guns

Survey: What South Floridians Think About Gun Control

Gina Jordan — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention commissioned a survey last month to measure South Floridians' attitudes about guns as opposed to the rest of the state.

Results show residents overwhelmingly support background checks for all gun purchases.

Senator: 'There Is Clearly A Divide" In Florida Over Gun Policy

Gina Jordan — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Results from a Quinnipiac University poll last month show Florida voters like the idea of universal background checks for gun buyers.

Visualized: Guns and Murder in Florida

Mc Nelly Torres and Grant Smith — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

The horrific killing of 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn., revived the debate over gun control in the United States.

Florida Gave Tax Breaks To Industries Blamed For Mass Shootings

Arianna Prothero — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Florida taxpayers are helping subsidize three industries that have been blamed for recent mass shootings: violent movies, bloody video games and high-powered assault weapons.

Why Is Gun Control Anathema In Tallahassee?

Phil Latzman — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:16:59 +0000

As New York and other states strengthen their gun control laws in response to the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the chances of that happening in Florida appear dim.

"Remember, this a Republican-controlled Legislature, and they are very much about trying to honor yhe Constitution and the Second Amendment," says our Tallahassee reporter, Gina Jordan.

The Takeaway: Florida's Role In Gun Control

WLRN Staff — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Our partners at The Takeaway have been following responses across the country to last year's string of mass shootings.

Hialeah Gun Maker Says Economics Will Thwart Any Ban On Assault Weapons

Rick Stone — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:42:58 +0000

South Florida gun dealers are warning that a ban on assault weapons, as President Obama is asking from Congress, will result only in a new flood of higher-priced weapons on American streets.

Hialeah gun factory owner Antonio "Tony" Vega says fundamental economic principles kick in every time gun owners feel their rights are under threat.

In Tallahassee, A Dim View Of NRA Gun Bills

Rick Stone — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:34:34 +0000

Indications are growing that the gun lobby might face unusual difficulties in the Florida Legislature this year.

In Tallahassee on Monday, the Republican chairman of the Senate Education Committee announced his opposition to arming Florida school teachers as a defense against school shooters and a Democratic senator filed a bill to repeal one of the National Rifle Association's trophy bills from 2011, the law forbidding doctors to ask patients whether they have guns at home.

What Miami's Regalado And Other U.S. Mayors Say Will Ease Gun Violence

Arianna Prothero — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:43:18 +0000

On the one month anniversary of the Newtown, CT school shooting, mayors across South Florida and the country called for stricter gun regulations on Monday. Among them was Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

Appeals Court: Union Leader Can Take Gun To Work

Gina Jordan — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

An appeals court says a South Florida union leader can have a gun at work, even without a concealed-weapons permit.

This case revolves around whether a union is considered a “place of business.”

State law allows people to have guns at work even if they don’t have a permit.

But Torrence Little was arrested anyway.

In June of 2011, someone reported a man with a gun in a union hall parking lot in Ft. Lauderdale.

Little had a gun in his waistband under his shirt. Police took him into custody on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

After Mall Shooting Scare, Palm Beach County Official Wants Businesses To Beef Up Security

Christine DiMattei — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

A false alarm at a shopping mall has a Palm Beach County commissioner asking if local businesses are doing enough to protect the public.

Two days before Christmas, Commissioner Shelley Vana was shopping at the Boynton Beach Mall with her five-year-old granddaughter when she heard cries of "Get down!"

"I grabbed my granddaughter and pulled her down behind a planter,” says Vana. “We were outside of the enclosed play area and I could see the people in the play area getting down behind stuff."

Living With Guns: A Liberal’s Case for the Second Amendment

Joseph Cooper, Bonnie Berman and Paul Leary — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Six Questions With 'Gun-Free Zone' Florida Representative

Margie Menzel — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has been all over the news this week. On Monday, responding to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, he said all remedies must be "on the table" legislatively, including allowing teachers and principals to arm themselves on school grounds.

Gun Control Debate: Is Florida "The Gunshine State"?

Elaine Chen — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

On the Florida Roundup: The tragedy in Connecticut hits home in what some people call “The Gunshine State,”as Florida has over a million concealed weapons permits, the most in the country. Do you feel safer? We hear your reaction to Florida’s milestone. And will gun control be on the agenda in Tallahassee?

NRA News Conference On Guns And Schools

Mark Memmott — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:49:00 +0000

(We retopped this post at 11:35 a.m.

Over 1 Million Concealed Weapons Permits in Florida: Do You Feel Safer?

Elaine Chen — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:18:21 +0000

The coincidence of two recent events has brought the issue of gun ownership to the forefront in Florida: the state has issued its 1 millionth active concealed weapon permit, the highest of any state, and the shooting of 20 first graders in Newtown, Conn.

Start The Fight? Then No 'Stand-Your-Ground' Defense For You Under Broward Senator's Bill

Rick Stone — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:23:36 +0000

Picking a fight with the gun lobby and legislative Republicans, State Sen. Chris Smith (D-Ft. Lauderdale) has introduced a bill that would substantially reduce the protections Florida's stand-your-ground law offers to armed citizens.
The law -- controversial because of its application in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin this year by a neighborhood watch volunteer -- allows the use of deadly force by someone who feels threatened. It also prevents police from arresting stand-your-ground shooters in many cases.

How The Newtown Shooting Will Affect Florida's Legislative Agenda

Elaine Chen — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:09:21 +0000

State Representative Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, says the Newtown shooting should prompt us to re-examine our gun policies - and consider allowing more guns at school.
The Florida Current reports that Baxley, sponsor of the Stand Your Ground law and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, contends:

Florida Political Leaders Offer A Range Of Responses To Newtown School Massacre

Rick Stone — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:17:52 +0000

Florida leaders are expressing themselves, although not always clearly, after the elementary school massacre in Newtown last week.
Some Florida Democrats, including Tampa U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor, are calling for new restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.
Congressman Rich Nugent, a Republican and former sheriff from Brooksville, says more gun control would be far less useful than identifying and treating mental illness.

Thirteen-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Shot On School Bus In Homestead

Ashley Lopez — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:25:30 +0000

Gunfire on a charter school bus in Homestead this morning has taken the life of a 13-year-old girl. Police said the shooter was another student who is now in custody. Local10 News reported the death a few hours after the shooting: