Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschDecember 5, 2017

Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle announced a pair of bills Tuesday that would relax rules on conceal carry weapons permitholders whose firearms are seen, and another to “eliminate fraud” among Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients. HB 39 would make a brief sighting of a firearm held by a person with a CCW permit […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2017

A credit card company once used the slogan “it’s everywhere you want to be.” If Attorney General Pam Bondi and other attorneys general have their way, the same will apply to concealed-carry permits nationwide. A press release from the National Rifle Association notes that Bondi joins 23 other attorneys general in pushing nationwide concealed carry reciprocity […]

Scott PowersOctober 20, 2017

After reflecting saying that Florida needs someone who can stop divisive, hateful sentiments and bring people together, Adam Putnam got his chance to try out his skills at Tiger Bay Friday defending gun-owners and then sitting down with a Pulse survivor who disagrees. Putnam came to the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida Friday to […]

Scott PowersAugust 1, 2017

Following the Tampa Bay Times story questioning Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam‘s past visibility on gun rights issues, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is calling him “a recent convert” and questioning his commitments on details. “Now that people have started to catch on that Commissioner Adam Putnam’s a recent convert to the gun rights movement, […]

Scott PowersJune 29, 2017

Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg is packing now and he wants his employees to do so too. The Republican declared Thursday that it’s a crazy world and it’s getting dangerous for his people, so he is exercising his right as a state revenue officer, and for his deputy tax collectors, to openly carry firearms […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2017

While expressing curiosity at a forum held in Washington Wednesday over whether Gov. Rick Scott might attend next Monday’s Pulse memorial services, Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith slammed the governor, saying “he has done nothing” for the gay community since the June 12, 2016, massacre at Orlando’s popular gay nightclub. Smith was speaking at a […]

Gary FineoutMarch 7, 2017

Once the Florida Legislature kicks off its 60-day Session March 7, legislators are expected to pass, or kill, dozens of measures dealing with everything from abortion to gambling and the environment. So far, more than 2,000 bills have been filed, but in the end, legislators usually pass fewer than 300 pieces of legislation each year. […]

Drew WilsonMarch 6, 2017

A restoration of civil rights bill got an amendment from St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes that would give convicts the right to own guns after completing their sentence. SB 934, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Perry Thurston, would automatically restore all other civil rights, such as the right to vote, when a felon completes their […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2017

A gun laws debate featuring staunch 2nd Amendment Republican state Rep. Scott Plakon and irrepressible “common-sense reforms” Democrat state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith boiled down Tuesday night between a demand that fundamental rights should not be abridged without compelling reasons, and expressions of perceived compelling reasons. Plakon, a Longwood Republican who sponsored House Bill 6005, […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 20, 2017

Guns, children, neglect, animal abuse, human trafficking and forced prostitution. These aren’t the beautiful, cliché, sundown-on-the-beach Florida stories, but in an attempt to raise public consciousness about these issues we at Florida Politics bring you today’s ‘DCF Files.’ *** On Monday, the Palm Beach Post published a story citing chilling figures from the Florida Department of […]

Tag: guns

Dane Eagle announces bills to change concealed carry rules, TANF benefits

Pam Bondi seeks nationwide concealed-carry legislation

Adam Putnam, Carlos Smith clash on guns, then sit, talk, listen

Andrew Gillum calls Adam Putnam ‘recent convert’ to gun rights movement

Seminole Tax Collector Joel Greenberg arming self, his employees

Carlos Smith: Since Pulse, Rick Scott has done nothing for LGBTQ community

Guns, gambling and taxes: Legislators return to work

Jeff Brandes amendment would give felons gun rights

Young Dems’ guns debate pits ‘fundamental rights’ versus ‘compelling reasons’

The bad, the ugly and the downright horrible — a roundup of today-in-DCF news