'Colbert Report' visits the Keys to check in on the gun culture

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Did you watch the clip in the OP link?

I certainly did, that's why I can't believe it is perfectly legal to do so.

[Boiler 45,525]

I have various NRA books from when I did course and this certainly would not be in accordance with their printed documents.

As I understand it where I am it is OK, town ordinances may, probably do, prohibit it but out in the country it is not so much an issue. I know somebody who built hos own range but it is more like one you would see at a gun club. He used a backhoe.

Obviously the guy is a nut job, no shortages of those around. You would have thought they would get him on noise, one of his guns did look like a 22LR, .357 would be loud.

[TBoneTX 45,304]

Thread locked for review.

[TBoneTX 45,304]

One post returned to thread minus removed quote and with acceptable content:

This isn't the only legal private back yard gun range in the state. State law allows it.

http://highlandstoda...h.YP0NKyow.dpuf

Another post returned to thread minus removed quote:

Any reasonably aware person knows the NRA would never support what that man is doing.

Another post returned to thread minus removed quote and with acceptable material remaining:

You might want to take a look at what nutty legislation the NRA pushed here in FL this last session. Fortunately, sanity prevailed and the NRA was defeated.

These sources aren't questionable - it is FL media that I quoted.

Sixteen posts in this thread have been removed for baiting, responding to baiting with no attempt to defuse the situation, personal attacks, quoting the removed material, and off-topic comments; 3 posts have been returned to the thread.

Further violations like the above strongly risk undesirable consequences for the offenders.

Please discuss the topic alone. Strong opinions are fine, without bringing personalities or bad blood into the thread. It's also proper (in every way) not to respond to baiting -- here and anytime. Thanks.

TBoneTX

VJ Moderation

Edited June 8, 2014 by TBoneTX

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

One post returned to thread minus removed quote and with acceptable content:

Another post returned to thread minus removed quote:

Another post returned to thread minus removed quote and with acceptable material remaining:

Sixteen posts in this thread have been removed for baiting, responding to baiting with no attempt to defuse the situation, personal attacks, quoting the removed material, and off-topic comments; 3 posts have been returned to the thread.

Further violations like the above strongly risk undesirable consequences for the offenders.

Please discuss the topic alone. Strong opinions are fine, without bringing personalities or bad blood into the thread. It's also proper (in every way) not to respond to baiting -- here and anytime. Thanks.

TBoneTX

VJ Moderation

Do you think the authors of the 16 posts have any clue what they did or even if it was them. Also the quote that got deleted, how do we learn what is over the line and what isn't ?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Telling someone they're a pantywaisted little girl who doesn't deserve to be an American is a pretty clear violation of the TOS.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Telling someone they're a pantywaisted little girl who doesn't deserve to be an American is a pretty clear violation of the TOS.

Is that what was said ? i asked because I have no idea what was removed or who did it. All I am saying is how do we know what not to do, if it all gets nuked ?

as for the 16 bating and getting nowhere posts. Welcome to any thread in this forum

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Telling someone they're a pantywaisted little girl who doesn't deserve to be an American is a pretty clear violation of the TOS.

That depends on who's saying it.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

That depends on who's saying it.

True that.. If many of you said that to me, I would laugh and probably give you a plus one.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

True that.. If many of you said that to me, I would laugh and probably give you a plus one.

Me too.

[Neonred 3,564]

Glad we gave the mods something to do. Make them earn their money.

Edited June 8, 2014 by Neonred

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Glad we gave the mods something to do. Make them earn their money.

I am pretty sure somebody Tom Sawyered them into putting up with us for free.

[Neonred 3,564]

I am pretty sure somebody Tom Sawyered them into putting up with us for free.

I was pretty sure they were worth exactly what they were getting paid.

[Neonred 3,564]

An update. Looks like things are going to change.

Judge's ruling is good news for the Keys and gun safety, let's hope it stands

In January, when reports started filtering in that Big Pine Key resident Doug Varrieur had built a gun range and was firing away on his Eden Pines subdivision lot, the outrage and disbelief was almost universal throughout Monroe County.

How could any sane law allow someone to build and use such a thing in his yard, putting his neighbors in harm's way of errant bullets?

Well, because state law amended in 2011 specifically says local lawmakers essentially are not allowed to block shooting ranges on private property under penalty of removal from office and a $5,000 fine.

So theoretically, the Keys -- actually, any community in Florida -- could have thousands of open-air gun ranges in residential neighborhoods, with bullets flying right next to kids playing in their yards. There simply is nothing our County Commission can do locally.

However, change and the dawn of common sense might be on the horizon.

Last Thursday, Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper ruled in Tallahassee that provisions in the law allowing the governor to remove elected local officials from office for instituting local gun laws violate the Florida Constitution's separation of powers.

The ruling, which the state almost certainly will appeal, grew out of a lawsuit Palm Beach County officials filed in 2012. They were later joined in the case by Broward County.

The law as it now stands makes no sense, of course. Then again, we're known as the Gunshine State for a reason. With support from the National Rifle Association, our majority Republican leadership in state government never met a gun law it liked -- except to make firearms and their use more accessible.

Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" saw the ridiculousness of it and came down to interview Varrieur, his neighbors and County Commissioner George Neugent, and produced a seven-minute segment called "Difference Makers" that debuted last week.

To start it off, Stephen Colbert said he couldn't pick his favorite state even if he had a gun to his head, but decided to choose Florida, after all, since it's "the state where I will most likely have a gun to my head."

Varrieur came off, to be blunt, like a jackass. In the segment, neighbors and Neugent used numerous words to describe him that all pointed to one thing -- narcissism.

Varrieur, who sells weight-loss products, simply laughed when asked if he had ever missed a target. When the issue came up of one of his bullets possibly striking a youngster kayaking in the canal behind his house, he said, "I don't care."

He might think it's funny. It is not. Bullets flying through the air in residential neighborhoods is simply irresponsible. There's an indoor gun range on Big Coppitt Key, not far from Varrieur's house, he can use.

Monroe County Attorney Bob Shillinger says he's looking at the Leon County decision to see what exactly it means. Does it mean local gun-control laws can be enacted? Who knows.

But Palm Beach and Broward no doubt will continue to fight this, and we wholeheartedly endorse them. Because for now, the Keys are the poster county for this needless safety threat. If the law isn't overturned, the other 66 counties will soon follow.

http://www.keysnet.com/2014/06/11/497247/judges-ruling-is-good-news-for.html?sp=/99/116/

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thanks for the update!

Will cooler heads prevail? Find out next time, on Soap!