By Tim Macy
This week, a Florida gun group launched an attack on our state director Luis Valdes and, by extension, on Gun Owners of America.
This broadside was then reprinted by a national group, as well as another state gun group in Florida.
GOA has made it a practice not to speak ill of other pro-gun groups, and so I don’t intend to do so here. At the same time, given the coordinated attacks by several groups, it’s necessary that I respond to the false allegations because there are surely many gun owners who have read the articles, and they want to hear our side of the story.
As you know, GOA is a no-compromise group, which means that we will never give politicians a pass for compromising — no matter what their party affiliation. GOA has been critical of many Florida legislators for refusing to pass substantive pro-gun bills, and ultimately, this is why we are being attacked.
One would think that suggesting there is a problem with Florida’s elected Republicans would be a no-brainer. After all, Florida has a Republican supermajority which means that Democrats have no power to stop significant pro-gun bills — if only Republicans had the will to push them.
But as I will explain below, Republican politicians have been stealthily working to undermine pro-gun bills. One such politician is Florida state Representative Cord Byrd, who has refused to bring up important pro-gun bills — such as Constitutional Carry and 2A Sanctuaries — after he had promised to do so.
This is something that Luis Valdes has pointed out. It’s information that gun owners need to know.
Sadly, the group attacking GOA gets personal and questions Luis’ motives, writing: “I understand Valdes wants to generate buzz and possibly a headline, and he’s not the first to go after a well-known member of the gun community in the hopes it will create even more of a splash.”
To the contrary, Luis was not trying to generate “buzz” or “headlines” or create a “splash.” What he is doing is holding legislators accountable who are in a position to move pro-gun legislation but refuse to do so.
Pro-gun champion in the Florida House calls out RINO Republicans
While Rep. Byrd has voiced support for Second Amendment rights, it’s also clear that he has put his promises to gun owners on hold in order to appease the Republican leadership, who simply want gun owners to go away and leave them alone. (I’ll explain this below.)
But first, it’s worth noting that Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who is the sponsor of Constitutional Carry, has been quick to point out how Republicans are killing pro-gun legislation behind closed doors. He has seen this firsthand and has not hesitated to call them out.
At a recent press conference, the media reported: “Sabatini called out his fellow Republicans, some by name … for not doing enough for gun rights.”
And in this video, Rep. Sabatini calls out the “spineless RINO Republicans” in Florida for “lying to the American people about being strong on the Second Amendment.”
Likewise, pro-gun media have noted how the Republican leadership in Tallahassee is refusing to bring up substantive, pro-gun bills like Constitutional Carry:
The state of Florida has been semi-jokingly referred to as the Gunshine State. However, they’re not nearly as pro-gun as a lot of people think. They have a long way to go to really be one of the most pro-gun states in the nation. Yet they could make a big step toward that if they were to pass constitutional carry. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much political will.
After our press conference in Tallahassee to push Constitutional Carry, pro-gun media reported: “Let’s hope the powers that be in Florida step up and listen. If not, maybe it’s time for some lawmakers to start looking for a new line of work.”
Of course, the “powers that be” are Republicans who have held a supermajority for years. This means that Democrats have NO WAY to stop Constitutional Carry…if only Republicans had the political will to pass it.
Sadly, they don’t have the will to do so. And they don’t like it when we start naming names.
The big lie: ‘We don’t have the votes’
When Republicans who don’t want to move pro-gun legislation come under fire, they complain that “their hands are tied” or that “they don’t have the votes.” This is a lie that is repeated time and time again. We hear it in Congress and in state legislatures across the country.
And incidentally, this is exactly what Texas Lt. Gov. Daniel Patrick tried to do to gun owners this year, claiming “we don’t have the votes” to pass Constitutional Carry:
“If we have the votes to pass a permitless carry bill off the Senate floor, I will move it,” Patrick said in a statement. “At this point we don’t have the votes on the floor to pass it.”
Of course, that means: “We don’t have the political will to pass Constitutional Carry.”
