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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Scott won’t ban guns in Tampa during RNC

Posted May 2, 2012 by Kevin Wiatrowski

Updated May 2, 2012 at 10:59 AM

Gov. Rick Scott has flatly denied Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s call to bend the state’s gun laws to allow the regulation of firearms during the Republican National Convention.
In a letter sent to Buckhorn this morning, Scott said the potential for violence in the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the convention isn’t enough to “resort to sweeping infringements on our most sacred constitutional traditions.”
The letter is dated May 1, the same day Buckhorn argued that state law gives the governor the power to restrict handguns during emergency situations.
Given the potentially charged atmosphere of a convention, guns deserve the same amount of restriction as the sticks, poles and water guns the city plans to ban from downtown, the mayor said.
Sticks, poles and water guns aren’t protected by the federal and state constitutions, Scott replied.
“The short answer to your question is found in the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and in Article 1, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution,” he wrote to Buckhorn.
Scott said he shared the mayor’s concern about the potential for violence during the convention.
“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.”
Scott said he trusts the thousands of police officers on hand for the convention will able to keep the situation under control.

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