Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Post: Assault gun limits not even scheduled for Florida Legislature hearing
Post: Assault gun limits not even scheduled for Florida Legislature hearing
POLITICO: Florida governor on tighter gun regulations: ‘Everything’s on the table’
POLITICO: Florida governor on tighter gun regulations: ‘Everything’s on the table’
AP: Bill to tighten opioid limits headed to Florida Senate floor
AP: Bill to tighten opioid limits headed to Florida Senate floor
After school shooting, state lawmakers consider making guns easier to have
On Wednesday, a 19-year-old former student with an assault rifle walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County and opened fire, killing 17 people and wounding at least 15 more.
On Thursday, at 1 p.m., the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee will consider a bill that would make it easier for convicted felons who have had their rights restored to get a gun permit without the state first getting all the criminal background information.
Yep, you heard that right. Convicted felons whose rights have been restored can’t vote, but they can sure get their guns. Paperwork, schmakerwork.
This is in addition to a slew of proposed bills in the Florida House that will allow guns in private schools (HB 113), allow guns in public schools (HB 621), allow guns on property owned, rented, leased or used by churches or religious institutions (HB 1419) and make it easier for people to get their guns back after they’ve been confiscated by police (HB 6013). Ladra will watch as these move through committees. Stay tuned.
Today’s scheduled discussion will be about Senate Bill 740, sponsored by Sen. Kelly Stargel (R-Lakeland). Buried in a couple of paragraphs near the end of the 98-page Senate Bill 740 — an agricultural piece of legislation about oyster harvesting and water vending standards and seed labeling and restrictions on telephone solicitors — is a change in the law that allows agents with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to grant firearm permits within 90 days even when the criminal background checks are not complete.
Here’s the actual language from page 88 of the bill:
“In the event the department receives incomplete criminal history information or no final disposition on a crime that may disqualify the applicant, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must expedite efforts to acquire the final disposition or proof of restoration of civil and firearm rights, or confirmation that clarifying records are not available from the jurisdiction where the criminal history originated. Ninety days after the date of receipt of the completed application, if the department has not acquired final disposition or proof of restoration of civil and firearm rights, or confiration that clarifying records are not available from the jurisdiction where the criminal history originated, the department shall issue the license in the absence of disqualifying information. However, such license must be immediately suspended and revoked upon receipt of disqualifying information.”
So, basically, they’re gonna take the guns back when they give them to people who shouldn’t have them. “Ooooops. Sorry, Mad Dog. Can we have that AK back?” Not sure how that’s gonna work.
Currently, gun permit applications are held indefinitely until all the background criminal history information is complete. And according to published reports quoting proponents of the bill, only 1% of gun permit applicants are denied based on incomplete information. So we need to change the law for this one percent? What possible public policy purpose could this relaxation on background checks — which reportedly was requested by Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam — provide the community? I can’t think of one.
Well, maybe, just out of respect for the 17 students and teachers killed Wednesday in a high school, maybe the committee members ought to table this for another day.
Pat on the back: Miami-Dade gets something done — their own condom
Miami-Dade made a very excited announcement Wednesday.
No, our county leaders haven’t solved the transit problem — not even close. They haven’t found a real, professional with airport experience to run MIA. They haven’t decided to respect the people’s vote and create the Pet’s Trust as they promised to. They didn’t find the perfect location and situation for a new civil courthouse. They didn’t pass any new climate change development regulations. And they haven’t discovered a way to save tapayer dollars in wasteful publicity stunts that only feel good but do very little to actually benefit the community.
No, the announcement made Wednesday was that our county had unveiled its very own condom brand. Actually, “its first branded condom,” according to the press release. Italics are mine. Because are we to expect more condom brands from our elected local leaders? Can Ladra suggest an erect palm tree against a sunset backdrop for the next one?
This first condom was unveiled on Valentine’s Day, for all the PR value. This is not a joke. Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commissioner Sally Heyman and Commission Chairman Esteban Bovo even posed with a giant and (we hope) mock condom for the photo-op. At the press conference. Press conference!
This first condom is Miami-Dade’s collaboration with the Florida Health Department’s Getting 2 Zero HIV awareness campaign — because the goal is zero new cases and zero stigma — hence Sen. Rene Garcia also in the photo op. And this is not to take away from the campaign. Ladra is all for HIV awareness and free condoms for everyone — which the county is distributing all this week at locations near you. Miami-Dade has one of the if not the highest rate of HIV infection in the country. Currently, there are almost 27,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Miami-Dade — that’s one out of every 85 adults. We need as many free condoms as we can get. And it will rain condoms at FIU’s Green Library today, dubbed “Condom Day.”
But is this really what we want our county commissioners to be spending their time doing? Posing with giant condoms? Once they initiate/approve the collaboration, sure, they can do something to help the state campaign. But celebrating? With photo ops?
This is the hard work they want $100,000 a year for? (More on that later.) Already, Deputy Mayor Maurice Kemp (far left) has already spent too much time away from his $230,000-a-year job.
Perhaps it is because the pats on the back come few and far between at County Hall. So they just can’t help themselves. But, seriously folks, whatever time, cost and effort was made designing and/or printing this special wrapper and redecorating the lobby at County Hall and producing all this feel good publicity crap could have been saved and our community better served by hooking the state up with existing HIV awareness organizations that really know how the community and how to distrubute existing brands of condoms all year long.
What we really need is protection for when the county screws us. But in the meantime, here’s where to find the free Miami-Dade brand condoms.
Feb. 15 Health Fair at Curley’s House, from 10-3 p.m., 6025 NW 6th Ct.
Feb. 15 Educational Table at MDC-Kendall Campus, from 11-2 p.m., 11011 SW 104th St.
Feb. 15 Condom Day at FIU’s Green Library, 10:30-2 p.m., 11200 SW 8th St.
Feb. 16 Health Fair at Government Center, 10-4 p.m., 111 NW 1st St.
Feb. 16 HIV/STD Testing The Hub at LGBTQ, 10-2 p.m., 1130 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Feb. 22 HIV/STD Testing at Flamingo Park, 2-7 p.m., 1200 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach
Use at your own risk.
TCPalm: House committee vote on Hobe Sound incorporation
TCPalm: House committee vote on Hobe Sound incorporation
Politico: Leon Judge reverses ruling on House subpoena of Visit Florida Emeril TV show producer
Politico: Leon Judge reverses ruling on House subpoena of Visit Florida Emeril TV show producer
Bradenton Herald($): Narcotics will be tougher to get in these Manatee emergency rooms
Bradenton Herald($): Narcotics will be tougher to get in these Manatee emergency rooms
Herald Tribune: How Margaret Good pulled off a big upset in Sarasota
Herald Tribune: How Margaret Good pulled off a big upset in Sarasota
Times: Florida House OKs exceptions to proposed child marriage ban
Times: Florida House OKs exceptions to proposed child marriage ban