As you know, GOA’s team was the key force in pushing Constitutional Carry onto the Governor’s desk in Texas. And we did so over their “we can’t get your bill passed” objections. We demanded the legislature vote on the legislation — despite the Republicans’ claims that “they didn’t have the votes.”
And guess what? When push came to shove … and they forced a vote on the bill … they actually had the needed votes!
Lies and Broken Promises
In Florida, Rep. Cord Byrd was assigned to be the Committee Chair for the House’s Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee, which is a very important one since the majority of the pro-gun bills were assigned to this committee.
Rep. Byrd’s prior legislative action showed hopeful advancement for the cause of liberty in Florida. In 2018, he voted against SB 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
Otherwise known as the Parkland Gun Control bill of 2018, it was the legislation that gave Florida an under-21 purchase ban, Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders, and other horrible pieces of gun control.
As such, in the start of the previous session, our state director, Luis Valdes, approached Rep. Byrd and asked him when he was bringing up Constitutional Carry (HB 123), the Repeal of the Parkland Gun Control (HB 6083), and other pro-gun bills. He informed Luis that it would be the middle of session.
As time went on, GOA supported Rep. Byrd’s own bill — State Preemption (HB 1409) — plus the Church Carry bill (HB 259) that Rep. Byrd co-sponsored.
One thing that the hit-piece on GOA did NOT mention is that we have been very complimentary of Rep. Byrd where appropriate. In March of this year, GOA’s Valdes stated: “I believe that Rep. Bryd is a good man. As a lawyer, he even promotes himself as a ‘Gun Lawyer’ through his law firm.”
So we praise legislators when it’s appropriate, but we also have to hold them accountable when they don’t follow through on their promises.
This is a key point. To ignore a politician’s broken promises would be akin to believing the husband who tells his wife that, despite having committed adultery, he has always been solidly committed to the marriage.
When the middle of session came, Valdes asked Rep. Byrd again where he was on bringing up the other pro-gun bills. After all, why would Rep. Byrd not want to push a bill to repeal the Parkland gun control that he voted against?
He told GOA that, “They don’t have Senate Companion Bills,” so bringing them up is a waste of time. (Sounds a lot like what we were hearing out of Texas, doesn’t it?)
Of course, Byrd’s statement was only a partial truth. Yes, they did not have companion bills. But under Florida’s legislative rules, bills do not need a companion in the other chamber to advance. The House can introduce legislation and pass it. It then advances to the Senate where they can choose to advance it or not.
And Rep. Byrd absolutely knows this. After all, Rep. Byrd has brought up other bills that did not have companion bills in the Senate (HB 411 and HB 1397). Byrd held votes on both of these non-gun related bills, and both passed favorably out of his committee, but then died in other committees.
So when he says that he can’t bring up bills for a vote that have no Senate companion bill — because that would be a waste of time — well, that’s just simply untrue.
The question that gun owners should be asking Rep. Byrd is: “Why will you bring up non-gun related bills for a vote — even when they don’t have Senate companions — but you won’t do that for substantive pro-gun bills, such as Constitutional Carry?”
Democrats push anti-gun bills, even when they don’t have sufficient votes
Consider how anti-gun Democrats at the national level push their agenda. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn’t wait for companion bills to be introduced in the Senate. She pushes anti-gun bills to a vote, even if she knows they’re dead in the Senate. The reason is: She wants to create momentum.
This is exactly how national Democrats got the Brady Bill passed in 1993. For several years, they pushed for votes in one chamber — even though they couldn’t get a vote in the other chamber. Nevertheless, they forced votes year after year — and it worked. Even though Senator Bob Dole could have stopped the Brady bill from passing the Senate (by objecting to a Unanimous Consent agreement), he wilted, stating that: “Let’s get the best deal we can and move on.”
The pressure campaign to generate momentum had worked. The other side wore down “our side” in the same way that General Washington wore down the British.
So to say that “bringing them up is a waste of time” is simply not true. Victory feeds upon itself — and the momentum generated by holding hearings and conducting votes is extremely valuable. Our side needs to push substantive pro-gun legislation like Constitutional Carry. We need hearings, committee votes, chamber votes, etc.
