MITCH NEEDELMAN
State Representative, District #31
Chair: Environmental Regulations l Vice Chair: Juvenile Justice Committee
lState Resources Council l Justice Appropriations
lSelect Committee on Juvenile Detention Facilities
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Bill Johnson |
| December 8 , 2005 |
(321) 984-4848 |
Defending 2nd Amendment
Gun bill would bolster right of self- protection
It is amazing, yet not surprising, that the editorial board of FLORIDA TODAY, which zealously defends newspapers’ First Amendment rights, is once again ignoring our Second Amendment rights.
The Nov. 5 editorial “ Gunhappy lawmakers” missed the mark when it comes to securing Floridians’ right to self- defense.
When we strip away the rights of citizens to protect themselves and their families, we empower the armed thugs of our society for whom gun regulations, controls and bans are of no consequence.
By coincidence, I was leaving Independence Hall in Philadelphia after actually sitting in the seat occupied by one of our Founding Fathers during the first Continental Congress when I received word of the editorial.
Imagine walking the very courtyard where the concerns of a new nation were being debated on how to best protect the rights of individuals. Now, more than 200 years later, my hometown newspaper says the rationale behind a bill I support in defense of the Second Amendment is “ crazy.”
Contrary to the editorial, violence in the workplace is rarely found to be the result of employees gone astray. In fact, unfairly painting gun- holding employees as potential crazed workers is an affront to the millions of Floridians who go to work, pay their taxes and live peaceably.
Gun- related violence in the workplace is overwhelmingly associated with robberies, not disgruntled employees.
As a result, company policies that forbid firearms put employees who are at most risk from robbery in even greater danger by denying them the ability to defend themselves.
For example, as recently as a month ago, my former Marine Patrol lieutenant and firearms instructor, now retired and working as an auto parts store employee, was robbed at gunpoint. Due to company policy, he was powerless to defend himself and the customers that were present.
By the grace of God, no one was harmed — this time! Anti- gun activists ignore research by leading criminologists like Dr. Gary Kleck that shows firearms are used for self-defense as often as 2.5 million times a year.
Isn’t it interesting the liberal media associates simple possession of a firearm with killingYet recently, FLORIDA TO DAY’s colleagues at The Miami Herald exercised their First Amendment right by publishing a story about allegations of illegal activities against a former Miami commissioner.
Many believe that story may have contributed to his suicide in the newspaper’s lobby.
Because of this tragic death, should I expect FLORIDA TODAY to advocate limiting its editorial staff’s opinions, guaranteed to them by the First AmendmentIt may be time for FLORIDA TODAY’s editorial board to read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as they were written.
What the editors will find is the second- most important right, as seen by our Founding Fathers, to be “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
The thrust of House Bills 129 and 285 in the state Legislature, as well as similar measures approved by the Legislature, such as concealed weapons permits and the Castle Doctrine, all have one common- sense goal in mind: Empowering Floridians with options for self- defense and protection.
I believe that even includes FLORIDA TODAY employees.
Needelman, R- Melbourne, represents District 31 in the Florida House of Representatives.
Rep. Mitch Needelman Guest Columnist
