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Buckhorn concedes defeat on gun ban

Posted May 2, 2012 by Kevin Wiatrowski

Updated May 2, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Mayor Bob Buckhorn conceded defeat Wednesday after Gov. Rick Scott flatly rejected his request to ban handguns from the downtown “event zone” during this summer’s Republican National Convention.
“We was pretty clear,” Buckhorn said. “It doesn’t appear as though there’s any wiggle room there.”
In a letter sent to Buckhorn’s office this morning, Scott cited gun-rights protections in both the federal and state constitutions as his reason for rejecting Buckhorn’s request.
The letter was dated May 1, the same date that Buckhorn sent his request.
Scott said he understood Buckhorn’s concern that allowing guns in the politically charged environment surrounding the RNC raise the stakes for potential violence. The city already plans to ban sticks, poles, water guns and lots of other potential weapons from the downtown “event zone.”
“But it is unclear how disarming law-abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law,” Scott said. “It is at just such times that the constitutional right to self defense is most precious and must be protected from government overreach.”
At a hastily called press conference, Buckhorn said police will “train accordingly” to deal with the potential for gun violence.
Buckhorn said he wasn’t concerned with people licensed to carry concealed weapons, a list that used to include him.
He said he was more worried about one of those licensed weapons getting loose and landing in the wrong hands.
“Some of the people that will be here in August are not exactly model citizens,” he said. “I think even the most ardent 2nd Amendment supporter would understand why I made that request.”

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