32 Comments

Way to go Lee!

Attacking a pro-gun guy for calling out a Republican that killed constitutional carry. Byrd was the committee chair right? Why did he kill the bill? You think it is wrong calling out a Republican that claims to be pro-gun and then kills pro-gun bills by never bringing them up for a vote?

And to think, I was a Florida Carry member. I sure ain't renewing next year.

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The rep who introduced constitutional carry didn't find a senate sponsor so it was going nowhere. That's on the rep, not Byrd. That's how the legislature works, Bob.

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Last I checked, the House can introduce legislation and pass it. It is then up to the Senate to do the same. Legislation does not need "companion bills".

For Byrd being the Committee's Chair to not do that shows that he really doesn't care about the 2nd Amendment and instead cares about what the party tells him to do.

The Democrats always push bills, they never wait for the someone else to sponsor it on the Senate side. They always push a bill to keep their gun control narrative front and center.

Again, for you to attack a pro-gun guy rightfully calling out a Republican that killed pro-gun bills in his committee.

You showed that you care more about the party than the cause.

As the saying goes: The leadership doesn't put you in office, the voters do.

I will not be renewing my membership with Florida Carry next year if they keep you as the Communications Director.

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Sep 2, 2021Liked by Lee Williams

I really believe it's more a question of choosing the better battles to fight.

Not everything relies on media coverage.

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Exactly. Lee doesn't understand civics, and has the gall to talk about us. The only demand for a companion bill is to get out of doing his job.

FIRE BYRD. PROTECT GUN RIGHTS.

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At least when I post a comment I'm not afraid to use my real name, Luis.

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At least when I post a comment I attack the arguments, not a irreverent point or the commenter. That's how I know I've won the argument - when the other person can't debate my arguments, but tries to debate about me.

(Also, sorry for not using my real name - I have in the past and been attacked by anti-gunners who wanted to get me fired. Its called cancel culture. If you haven't heard of it, you may want to look it up while looking up how legislation works).

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Sep 2, 2021Liked by Lee Williams

When govt schools stopped teaching civics, the whole country was cheated.

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Exactly. Sometimes a little bit of knowledge is worse than no knowledge.

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Who cares? They don't need a sponsor. Pass the bill and let the Senate vote on it. That's how the legislature works!

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That's laughable, "Bob." Best of luck in your future endeavors.

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Sep 2, 2021Liked by Lee Williams

Makes me wonder how GOA directorships are filled.

Is this apparent misunderstanding of the legislative process that which results in the Republicans regularly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? Throwing dirt on others working toward the same goal is really counterproductive. It destroys pieces of the foundations our members rely on for their efforts to gain or retain office and gives the opposition all the fuel they need to defeat us.

I'm not sure if it's better to be able to blame lack of knowledge or internal strife or maybe even greed, but the GOP seems to be it's own worst enemy sometimes.

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A M E N ! ! !

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Marion Hammer attacked Florida Carry in the past for doing what GOA did with Rep. Byrd.

https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2017-12-08/death-of-gun-bills-in-fla-senate-pit-gop-allies-gun-rights-groups-against-one-another

"And, with the failure of each proposal to pass, Florida Carry—in its newsletter—blamed Senator Garcia and Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) for helping to tank several of the proposals. The NRA’s Marion Hammer also did the same, adding Florida Carry to her target list. In her newsletter to her members, she stated Florida Carry sided with Moms Demand Action, not Florida gun owners."

Looks like Florida Carry sold their soul to the NRA since they attacked the GOA for the very thing they used to do. Hold lawmakers accountable for killing pro gun bills.

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This isn't about Marion. It's about you, Luis.

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Sounds like Valdes is right, and Byrd isn't doing his job. Stop whining, get bills in committee for a vote. Let them live or die. Protect our rights or find another job.

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Luis, you should really start posting under your real name.

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Lee, you should start addressing my arguments, not my anonymity. (And no, my name is not Lius)

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LOL! Okay, Luis. My favorite part is when you reply to your own comments. That's hilarious, and was very welcome after a long day. Thanks!

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My favorite part is just how WRONG you are, not just about who I am, but about protecting gun rights.

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I agree with Patrick Henry here. Am I a Luis, too? lol

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We must all be Luis according to Mr. Williams. He seems to think by claiming that he has some moral high ground and can avoid discussing the points made that he clearly doesn't like.

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Yup. Notice how he doesn't address my points, he just calls me names (that are hilariously wrong). That's how I know I won the argument - nothing left to argue.

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i, too, agree with Patrick Henry and know Lee is lying to us. am i Luis?

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Funny that Florida Carry says Byrd is all about upholding the state constitution.

"Byrd has proven he can always be counted on to support our God-given and constitutional right of self-defense. He is a strong supporter of both the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution, and he has earned an A+ rating from the NRA."

It says plain as day that the legislature can regulate carry and that it is not a right.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?submenu=3#A1S08

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law."

It also says that waiting period are okay.

"There shall be a mandatory period of three days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, between the purchase and delivery at retail of any handgun."

Looks like Byrd is okay with upholding gun control and why he is against Constitutional Carry. If that passed, Byrd would have no power over the people. Is Florida Carry and the NRA also fine with upholding that?

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Thanks for the comment, Luis.

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Is everyone who disagrees with what Byrd did named Luis? That seems unlikely and just a way to avoid addressing their points. But hey, man, if you don't want to engage in honest debate and discuss relevant facts about the things Byrd does that's on you.

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I guess this article didn't play out like you thought, huh, Lee. i hope you learn not to lie to people in the future.

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"For reasons known only to Valdes, he singled Byrd out for blame...." Was this written by a moron? The reasons are clearly stated and make a lot of sense. Byrd is an impediment to our rights.

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Bad, but still nowhere close to the level of sabotage the NRA used to engage in, where their regional lobbyist would swoop into a state to bully the legislators out of good bills (like constitutional carry) that both they and their gun-owning constituents supported.

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You imply that a bill can't be passed without a companion bill in the other house. That's false. The rest of what you wrote amounts to personal attacks. I suggest you are the one who needs to apologize.

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Is there a shortage of time in the committee? How many bills per year don't get to committee purely because of time constraints?

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