Florida: A long record of killing pro-gun legislation
In the end, state Rep. Byrd allowed Constitutional Carry to die in committee without a vote or even a hearing.
This a pattern the Republican Party of Florida has used for years — they pick a designated “blocker” to hold up gun legislation that is popular with gun owners, but which is not favored by the party establishment.
That blocker is considered electorally “safe,” is leaving the legislature anyway, or is assured of a lucrative position should harm befall them.
In prior years, there was Sen. Anitere Flores, Sen. Rene Garcia, Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, Senator John Thrasher, and Rep. Richard Corcoran, just to name a few. They all held important positions or chaired important committees and killed bills like Open Carry and Campus Carry over the past decade.
What do they all have in common? They were Republicans who originally campaigned as being pro Second Amendment, and they received endorsements and high ratings from other gun rights organizations.
The compromising by other gun groups is not a well-kept secret in Florida. Chandler Langevin, who is President of Protect the 2nd in Florida, is running for Florida House District 52.
Langevin, who also works in a legislative office in the Tallahassee House, has an inside look at what’s happening in the state capitol. And this is what he had to say about Rep. Byrd and the attack on GOA and Luis Valdes:
Thank you, Luis Valdes and Gun Owners of America/ Gun Owners of America — Florida for fighting a NO COMPROMISE fight for our 2nd Amendment rights here in Florida.
Florida Carry on the other hand would rather shill for the NRA and keep our fight for Florida’s gun rights stagnant. This is an unacceptable and cowardly approach. It will also render the organization illegitimate in any future battles for gun rights.
Let’s be perfectly clear. Cord Byrd had the opportunity to push Anthony Sabatini’s bills for Constitutional Carry, a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State, and another bill to repeal Red Flag Laws to a committee hearing. Cord didn’t allow even a hearing, he didn’t go to the media to raise awareness. No, he killed them.
Langevin truly understands the legislative process. There is no reason that, in a state which has a Republican SUPER majority, we should not see the legislature pass important pro-gun measures like Constitutional Carry and 2A Sanctuary bills. Or at least to hold legislative hearings!
‘Old Guard’ to the grassroots: Get back in line, we know better than you!
GOA was attacked for supposedly not understanding the legislative process. More specifically, the email broadside against GOA quotes Marion Hammer (who is the head of the Unified Sportsmen of Florida) as saying:
When groups and group spokespersons, who don’t understand the legislative process, attack legislative leadership and committee chairmen who support the Second Amendment, they shoot themselves in the foot and do an enormous disservice to law-abiding gun owners.
This is quite ironic, given our success in getting Constitutional Carry passed in Texas this year. But many have reacted against these comments and blasted that statement for coming across as arrogant.
As one person responded: “Luis must’ve struck a nerve. Good. This is nothing more than a command from the ‘ruling class’ to ‘the serfs’ to get back in line and shut up — WE know what’s best for you.”
The truth of the matter is that, in Tallahassee, GOA has outperformed the group that is now attacking us by every certifiable measure. That may sound like braggadocio. But this can be verifiably proven.
For one, GOA put out as many as twenty times more email alerts than did this other group. But that’s not all.
A simple search of lobbyist records shows that GOA’s Florida director Luis Valdes was present for every gun-related hearing. And this includes his testifying on the church carry bill (HB 259) which eventually passed. However, the group behind the attack on GOA did not testify at a single gun-related hearing in the House. (See the accompanying images below.)
So in review: When it came to mobilizing the grassroots and testifying before legislators, GOA outperformed the gun organization that is now attacking us.
As suggested above, it makes me very uncomfortable to point these things out. It is not GOA’s policy to comment on what other pro-gun organizations do or don’t do. That’s their business, and they have to answer to their own members for their actions. Very often, these are well-meaning Second Amendment advocates who simply hold to a different lobbying philosophy than GOA’s.
But as I said before, when another organization takes a swipe at GOA, which has a long-record of legislative accomplishments, we owe it to our membership to answer the false allegations. Because naturally, many will have questions.
