Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
Florida – -(AmmoLand.com)- On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, two bills supported by NRA & USF were heard and overwhelmingly passed in the House Criminal Justice Committee.
- HB-403 Property & Guns Rights of Churches by Rep. Erin Grall (R) is a bill to restore the private property rights of religious institutions. It restores the right of churches to allow the licensed carrying of firearms on church property for safety and security of church members and guests. The bill passed the House Criminal Justice Committee by a vote of 12-2.
- HB-6005 Guns/Vehicles in Parking Lots of Schools by Rep Cord Byrd (R) Stops School Districts from overriding the law and the Constitution and restores the right of adults to have guns securely stored in their cars in school parking lots. This bill passed by a vote of 10-3.
Ms. Shannon Guse, speaking on behalf of Moms Demand Action, made patently false statements in her testimony about HB-403. But she didn’t get away with it. Democrat Ranking Committee Member, Rep. Michael Grieco, called her out in front of the Committee for her inaccurate testimony.
Rep. Michael Grieco told Shannon Guse, “I have concerns when there are statements made that are just blatantly inaccurate.” He also said statements about guns going into jails and prisons are completely inaccurate… that’s not what’s happening ma’am. I have worked with you folks for several years now, I’m with you, but when you come in here, you’ve got to be accurate.”
Prior to Rep. Greico’s reprimand of Moms Demand Action’s Shannon Guse, Rep. Byron Donalds (R) told Committee Members that the intent of the bill is clear and “the other thing that’s clear, given the public testimony [of opponents], is that I’m not sure if they actually read the bill.”
This is certainly not the first time speakers on behalf Moms Demand Action have given inaccurate testimony but it is the first time Committee members (both Democrat and Republican) have taken them to task for inaccurate testimony.
Rep. Michael Greico (D) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R) are to be commended for insisting on accuracy.
You can watch the hearing on both bills by clicking on the link below to The Florida Channel’s video of the hearing.
https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/3-12-19-house-criminal-justice-subcommittee/
The beginning of testimony on HB-403 starts at 50 minutes into the hearing. Move the time button at the bottom of video to 50 minutes. HB-6005 testimony immediately follows HB-403.
ROLL CALL VOTES on HB-403: FOR: Reps. James Bush (D), Byron Donalds (R), Dane Eagle (R), Juan Fernandez-Barquin (R), Heather Fitzenhagen (R), James Grant (R), Michael Grieco (D), Stan McClain (R), Spencer Roach (R), William Robinson (R), Anthony Sabatini (R), David Santiago (R), AGAINST: Reps. Michael Gottlieb (D), Adam Hattersley (D).
ROLL CALL VOTES on HB-6005: FOR: Byron Donalds (R), Dane Eagle (R), Juan Fernandez-Barquin (R), Heather Fitzenhagen (R), James Grant (R), Stan McClain (R), Spencer Roach (R), William Robinson (R), Anthony Sabatini (R), David Santiago (R), AGAINST: Reps. James Bush (D), Reps. Michael Gottlieb (D), Adam Hattersley (D).