The NRA Lobbyist Behind Florida's Pro-Gun Policies

[BREMPRO]

After Charles McBurney learned that he’d been passed over for the judgeship, he published an op-ed on Jacksonville.com, arguing that Hammer’s bill had nothing to do with gun rights, and decrying her tactics. “It’s the message being sent to our legislators and elected officials that ‘you can be with me on virtually everything, but if you cross me once, even if the issue doesn’t involve the Second Amendment, I will take you out,’ ” he wrote. “It’s frightening for our republic."

In 2016, when a shooting occurred at the Pulse night club, in Orlando, in which forty-nine people were killed and another fifty-eight wounded, the Florida legislature was out of session. Using a long-shot procedural maneuver, Democrats tried to convene a special session but were rebuffed by Republicans. At the time, Hammer told the Tallahassee Democrat, “I have not heard a single Republican say that they were interested in spending the taxpayer’s money for a special session that would achieve nothing but more publicity for Democrats.”

Months later, Representative Carlos Smith, a Democrat from East Orlando, introduced a bill that would have banned assault weapons. It never got a hearing. “The power of Marion Hammer dictated whether we could even have a conversation about what I was proposing,” he told me. “I lost constituents at Pulse. I lost a friend.”

This legislative session, he reintroduced the bill. On Tuesday, February 20th, as students from Douglas High School sat in the gallery, every House Republican voted against bringing the legislation to the floor. Smith said, “It was devastating to watch that happen, but the students aren’t kids anymore, and it’s important that we don’t shield them from harsh political realities.”


Stunning Insight into how the powerful gun lobby influences and threatens careers of legislators, judges and public servants to effectively push their radical pro gun agenda not supported by the majority of citizens and harmful to public safety. We need a NCSA ( National Common Sense Association) with this kind of power to Influence public policy!




The NRA Lobbyist Behind Florida's Pro-Gun Policies full text:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/the-nra-lobbyist-behind-floridas-pro-gun-policies

[BigmanPigman]

1. They were just discussing her

power on the news. The anchor wanted to know how this one woman was able to obtain so much power and influence over the lawmakers. Apparently she networks with tons of NRA members with shear, focused passion and she can count on them to always support her if she needs them to. And they seem to be doing that in FL.

[BREMPRO]

2. Never heard of her before! shows how undue power

And influence of a single connected individual can undermine democracy and skew legislative process. An insight into how our system of representational govt by and for the people is broken. Money and passionate radials, not common sense policy wins...

[BigmanPigman]

3. I remember watching the history of prohibition and

there was one, single woman who was really pissed off about people getting drunk when she personally was opposed to it since she didn't think God would approve and she went on a personal crusade. Then looked what happened for over 10 years with crime and constitutional amendments being written and repealed, etc.

[appalachiablue]

4. Didn't know either, but Florida's *MARION HAMMER* is a power house NRA

Lobbyist in Fla. and gun activist for decades, since the 1970s. Many articles online.

Check out her blasting Rick Scott's new plan to increase gun purchase age to 21. Tampa, Feb. 23, 18:

"My lawyers are waiting to look over everything they're doing," says HAMMER..."
http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/02/23/nras-marion-hammer-governor-and-legislative-plans-to-limit-gun-access-is-political-eyewash/

https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-marion-hammer-the-new-yorker-profiled-floridas-gun-rights-champion-8308010

[stuffmatters]

5. (A.M).Joy Reid did a great piece on Marion Hammer recently, hope she repeats it

It's the first I'd ever heard of her. She not only blocks gun control legislation but also weaponizes the courts in Fla by financially menacing lawsuits against ANYONE who interferes with NRA "rights" She's been in power in Fla almost fifty years.