GOP Senator reveals RINOs don’t get negative criticism from 2A community
For over twenty years, the Republican Party has held a supermajority in Florida. Yet the state is falling behind in the advancement of liberty — and worse, it was Republican lawmakers who advanced gun control!
Failing to bring up pro-gun bills for a committee hearing or vote can be summed up easily: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
This describes the problem in Florida and is exactly the point made by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R) in 2019:
Republican Lawmakers don’t support pro-gun legislation because they don’t hear any negative criticism from their constituency. They take the silence of gun owners as approval.
If Florida gun groups refuse to hold compromising politicians accountable, then Sen. Baxley’s analysis becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The failure to hear criticism will result in more of the same — which means that we only get “table scraps” when it comes to gun rights.
If we are going to get Constitutional Carry enacted in Florida — or anywhere else in the country — we must demand that Republicans act to support our rights.
We want hearings … we want votes … we want the bill sent to the Governor. And if legislators refuse to do this, we must hold them accountable.
Anything short of that, as Sen. Baxley suggested, will only encourage Republicans in any state to continue ignoring the voice of pro-gun voters.
Again, Gun Owners of America does not compromise, and we will not carry water for any political party (or politician) when they compromise. The Second Amendment is apolitical, it belongs to everyone and the best way to secure that is to advance liberty.
This is GOA’s message both in Florida and across the country, and we urge all gun owners to be always vigilant in holding their elected official accountable.
Tim Macy is the Chairman of Gun Owners of America, a grassroots lobby representing more than two million gun owners nationwide.
Compromise is conditional surrender by those without the will to fight.
It’s even worse than that: in a compromise you gain something in exchange for the loss of something else. The Republican establishment simply surrenders to the demands of the left without even trying to get anything in return. “We had to give that up because if we didn’t we would have lost even more” is their constant excuse. Utterly pathetic.
*spits contemptuously*
Thank you fellow Coloradan, spot on.
The current Administration is trying to destroy our Constitution and our second amendment rights will be included in such freedoms. Now is the time to come together or die just as it was on the first American flag” Join or Die ”
The American spirit will prevail it is God’s will.
They get something in return: Campaign donations from wealthy anti-gun “Republican” donors. And sometimes laundered bribes, like $850k advances on books that nobody wants to buy. (those big bucks have to wait until you’re a US Senator or Vice President, like Rubio or Biden, but they’re the end goal that all the corrupt politicians have their sights on)
For those sworn to Protect and Defend The Constitution of The United States compromising with Gun Control in any shape, matter or form is compromising with an agenda that is rooted in racism and genocide. It cannot get more disgusting than that.
Has any one of these so called Gun Rights Defenders ever questioned why the merriam-webster sugarcoated online dictionary definition for Gun Control does not predate its claimed first use in 1964?
It is the obligation of the “2A Defenders Who Are Fueled By Donations” to stand and define Gun Control based on its long, long diabolical history for RINO ratbassturds, courts and the rest of milquetoast America. Until that happens everyone is under the the Gun Control Thumb. And what a pathetic sight it is being played for fools by an agenda rooted in racism and genocide.
1) The Second Amendment is one thing.
2) The criminal misuse of firearms, knives, bats, bricks, etc. is another thing.
3) History confirms Gun Control in any shape, matter or form is a racist and nazi based, “Thing.”.
Wow! Nicely said!
I have a feeling GOA’s membership is expanding exponentially.
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Yes, “come and be a piece of us.”
A group of people bereft of any form of morality, who sell out to those with even less principles than themselves. That’s someone who should be a role model, spammer scum.
it’s money well-spent….
let’s cut through the bullshit…republicans have always been gun-control lite…all they want is your vote…perhaps it’s time to exact a price…
If a wrong is worth complaining about, complain about it. If you want to keep a secret, keep your mouth shut. But make up your mind, one way or the other.
Saying “A group trying to pass itself off as pro-gun is actually responsible for stalling gun-rights legislation, but I’m too nice to tell you who it is” is worthless.
Florida Carry, NRA, and SAF
Thanks, Jax! Most useful line on the page.
