• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video
You are here: Home / Soup Du Jour / Former Senate Democratic Leader/CRC Member Chris Smith Files Assault Weapons Ban Amendment

Former Senate Democratic Leader/CRC Member Chris Smith Files Assault Weapons Ban Amendment

Posted on March 12, 2018

In an effort to give Florida voters a chance to decide for themselves whether civilians should possess weapons of war, former Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith today filed an amendment with the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) which, if the voters agree, would ban assault weapons in The Sunshine State.

“Since the 2016 horrific shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and especially after the Valentine’s Day tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School, Floridians have signaled their support for an assault weapons ban,” said Smith, who is currently a member of the 2017-2018 CRC and may directly submit an amendment proposal. “Since the Legislature did not act, I wanted to give the people the power to decide for themselves.”

The CRC is a 37-member organization established every 20 years, tasked with reviewing the state constitution and recommending any needed changes. Members are appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Senate President and House Speaker.

Under Smith’s proposal the sale or transfer of assault weapons would be prohibited. The legislature may enact legislation within the amendment’s framework to provide exceptions to the prohibition on the transfer of assault weapons legally possessed prior to the effective date of the ban.

In his amendment, an “assault weapon” is defined as a semiautomatic rifle that is able to accept a detachable magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that is capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition, or that has a fixed magazine capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition.

The amendment, which will now undergo vetting by the CRC committee process, must garner 22 votes by the full CRC membership in order to appear on the November 2018 ballot.

If successful, and if 60 percent of Florida’s voters then sign off on the Smith amendment, the assault weapons ban would become part of Florida’s state constitution.

Share this article! Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Filed Under: Soup Du Jour Tagged With: Amendment, assault weapons ban, Florida Constitution Revision Commission, Florida Senate Democratic Office

Primary Sidebar

    Submit News    

Florida DBPR Opens Entry Period for Annual Quota Beverage License Drawing

A total of 35 licenses are available in 19 Florida counties The Florida Department of Business and … [Read More...] about Florida DBPR Opens Entry Period for Annual Quota Beverage License Drawing

FDOT Receives Grants Totaling $37 Million to Enhance Transportation Safety

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has been awarded two grants which support Florida’s commitment … [Read More...] about FDOT Receives Grants Totaling $37 Million to Enhance Transportation Safety

FDOT District Four Community Traffic Safety Team Encourages Everyone to Slow Down

Back to School Means Sharing the Road The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and our Community … [Read More...] about FDOT District Four Community Traffic Safety Team Encourages Everyone to Slow Down

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Newsletter signup

Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive a brief recap of the week's most popular stories.

Footer

News

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video

About Us 

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021
Terms & Conditions

© Copyright 2022 Capital Soup · All Rights Reserved ·