| DATE: | April 23, 2020 |
| TO: | USF & NRA Members and Friends |
| FROM: | Marion P. Hammer |
| USF Executive Director | |
| NRA Past President |
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody sent a letter to Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried asking her to stop delaying the processing of Concealed Weapons & Firearms License applications. And of course, Nikki Fried falsely denied doing anything wrong.
Clearly, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has exceeded her authority and is unlawfully exercising her own anti-gun political desires. Florida law is very clear and Nikki Fried should take the time to actually read the law.
Florida Statutes 790.06 reads:
790.06 – License to carry concealed weapon or firearm. Section (15):
(15) The Legislature finds as a matter of public policy and fact that it is necessary to provide statewide uniform standards for issuing licenses to carry concealed weapons and firearms for self-defense and finds it necessary to occupy the field of regulation of the bearing of concealed weapons or firearms for self-defense to ensure that no honest, law-abiding person who qualifies under the provisions of this section is subjectively or arbitrarily denied his or her rights. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall implement and administer the provisions of this section. The Legislature does not delegate to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services the authority to regulate or restrict the issuing of licenses provided for in this section, beyond those provisions contained in this section. Subjective or arbitrary actions or rules which encumber the issuing process by placing burdens on the applicant beyond those sworn statements and specified documents detailed in this section or which create restrictions beyond those specified in this section are in conflict with the intent of this section and are prohibited. This section shall be liberally construed to carry out the constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense. This section is supplemental and additional to existing rights to bear arms, and nothing in this section shall impair or diminish such rights.
In her letter, AG Ashley Moody expressed concern that the state might be sued because of Nikki Fried’s actions. She has every right to be concerned. It would be very difficult for the Attorney General to defend the State when a Cabinet Member (Nikki Fried) has clearly been violating the law.