@Jax Can you please clarify on SAF? I agree on Florida Carry and NRA. I think you meant to include USF (United Sportsmen of Florida), of which Marion Hammer is the Executive Director.
I’m not sure how involved SAF has been directly in Florida, but SAF was the original 2A group behind both Heller and McDonald. I would argue that they have done a lot for gun rights nationally.
Second Amendment Foundation attacked GOA and resent the FLC letter. It is still on SAF’s website. Let’s not forget that SAF did back Universal Backgroumd Checks because they thought it was the best “compromise” they could get. I Believe GOA was the main group pushing back and prevent the bill. Maybe that caused the rift with GOA.
the NRA?…why am I not surprised….
Win first; deal with the heretics after. A lesson Republicrats, Conservatives, Patriots, and other political puritans on the right fail to grasp. In the phrase, “Losing with honor”, “with honor” is the descriptive; “Losing” is the operative word.
Surprising how many people still believe it’s possible to compromise with lib gun grabbers!! You KNOW they spell compromise like this…..S-U-R-R-E-N-D-E-R!!!
Something similar happened—for years—here in Texas. When Joe Strauss was speaker Texas Republicans acted exactly like what we’re seeing down in Fla. They talked a good game but then, again and again, bought in to “progressive light” compromises. They defined “RINO”.
“Surprising how many people still believe it’s possible to compromise with lib gun grabbers!! ”
Repubs are not “conservatives”. The party (like the Dims) is riven with factions. Are the Florida Repubs compromising, or simply aligned with the Dims, regarding defending the Second Amendment?
If party leadership in the legislature claims not to “have the votes”, yet are proven wrong, what’s the real story? Is leadership too incompetent to count votes (which is what “whips” are for), or is leadership simply lying to serve other purposes? Either way, such leadership needs to be purged. What does it tell you about the “rank and file” if they do not purge incompetent or duplicitous leadership?
Yup. I am a member of the Tea Party. Mostly ‘fed-up’ Republicans and Independents. Some alliance with the GOP, but I have heard the membership boo and hiss when GOP leadership spoke. Mostly, the Tea Party does not buy that GOP pols are conservative; those pols will sell their souls to stay in office. Love the Tea Party meetings…grass roots love for this country, and for the Constitution….and….yes….wait for it……
……….
……….
Black people, brown people, East Asian people, and [GASP!!!!!!] white people, all together, hugging, high-fiving, waving little flags, and cheering for this Republic
God, I love this country!!!
Can think of a few reasons the Tea Party doesn’t get much press these days. In fact, kinda surprised the Tea Party is still a thing. Are you finding it to be a significant influencer?
Sam,
Here in the Lehigh Valley, the Tea Party is fielding candidates for local office. Apparently, at least a few have a real shot at winning. The GOP leadership has been courting us. We have well-over 5k members and the bank account is healthy. So, it seems we are becoming a force; we may actually win some seats. We’ll see.
Thank you for asking!
Byrd is lying rino. The only way to know if you have the votes is TO VOTE. Then the people will know who needs to be kicked to the curb like turd byrd.
Republicans are well aware of the fact that the majority of Floridians sure as hell do not want Constitutional Carry so they say they are pro-gun but do nothing to keep the maximum votes coming in at election time. Say a lot and do nothing is the Republican way and always has been.
Say a lot and say nothing is the dacian way, and always has been.
:…majority of Floridians sure as hell do not want Constitutional Carry…”
No way to know if that is true or not. Not everyone answers Polls or questions about gun ownership…So the prime question has always been what does it matter under the 2nd Amendment how one carries a firearm? It only matters to people who are afraid and want to control.
Think about how many currently living in Florida came from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut (where the majority of powerful politicians are actual members of the Communist Party of the USA – CPUSA), etc. Those people didn’t move to Florida for freedom, they moved for the coastal lifestyle, bringing their liberal and progressive political ideologies with them. True Floridians likely believe in the Second Amendment and liberty, but many of the other residents don’t. So dacian is probably correct on that point.
