Good governor, bad governor

[unixronin]

Florida governor Jeb Bush just signed two important laws for firearms owners.

SB1156 protects shooting ranges from malicious environmental lawsuits filed in attempts to close them down, by prohibiting environmental suits against ranges that are in compliance with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's "Best Practices for Environmental Stewardship for Florida Shooting Ranges" guidelines and are making good faith efforts to manage their ranges and dispose properly of lead.

HB155 stops Florida sheriffs from compiling de-facto gun registration lists, which some urban Florida sheriffs have been doing in direct violation of Title 18 U.S. Code, section 926.  (Of course, one could argue that it shouldn't have had to be passed in the first place, since the practice is already illegal, and I will in fact so argue.)

On the other hand, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has promised to veto a bill that would protect the right to self defense in Illinois, and is instead demanding passage of a sweeping gun ban (sorry, the only direct reference I can find is from the Chicago Tribune, which has intrusive registration requirements).  SB1195 bans any firearm with a bore diameter of .50 caliber and larger, including all 10, 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge shotguns of any type, and including modern black-powder firearms.  It also bans the manufacture, possession, sale or transfer of "AR-15s, M1As, FALs, plus lower and upper receivers, magazines and magazine parts capable of holding more than 10 rounds", with severe implications for Illinois-based firearms companies including Armalite, DS Arms, Les Baer, Rock River Arms, and Springfield Armory.  This bill could cost Illinois a lot of jobs, and effectively destroy the Illinois shooting sports industry (which includes a lot of tourism) at a time when the state is $5 billion on the red.

Comments

[radarrider.livejournal.com]

Another cool thing is that I can get a non-resident concealed weapon permit from Florida. Should I ever travel there, I can then carry a concealed pistol. Of course, I would argue that Vermont-style concealed carry is the only true way but it's better than nothing.

It sounds like Illinois is trying to become even worse than Kalifornia when it comes to violation of RKBA. And Chicago is the worst, thanks to Mayor Daley.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on all points.

I keep meaning to get around to applying for a Washington State non-resident CCW, and Florida's would be good to do too. I like the way New Hampshire added a shall-issue CCW permit solely for the purpose of giving other CCW-issuing states something to honor under reciprocality.

[jilara.livejournal.com]

I was only in Illinois once, and found it full of some of the most egregious morons and bundles of petty prejudice I've ever met. I wish I could say that I'm surprised such legislation could be proposed there. I wonder what the gov's connection to the Mob is? (Yeah, I'm thinking that when guns are outlawed, of course the outlaws will control all the guns, and the populace.)

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, we have a good friend there....

[jilara.livejournal.com]

My old boyfriend Shermann was from Illinois. He was pretty enlightening (and cynical) about what the problems were, including the fact that the Mob really did have the place pretty well sewn up.