Slanted Script

"In Florida, trying to pick out the dumbest piece of legislation is a tough task."


Scott Maxwell
The Orlando Sentinel

This was noted in an editorial piece by Scott Maxwell in his Taking Names column in The Orlando Sentinel titled, "As kids die, Florida continues costly crusade against gun safety." Maxwell is torqued about a law prohibiting doctors, pediatricians and psychiatrists, from inquiring about patient practices regarding gun ownership, usage and firearm safety. 

Maxwell notes that these conversations, similar to those about dangerous chemicals, commonplace and voluntary, make perfect sense and result in saving lives.

I have never had such discussions with my doctors.  Ole Doc never informed me to be careful around gas tanks, to keep a keen eye out for that outboard motor propeller or issued pointers on any of the items I learned about in the Boy Scouts.

Maxwell described the law presented by freshman state Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, who Maxwell opined "wanted to imprison doctors who asked such questions and fine them up to $5 million."  Although this was passed in the Legislature, Maxwell noted a federal judge blocked it, citing it as unconstitutional.

Then, as Maxwell notes in his column, at the NRA's urging, Florida Governor Rick Scott appealed the decision, costing taxpayers who pay for the state to defend the bill. Maxwell finds the state arguments "laughable" while I find the forced doctor inquisitions directed under Obamacare a violation of citizen rights of privacy.

I agree with Maxwell, that this law should not exist, but not for the reasons he cites in his column. As the federal judge who struck the law down said, "The law directly targets protected expression by restricting it."

Sadly; however, under Obamacare, physicians have been charged with obtaining, through these types of "conversations", information to relay to the government regarding household gun ownership.  Is this a back door way of obtaining a gun registry?

My trust of the Obama administration is pegged right there at zero, and the nation is beginning to catch on.  Although anyone may inquire, my physician has no right to seek out and report gathered information regarding my personal life as part of a data mining operation on behalf of the federal government.  Maxwell fails to mention that an ongoing effort to, at a minimum, restrict the second amendment is fully engaged by the administration and was likely the catalyst for the chain of events he has discussed.

Nobody, including The State of Florida, is against gun safety; in fact, it is encouraged and continuously taught across the state.  Instances where guns are participatory in the loss of lives, outside of law enforcement and the lawful defense of life or property by our citizens, almost exclusively occurs by those who would not be deemed as responsible gun owners, although accidents unfortunately take place.

I am sure Maxwell is a great guy, a family man and deeply cares for children across the state, but accidents in a myriad of ways unfortunately kill many children in our state, perhaps most notably drownings in swimming pools.  But, even for the most diligent Obamabot, these deaths don't fit the narrative and would be tough to place blame on the GOP in similar fashion to firearm related deaths.  Hence, harm to children is utilized to tug the heartstrings to advocate for a political agenda.

In Florida, trying to pick out the progressive mouthpieces masquerading as sensible representatives of the citizenry is a tough task.