@dacian: “Republicans are well aware of the fact that the majority of Floridians sure as hell do not want Constitutional Carry…”
One of the good things about a constitutional republic is that, particularly on constitutional matters, it doesn’t matter what the majority wants. It just matters who they vote for.
“Republicans are well aware of the fact that the majority of Floridians sure as hell do not want Constitutional Carry…”
Offer some documemted proof of that statement- something that doesn’t come from NPR, CNN, NBC, ABC and the like.
My residence is not in FL and I doubt yours is, either, so it might be disingenuous to claim to know what the bulk of Floridians may or may not want. That goes for a lot of others posting as well, either for or against the FL permitless carry.
One positive measure all gun owners can take to have more influence on their elected officials: Actually join the party they believe will best represent the interests of the US Constitution and the one in the state where they reside. Unless you are the part of an overwhelming majority, tidal wave-type uprising like the RNC was during the 1994 cycle, there is little to fear by either party over time. Ever notice how the vast majority of life-changing issues are put into place about a year and a half before the next election cycle? Wonder why BLM and other bedwetters beyond “The Squad” are now pretty silent? We’re nearly into that “danger zone/truth zone” for them, and those who issue their orders.
It’s impossible to steer a vehicle from outside the cabin where the wheel is- if one wants to have influence, one needs to be inside where the controls are. Oh, I know none of the “real Americans” tossing complaints here would ever stoop so low as to become a part of the political process, but like it or not, we all are. Our inactivity amongst the masses at the lowest level of “government process” makes us insignificant. I’m not speaking of the Tea Party, either- I was a charter member of the Des Moines chapter…
If one becomes a member of, say, their county central committee, they’ll know about proposals long before they ever are put into place and can work to head them off, or change the minds of those proposing them. Once this BS is on the ballot or becomes some sort of state or national issue, the outcome is crap shoot, often with loaded dice. The majority of people on county central committees are average, ordinary people who live and work along side of you, not politicians living off of the government teat. As a member, you’ll give up about 2 hours per month of your life, which is likely a hell of a lot less time than you put in here at your keyboard and you’ll have a real chance to affect the outcomes of many policy issues.
Native Floridian here. I have not ever in my life seen, read, or heard anything that indicates most, half, or even a notable percentage of non-Leftists here are against Constitutional Carry.
I have family living in Florida, most of whom came from New England. My step-mother moved there many’s years ago from New York. I lived in Florida on and off for a number of years (including during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and later being stationed at Boca Chica Naval Air Station in the early ’70s (now Key West Naval Air Station, I believe), so I _do_ have an idea of what the population is like. I still believe dacian is correct. Some of the transplants are conservatives, but far too many come from liberal/progressive states – and states of mind. They certainly don’t qualify as non-Leftists, which are _not_ who I am referring to, I am referring to the many LEFTISTS who moved to and currently reside in Florida.
Type much!
Constitutional Carry is trending across the nation…why should Florida be in the backwash?.
I have always seen Democrats as actively trying to destroy the country while Republicans sit back and let them. Especially after dealing with Bill Clinton’s presidency.
This sounds to me like it’s just the game of politics being played and the GOA trying to be serious but Republicans still wanting to play. This is why so many Republicans carry the moniker of RINO. The Democrats love to use this for playing the Republican Party like a fiddle. We end up with an electorate that sees no meaningful difference between the two parties.
I’ll take GOA’s side on this any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Dempublicans or Republicrats. Good cop bad cop both working for the same ending.
Bush did, Clinton did, Obama did, Trump did, theBiden did.
Dont mean nothin
Exactly!
Absolutely, possum. I am a Life Member of GOA, having left the NRA in ’97 after belonging for over twenty years. In 1997 I discovered that the NRA helped write nearly every significant piece of gun control legislation, starting with the NFA in ’34, the GCA in ’68, the Lautenberg Amendment (reason I quit the NRA), and many other laws as well. In the American Rifleman (either March or August of 1968, can’t remember which) they themselves wrote that they voted for gun control so that they would be seen as “reasonable”, “willing to compromise”. They have been compromising our rights away from the start, and they haven’t quit yet.
