This is the "gun range" that stands between our children and a young man's bullets. Feel safe yet? Please share this picture broadly. #frontyardgunrange I want this image even spread among super conservative sites so they can see what they are defending. Would they tolerate this 30 feet from where their children play?
It has been a wild day. My neighbors and I are exhausted. You'll be hearing about this story in many outlets between now and this weekend. I've interviewed with the New York Daily News, yes, that one. But so far, universally the commenters even on that site agree this is nuts.
Cooler heads may prevail. State legislators have just informed me a bill is headed to the state house to at least put some bumpers around this law. I've been speaking with staff and legislators themselves in some case on both sides of the aisle, because, it seems, this is simply unsupportable.
We are hopeful, but not naïve. We expect ugliness. We expect threats. We expect smears. Our community seems to have our backs though. Please wish us well.
#frontyardgunrange
8:31 PM PT: Please send Democratic Florida State Representative Darryl Rouson a thank you. He came to the site today and tomorrow he will enter a bill into consideration to close the loophole.
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/...
This was a top story on all 3 networks tonight in the region. All showed just how sketchy his set up is. One twitch and his round goes through the fence and hits the home that is his real backstop.
More neighbors getting involved too.
I am going to circle up with other folks this week to explore drafting a petition for a Constitutional Referendum on the issue. I may try to crowd source for support. Please stay tuned.
9:11 PM PT: State Senator Jeff Brandes, a City of St. Petersburg Republican, issued the following statement today. He deserves props for doing it:
"Reasonable people would agree that it is inappropriate and dangerous to operate a backyard shooting range with firearms in a residential neighborhood. As a combat veteran I can’t imagine that there is any way that a backyard shooting range like this can be operated safely. If this individual fires his weapon in this backyard shooting range I believe that he is committing a crime. Law enforcement is empowered by state law to arrest this individual if they believe he is acting recklessly or negligently."
May the Senator now lead his party and join with Representative Rouson across the aisle to forward legislation putting a stop to the ambiguity in the law.
9:14 PM PT: Democratic Mayor Kriseman has just weighed in with a BOLD statement:
"It's a ridiculous situation and we are going to put a stop to it,'' Kriseman said. "If it's not reckless and negligent to have a gun range in the middle of all these houses, then I don't know the definition of those words.
"... If they want to sue us, then let them sue us. My No. 1 job is public safety … and those residents are not safe right now.''
10:22 PM PT: http://www.tampabay.com/...
Even the NRA has come out AGAINST IT!!!!
Tue Feb 03, 2015 at 5:29 AM PT: I just signed the petition "Florida State House, Florida State Senate, Florida Governor: Expressly prohibit by law the creation or use of outdoor gun ranges in all land zones primarily for residential use and within 500 feet from any occupied dwelling, including off hours when residents or employees may not be present." and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.
Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/...
We thank you,
Patrick Leary