut. On Thursday, he kept his word, signing into law a $1.35-trillion tax cut.

Promise made, promise kept. We need more people like President Bush in Washington today.
-- Scott Layden, Brandon

Seniors shouldn't be left out

Re: Count on those tax checks, June 8.

This story noted that "You will not get a check if you paid no taxes for 2000 . . ."

What happens to the senior citizens who were not required to file an income tax form for the year 2000? Their income may have been too low to pay tax last year, but during their working years they paid their share. They helped to create this surplus, so why shouldn't they share in the rebate? How can the government justify this? Also, where are the organizations that represent seniors?

Hopefully, the seniors who are affected by this will remember when they go to the polls.
-- Wallace F. Gibbs, Spring Hill

Lobbying has gotten out of hand

Re: Fasano pleased to upset lobbyists and bureaucrats, letter, June 5.

I would like to thank Rep. Mike Fasano for the stand he took regarding lobbyists. Ideally, this form of influencing public officials for the purposes of big business and special interest groups should be outlawed on both the state and federal levels. My concern is not with the right of petition as such. Rather the danger is in the domination of our legislative bodies by pressure groups and their agents in the capitals.

Originally, the method lay in approaching lawmakers in the lobbies of the legislative halls (hence lobbying). The methods today are far more comprehensive. Effective lobbying is carried on by highly trained public relations counselors, lawyers, politicians, ex-congressmen and former government officials. They know how to "see the right people," attract gigantic sums of money and funnel that money for their selfish purposes.

At the very least, we need to exercise more rigid control over lobbyists and their activities for big business. There should be only one lobby at the state and federal levels and that is of by and for the people.
-- John Snee, Bayonet Point

A better use for aid money

Re: More money for prescriptions and schools.

Now that Sen. Tom Daschle will be in the driver's seat in the U.S. Senate, we hope that providing prescription coverage for the elderly and the needy, as well as providing more resources for our schools, will be high on his agenda. Money might be a problem.

One possibility might be using the $3-billion that we give to Israel every year. We've been doing that for 35 years or more. That totals $105-billion -- can you imagine using that for helping our own people? Israel has a strong economy now and has the fifth most powerful military force in the world.

Couldn't we be using that money for better purposes?
-- Al Sopracase, Spring Hill

High-level parenting problems

Re: The peccadilloes of the first family children.

Too bad the new first lady didn't seek advice from the former first lady on how to raise and guide first family children.

Too bad the corrective action that may have been taken after the first offense was not sufficient enough to avoid the second.

Too bad the heavy hand of President -- er -- Vice President Dick Cheney may be needed to keep the first family's private lives at a compassionate level of acceptance.

Perhaps a secluded summer in Camp David may provide a sobering experience for the first family children now that more than the eyes of Texas are upon them.
-- Edward G. Di Panni, Sr., Clearwater

Too much on gay lifestyle

Re: Out for the evening, May 29.

Your recent article and photo spread on the Spectrum Ball for gay and lesbian youth has finally forced me to cry uncle!

For the third time since February, you've chosen to promote the gay lifestyle in the Floridian section, which I find most objectionable. The Floridian section is undoubtedly viewed by youngsters more than any other section of your paper since it contains the comics, advice columns, movie listings, etc.

It appears the Times goes out of its way to prominently feature the gay lifestyle. Despite the fact that I am tolerant of how others choose to live their lives, I must speak out when a so-called bastion of the print media continually elects to devote so much effort and space to the gay lifestyle. I find it interesting that little, if any, space in the Times was used to feature the many high school proms that took place in May. Why does this disparity exist at the Times? Could it be that those affairs are too mundane and not newsworthy? And yet, month after month, you elect to prominently feature gays, drag queens and a lifestyle that is clearly abhorrent to many of your readers.

Enough is enough! I've elected to spend my newspaper subscription dollars elsewhere and will not miss your repeated efforts to paint the gay lifestyle as somehow reflective of mainstream America.
-- Jim Roark, Dunedin

Smoker's award is unbelievable

Re: Smoker with cancer is awarded $3-billion, June 7.

Awarding $3-billion dollars to a person who chose to smoke is beyond belief. The effects of tobacco have been common knowledge since I was quite young, and I am now in my 60s.

When will we put a stop to people willingly harming themselves and then blaming others and getting paid for doing so?
-- Gloria Williamson, Tampa

Lawyering lesson on display

The June 7 letters defending the attorneys for the Church of Scientology are a classic example of the first thing taught in law school: "When weak on the defense, attack the prosecution."

Lawyers should remember before pontificating to the public that many believe William Shakespeare was right about them. Even in the search for justice, the ends do not always justify the means.
-- Dennis Roper, Clearwater

Share your opinions

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

They can be sent by e-mail to letters@sptimes.com or by fax to (727) 893-8675.

They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

Back to Opinion

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times
Opinion page