Sorry, it was Prndll’s comment I was referring to, not possum’s, although I agree with him, too.
“Luis must’ve struck a nerve. Good. This is nothing more than a command from the ‘ruling class’ to ‘the serfs’ to get back in line and shut up — WE know what’s best for you.”
^ this!
I have been frequently disappointed by Hammer and NRA and the whole bunch. If you have the power and won’t use it, simply because you’re afraid you will loose power that just means you are just a part of the worthless RINO class.
Truth hurts, and having seen a few of Luis’s comments and articles I would have trouble trusting a politician (well more trouble) that he called out. Judging from the reaction his assessment must have really hurt.
the NRA has always been about appeasement and “compromise”…and been fond of cozy arrangements…strong at the local level but weak and rotten at the top…
He should change his last name to wood or his first name to big.
I knew of a guy named Manley Wood. Really old dude.
The enemy of my enemy is not your friend. Call out those who are not fighting for freedom. Helping those who are the lesser of two evils just get you to the same place only slower.
I only had time to skim this lengthy article but based on what I did read, I agree. I’ll never forget the fact that it was Florida Governor Rick Scott who burdened the state with its red flag law. I couldn’t believe a Republican could possibly pass the veto opportunity. At first I suspected it was a strategy to be elected as a U.S. Senator. But now I’m pretty sure he’s simply not very bright.
IIRC, Prick Scott was pushing for that bill, so why should he veto it? Florida voters got even with him, they put him in the US Senate immediately after. That’ll teach him. (once he won the nomination, it was a total shit sandwich, do we send Scott packing and keep a full blown Commie in the Senate, or do we prove that there’s absolutely no cost to be paid for screwing gun owners?)
A bigger question is how can a Republican Supermajority pass a red flag law in both chambers, along with the Parkland inspired anti-gun crap, unless, maybe the majority of Florida Republicans are anti-gun?
They didn’t ask us if we wanted RF laws. They just did whatever they wanted, like they always do.
Did you forget the fact that Rick Scott’s Red Flag “law” was a returned favor to Donald J. Trump for supporting Scott’s Senate campaign? Neither one of those clowns respected your rights.
@LifeSavor
“…we may actually win some seats.”
Do your candidates run as Independent, Tea Party, or Repubs?
Oh, wow.
Luis told the truth, and that really, really pisses Lee off.
I guess Lee just hates honest people too much.
Get a load of Florida Carry’s latest attack on GOA and Luis:
https://thegunwriter.substack.com/p/florida-goa-director-continues-to
Doesn’t surprise me at all. The same thing has gone on for years in Utah. Republicans blocking pro 2A legislation and making back room deals. People here think Utah is such a 2A friendly State but we still see a lot of these kinds of things happening here as well.
@James Houston
“The American spirit will prevail it is God’s will.”
Do you perhaps have a citation for that statement? Something we could access and hold onto as the preordination of our future?
It’s past time for Constitutional Conservatives to stand for what All Americans; No matter Race or Religion, should want is Term Limits (No More Brother-In-Law Politics), Not Listening to or doing as there Constituents, which voted for them, Want. These Donation sites that belittle you for not giving to these Rich Elitist, which believe in depopulating this planet. And if you do not believe this to be true then why do they have so many underground bunkers full of food, water, electrical and all the comforts of home. There is only one group which they care for and that is their faithful followers, that believe in every word spoken. This planet will be reset, but who know by whom except The Lord Himself. It’s not as far off as you might think. Mankind was given freewill and what did we do to ourselves. Give It Serious Consideration, because if you do not, All the Consequences End Up The Same. It is YOUR SOUL. (Appeal To Heaven & The Tree Of Liberty) These Both Lead to the Same Place. Brothers and Sisters of all Creeds and Colors Stand Tall. Molon Labe
“It’s past time for Constitutional Conservatives to stand for…Term Limits…”.
We already have term limits. What will more (based on what?) will new, more, additional term limits do? Why do politicians keep winning elections? What about new term limits will stop what is happening, and create a change in direction?
Term limits are not lacking. The problem is the voters. But, like gun control in high crime areas, changing voters is hard (not to mention the difficulty of amending the constitution).
