Obamas plan will do little, Florida gun industry says

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 1:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 1:27 p.m.

Floridians involved in the gun trade were quick to react to President Barack Obama?s plan to reduce gun violence, saying the proposals threaten their business, infringe upon their rights and accomplish little.

Critics of the president?s agenda said that Florida?s gun laws have long been protective of an individual?s right to keep and bear arms ? so much so that it has given rise to the nickname: ?The Gunshine State.?

While California and several northeastern states have clamped down on military-style firearms, the weapons remain relatively unregulated in Florida.

The same is true for their 30-round magazines ? called ?high-capacity magazines? by gun control advocates and ?standard capacity? by their owners.

Florida requires no permit, license or identification card to buy or possess firearms and ammunition, as Illinois and some states do.

If a gun owner wants to carry a concealed pistol, the licensing process is simple and quick. The state also will sell a concealed carry license to non-residents. So far, more than 1.2 million have been sold at about $100 each.

The state?s preemption laws prohibit local governments from enacting their own gun regulations.

John Krotec owns Sarasota?s Environeers, a hiking and camping store that also sells firearms. He said the entire gun debate has been ?overblown and misunderstood.?

?Quite honestly, I?m not sure this is a good thing,? Krotec said. ?Do we restrict weapons based upon hysteria and fear, or do we implement the Second Amendment as the founding fathers saw fit?

?In a free society, you do not punish the 99 percent because 1 percent can?t follow the rules. The Second Amendment was a radical proposal at that time. The reality is, those guys had it right.

?Now, to place restrictions on a constitutional right is a serious offense.?

Sean Caranna ? founder and executive director of Florida Carry Inc., a gun-rights group with more than 9,000 members ? has long supported enhanced background checks, so long as private firearms sales will still be allowed.

Caranna said that bans of weapons and magazines ? especially the AR-15 ? are another story.

?The AR-15 is the most popular-selling rifle in America today, and it has been for many years. It?s a 50-year-old rifle,? Caranna said. ?This is really just a knee-jerk reaction that will only punish law-abiding people for the actions of a few crazies.

?Magazines ? we?re talking about something that?s standard equipment with most firearms. Most pistols have a magazine capacity of 15-19 rounds. Thirty-round mags have come with the AR-15 since its inception.

?We need to focus on the criminals, not a misused tool. To say that by banning this or banning that is going to stop murders is preposterous.?

John Buchan, co-owner of Sarasota?s High Noon Guns, said the president?s plan was ?a lot of rhetoric, a lot of stuff that?s been in place before, but not anything that will really help.?

Buchan strongly supports background checks and integrating mental health with criminal information.

?I back him on that 100 percent,? he said. ?But he needs to enforce it. This has been in place ? they don?t tell you that ? but it?s never been enforced. Who?s fault is that??

Buchan opposes the proposed 10-round magazine restriction. ?What?s that mean? Is is OK to shoot 10 people but not 11?? he asked.

Buchan spends nearly all of his day online and calling distributors searching for products to sell.

?Everybody?s so scared, they?re buying up everything,? he said. ?Try to find a semi-auto .22 rifle. Try to find a Glock. Try to find a Ruger LC9. You can?t. They?re all gone, or the manufacturers are hoarding. This is going to hurt business in the long run.?

Joe Krawtschenko, owner and lead firearms trainer of Bradenton?s Aegis Tactical, wonders if there will be any ?assault weapons? left to ban.

Krawtschenko is one of 60,000 attendees at the 2013 SHOT Show, the firearms industry?s premier trade show held this week in Las Vegas. It is not a gun show per se because it is not open to the public. Only manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others with proper credentials can get in.

Krawtschenko, who has a federal firearms license, was looking for one thing at the SHOT show: he wanted to buy guns for his customers.

?Almost all ARs and military style weapons are gone,? he said by phone from the show. ?There?s a few guns selling for $2,000 over retail. People are going crazy.?

One national firearms distributor Krawtschenko spoke to ? who usually has thousands of ARs in warehouses ? had only 15 guns left. Magazines and parts also are largely sold out.

While he disagrees with the weapons and magazine bans, Krawtschenko also sees no harm in background checks.

?At some of these gun shows, the deals are in the parking lot,? he said. ?The so-called collector who?s ?downsizing? his collection, if he?s at every single gun show, that guy is selling guns without a license.?

Marion Hammer, Florida?s National Rifle Association chief, declined to comment, saying the president?s proposal was a national issue better addressed by the NRA national headquarters.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Source: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20130116/article/130119712

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