Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

Florida Alert! Democrats Vote Against Restoring Rights of Churches

Thursday, February 1, 2018

 

DATE: February 1, 2018
TO: USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
  USF Executive Director
  NRA Past President

The rights of churches are enshrined in the First Amendment. They are supposed to be left alone to enjoy their congregants, their property, and their freedom of choice. Yet, overwhelmingly Democrats in the Florida House and Florida Senate are continuing to vote against restoring their private property rights, their Second Amendment rights, their right to self-defense/defense of others and their right to secure their property and provide security for their congregants and guests.

Below is the report of action on pro-gun bills this week: 

MONDAY, January 29, 2018:

HB-39 by Rep. Dane Eagle was heard in the House Criminal Justice Sub-Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018 and PASSED by a vote of 9-4.

HB-39 is a bill to stop the abuse of law-abiding citizens who are licensed by the State  to carry concealed firearms for self-defense and whose firearm becomes temporarily exposed to ordinary sight of another person.

VOTING FOR THE BILL:  Committee Chairman Ross Spano (R), Representatives Thad Altman (R), Dane Eagle (R), Julio Gonzalez (R), Bill Hager (R), Gayle Harrell (R), Chris Latvala (R), Jennifer Sullivan (R), Clay Yarborough (R)

VOTING  AGAINST THE BILL:  Representatives Ramon Alexander (D), Sharon Pritchett (D), David Richardson (D) Emily Slosberg (D),

WEDNESDAY, January 31, 2018:

HB-55 by Rep. Frank White was heard on the Floor of the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 and PASSED by a vote of 110-2.

HB-55 is a bill to authorize gun dealers to send background check fees (collected during the previous month) to FDLE by electronic means – rather than forcing them to mail in paper checks.

Only Reps. Evan Jenne (D) and Carlos Guillermo Smith voted AGAINST the bill.

THURSDAY, February 1, 2018:

HB-1419 by Rep. Lawrence McClure & Rep. Ross Spano was heard in the House Judiciary Committee and PASSED by a vote of 13-6

HB-1419 Guns on Church Property/Church Private Property Rights is a bill to restore private property rights to churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions. It restores the right of individual churches to decide whether or not to allow concealed firearms license holders to carry on church private property for security.

VOTING FOR THE BILL:  Committee Chairman Chris Sprowls (R), Representatives Danny Burgess (R), Cord Byrd (R), Heather Fitzenhagen (R), Julio Gonzalez (R), Erin Grall (R), Shawn Harrison (R), Larry Metz (R), George Moratis (R), Daniel Perez (R), Scott Plakon (R), Ross Spano (R), Jay Trumbull (R)

VOTING  AGAINST THE BILL:  Representatives Ramon Alexander (D), John Cortes (D), Ben Diamond (D), Joe Geller (D), Sharon Pritchett (D), Cynthia Stafford (D)

SB-1048 by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R) was heard in the Senate Rules Committee and PASSED by a vote of 7-5.

SB-1048 Guns on Church Property/Church Private Property Rights  by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R) is a bill to restore private property rights to churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions. It restores the right of individual churches to decide whether or not to allow concealed firearms license holders to carry on church private property for security.

VOTING FOR THE BILL: Committee Chairwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto (R, Senators Rob Bradley (R), Jeff Brandes (R), Anitere Flores (R), Tom Lee (R), Keith Perry (R), Wilton Simpson (R)

VOTING  AGAINST THE BILL: Senators Lauren Book (D), Oscar Braynon (D), Bill Monford (D), Jose Rodriguez (D), Perry Thurston (D)

It was a great week! Thank you for your help.



 

 

 

 

 

TRENDING NOW
Virginia Anti-gun Lawmakers Delay “Assault Firearm” Carry and Transportation Restriction

News  

Monday, July 6, 2026

Virginia Anti-gun Lawmakers Delay “Assault Firearm” Carry and Transportation Restriction

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) and the General Assembly’s ruling anti-gun majority have delayed the enactment of one of their most controversial pieces of legislation, a severe restriction on Virginians’ ability to move about the ...

As the Court Decisions Roll In, Have Gun Controllers Finally Overplayed Their Hand?

News  

Thursday, July 2, 2026

As the Court Decisions Roll In, Have Gun Controllers Finally Overplayed Their Hand?

The final week of June brought a flurry of legal action on various gun control laws in the states.

Judge Rules Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Bans Secured by NRA Applies Statewide

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Judge Rules Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Bans Secured by NRA Applies Statewide

In the NRA’s challenge to Virginia’s “assault firearm” and magazine bans, Santolla v. Katz, Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell of the Washington County Circuit Court issued a letter opinion yesterday making clear that the preliminary injunction ...

SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Challenges to “Assault Weapon” Bans

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Challenges to “Assault Weapon” Bans

Today, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in two cases challenging bans on “assault weapons.”

Promises Made, Promises Kept: DOJ Keeps Up Second Amendment Offense

News  

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Promises Made, Promises Kept: DOJ Keeps Up Second Amendment Offense

We are not getting tired of heaping praise upon Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), as she continues to push the envelope when it comes ...

President Trump Reiterates Support for National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity and NRA

News  

Monday, June 29, 2026

President Trump Reiterates Support for National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity and NRA

During remarks to American workers at a Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pa. on June 23, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity and NRA.  

NRA Secures Statewide Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Bans

Monday, June 29, 2026

NRA Secures Statewide Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Bans

In a major victory for the right to keep and bear arms, the Washington Circuit Court today granted a statewide preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of Virginia’s newly enacted “assault firearm” and magazine bans, finding that ...

Florida Court: Young Adult Carry Ban Reduces the Second Amendment to a “Second-Class Right”

News  

Monday, June 29, 2026

Florida Court: Young Adult Carry Ban Reduces the Second Amendment to a “Second-Class Right”

A recent court decision adds Florida to the list of some 14 constitutional (“permitless”) carry states in which adults under the age of 21 may legally carry firearms. 

Trump Reinforces Support for the Second Amendment During National AM250 Address

News  

Monday, July 13, 2026

Trump Reinforces Support for the Second Amendment During National AM250 Address

It may not need to be said, but we’ll keep saying it: Donald Trump is the most pro-Second Amendment president in the NRA’s history of protecting the right to keep and bear arms.  While the nation ...

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Illinois’s Waiting Period Requirement for Firearm Purchases

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Illinois’s Waiting Period Requirement for Firearm Purchases

The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit challenging Illinois’s 72-hour waiting period requirement for firearm purchases.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.