Just install some automatic device that will reliably provide your desired outcome? No. Term limits do not ensure the next election will give you a different outcome; just a new face.
Well, the name Marion Hammer should explain the resistance very well. A shill for the NRA and do nothing as a member.
I don’t care what party a politician is a part of, they’re either Pro-2nd Amend, or not. If you kill pro-2nd Amend bills in committee, that’s just wrong. I don’t care if there’s not a Senate mirror of the bill..pass it anyway, put heat on the Senate. Rep. Byrd was wrong in this instance, and I’m glad the GOA called him out.
The problem in all this is not limited to Florida, or to gun law. The Republican leadership establishment (the people at the top of the party structure who control the party organization and money) is the problem. These people are in no way conservative, or pro-gun — they’re generally globalist/socialist, corrupt, and play conservatives and gun owners the same way Democrats play the blacks.
They promise for half a century to make things right, while usually making them worse, and lying about all the things that supposedly prevent them from acting. Except for the minority of real conservatives in government (who are too few to have any power), it’s all a scam. They lie to us around election time, and do what they want (and what their donors have bought) when they’re in office. Unless we can defeat and replace the establishment’s party-hacks in primary elections, and infiltrate the party organizations from the bottom, up, to eventually overthrow the party leadership, we will get nothing but a little appeasement when they think it necessary to keep us voting.
The easiest way to support GOA financially is to use smile.amazon.com and choose the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) to support it’s the 501c(3) branch of the GOA.
GOA: “You should be able to carry openly [in Florida].
You are able to carry openly in Florida. It is a Natural right enumerated and enshrined in the CONUS. Florida’s Constitution and concealed carry laws do not negate Natural law or the CONUS. Law enforcement’s unlawful arrests and threat of arrest on any human being exercising these rights are treason as are court opinions that support the violation of rights that are inseparable.
If GOA (or any other organization) were serious about the People’s rights it would not be supporting legislation that pretends to validate rights that need no validation, wasting its members’ resources on the same. Instead, GOA should be using its members resources to organize frequent continual mass non-compliance events to demonstrate what is already ours. The sight of open arms would once again become commonplace, and law enforcement would be trained by repetition, conditioning, and virtue to defend these rights. The violation of our rights did not happen overnight with the stroke of one legislative pen. People on both sides of law enforcement were conditioned to accept them over time. Gun rights advocates can only be useful in this capacity as in the form of “strength in numbers.” State government ignores the CONUS and our Natural rights. What makes GOA think it would not ignore its own legislation? Ridiculous. GOA acts like controlled opposition.
American gun owners have given enough of our freedoms away. Our freedoms are not and should not be negotiable and politicians that we hire to represent us should not yield to the communist leftists and their desire to destroy our rights to freedoms that are guaranteed by our Constitution.
I stand with GOA on this and I commend you for calling the representative out. Republicans are not necessarily conservative or constitutionalists. Hold their feet to the fire!!! Thank you for what you do.
I like the slice of pie analogy: A liberal sees I have a whole pie and demands the whole pie. I compromise to keep the peace and give the lib a slice. Now, I only have 5/6ths of what I used to have. The next day, another lib demands the rest of my pie. I compromise to keep the peace and give up another piece. Now I only have 4/6th of what I used to have. This goes on day-after-day until I have nothing left. I no longer have the use and enjoyment of MY pie because I gave it all away!
That’s the state of affairs in the US concerning our rights.
That’s what’s happened in so many states, including Colorado. I no longer recognize the Colorado I have lived in for 48 years. It’s now a leftist bastion.
I love GOA for its “NO COMPROMISE” stance! I wish NRA wouldn’t compromise away our rights. I thought SAF was better, but it seems not.
As someone once said, Republicans never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Their history is littered with giving in to democraps to ‘play nice in the sandbox’.
Where do I sign a petition to have constitutional carry?
I want Constitutional Carry to be the law in Florida.
I will call the governor’s office tomorrow. but I want to make sure that
Constitutional Carry becomes the LAW.
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