Note: This is the Part II of MY STUPID STATE, where I document what happens when a state full of Democrats elect a veto-proof right-wing legislature along with a teabag CRIMINAL governor to lead us. (Once again, yes--an actual bona-fide criminal who literally stole from seniors, who subsequently elected him.) This is my documentation of my beloved but idiotic state's slow descent into chaos.
So this week, on the heels of the AZ massacre...my new freshman state Rep., Jason Brodeur, from my own Seminole County no less, wants the government to tell the doctors what they can and cannot say in their own office. Scott Maxwell:
Specifically, he wants to criminalize questions about guns.
Right now, many pediatricians ask questions of parents to make sure their kids are safe.
"Do you have a pool? Is it fenced in?"
"Do you have any dangerous chemicals in the house? Are they locked up?"
"Do you have a handgun? Is it secure?"
Brodeur wants to make asking the last question a crime.
Any doctor who dares to ask it could be thrown in prison for five years and fined ... up to $5 million.
To put that in perspective, murdering someone in this state carries a fine of up to $15,000.
Yes. My new idiot representative thinks its necessary because the doctor could compile a list and give the information to the state.
Even though that has never happened before.
Even though it would violate the privacy oath and the doctor would lose his license.
Even though you could just decline to answer
Even though you could just get a f*&^ing new doctor
A pediatrician who dares to ask a parent if they keep guns safely stored in their house would be jailed and fined. Free speech be damned. This is the my state.
But that is only the beginning.
There are two other bills now pending for for looser gun laws, as I suppose we Floridians all agree is the number one pressing problem in this state.
Not the sky-high 12% unemployment, not being the leader in the nation in foreclosures, no no.
It's the fact that gun owners need to wear their AK-47s and Mac-10s on the outside of their clothing... ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES!! Yes, that is really one of the bills pending, along with another one that forbids local governments from regulating firearms.
So January seems to be gun nut month. The gun lobby owns Tallahassee, and they have approved a gun promotion measure at the rate of one per year for the past decade. This, however, will be a banner year with no opposition.
I am cringing at next month, which will probalby be abortion month: Scott has promised to this time go forward with the forced rape bill that Crist vetoed. Shred privacy month and anti-brown people month will probably be close behind. (Scott wanted a special session to introduce the AZ law here.. super idea in a state dependent on tourism). I would suggest there would be a super-wealthy tax break month-but that apparently will be ongoing.
Stay tuned.