Dear fellow patriots,

I just learned that the Florida Senate is considering a bill [HB-209] that would permit citizens to be armed in the case of a declared emergency. The Senate also has their own bill proposal [SB-296]; however, it is the House Bill, without amendments, that would be most favorable to law-abiding citizens.

 As disconcerting as it sounds, the reality is that the current law allows local officials to declare an emergency and in effect, make it illegal for citizens, even those like myself who have concealed permits, to transport and bear arms.  Of all times to be prevented from exercising the right to bear arms guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment, surely an emergency like a hurricane and forced evacuation would not be the hour citizens should be told you have no right to leave your home with a firearm.  As it currently stands, a citizen legally bearing or transporting a firearm during a declared emergency could be arrested!

Add to the above concern, the Florida Sheriffs Association is a major proponent and player in denying the rights of citizens to bear arms in a declared emergency. Please refer to this site for additional information: http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2014/4/florida-critical-alert-sheriffs-still-attacking-second-amendment-rights.aspx

Today is the day you must contact Florida Senators…HB-209 is under consideration this day, April 30.

The following is my personal letter to Florida Senators and you are welcome to use it as a pattern for your own email:

Dear Florida Senators,

The purpose of this email is to request that you and your peers would take up and pass House Bill HB-209 allowing law-abiding citizens to keep and have in their possession their personal firearms in the case of a declared emergency by local officials.

My wife and I are both concealed permit holders and I am appalled that the current status of the law is that I would be denied my 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. This is especially egregious if that Constitutional right would be denied me or my family in an emergency when law and order might be at risk and law enforcement detained by criminal activities preventing them from a timely response to pleas for help.

Please pass HB-209 with no amendments.

The following are email addresses for Florida Senators that you may copy and paste into your email:

abruzzo.joseph.web@flsenate.gov,
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov,
bean.aaron.web@flsenate.gov,
benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov,
bradley.rob.web@flsenate.gov,
brandes.jeff.web@flsenate.gov,
detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov,
portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov,
evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov,
flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov,
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov,
galvano.bill.web@flsenate.gov,
garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov,
gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov,
grimsley.denise.web@flsenate.gov,
hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov,
hukill.dorothy.web@flsenate.gov,
lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov,
legg.john.web@flsenate.gov,
negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov,
richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov,
simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov,
simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov,
stargel.kelli.web@flsenate.gov,
thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov

With a patriot’s heart,

Travis D. Smith