They’re called undetectable firearms. These fully functioning guns often made with resin or plastic using a 3-D printer can be carried through a metal detector and past security without sounding any alarms.
In 2013, Congress acted to extend the ban on such guns by requiring that all firearms contain at least 3.7 ounces of steel so they can be detected by a metal detector. What Congress didn’t do, however, is require that the main components of a gun have to be metal – creating a huge legal loophole that allows people to simply attach a piece of metal to an otherwise fully-plastic gun to meet the law’s requirement.
These metal attachments, which make a plastic gun legal, could be easily removed before someone goes through a security screening – making the gun undetectable, yet likely still fully functional.
To close this loophole, two senior U.S. lawmakers today filed legislation to require that at least one main component in every firearm (i.e. the frame or barrel) be made of metal.
The legislation – filed by U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) – would make it illegal to manufacture or possess a firearm that doesn’t have a central metal component. Unlike an easily-detachable piece of metal, removing one of the gun’s main components prior to a security screening would likely make it inoperable.
“Thanks to advances in technology, anyone with a 3-D printer can simply print a fully-functioning firearm that can be snuck through a metal detector without being noticed,” Nelson said. “Congress acted in 2013 to ban these guns, but a loophole in the law allows people to attach a removable piece of metal to get around that law. These guns pose a real threat to our safety and we need to be doing everything we can to keep them off the streets and out of the hands of those who wish to do harm.”
Nelson and Schumer tried previously to attach similar language aimed at closing the loophole to the bill Congress approved in 2013, but Republicans refused to allow it. The pair tried again in 2015 to pass a bill nearly identical to the measure introduced today, but it too failed.
In August, Transportation Security Administration agents at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport found and confiscated a plastic gun from a passenger’s carry-on bag during screening. The gun, assembled using a 3-D printer, was found loaded with five live .22 caliber bullets.
A copy of the legislation is available here: https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/sites/default/files/3dguns2017.pdf.
Featured
Florida Supreme Court: New Posting, 3/6/2017, 3:30 p.m. ET
New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
- JQC re: Judge Dana Marie Santino (new JQC ethics case from Palm Beach County)
Follow the links at: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org.
Gov. Scott announces Gartner, Inc. to create 600 new jobs in Lee County
Governor Rick Scott announced today that Gartner, Inc., a global information technology research and advisory company, will expand in Lee County and create 600 new jobs. The company will also invest more than $21 million in the local community. Gartner currently employs more than 1,250 Floridians. The new jobs will include positions in sales, client service, research, finance, and more.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce today that Gartner will be expanding in Lee County to create 600 new jobs. Thanks to the hard work of Enterprise Florida and local economic development agencies, hundreds of Floridians in Southwest Florida will have the opportunities they need to find great jobs and provide for their families. This incredible news shows how important it is to continue to make Florida more competitive for job creation wins, and we will continue to fight to make sure our state has all the resources we need to become the job creation capital of the world.”
Gartner began its Fort Myers operation nearly two decades ago. Since then, it has grown to become the company’s second-largest office worldwide. Gartner’s latest commitment to the State of Florida follows the successful construction of two successive 120,000 square foot buildings in Fort Myers in 2012 and 2014, and the development of a new world class training facility in 2016 which totaled more than $46 million in capital investment. The company has also increased its workforce by more than 800 new jobs since 2012, now employing over 1,100 Floridians in Fort Myers. Gartner also employs almost 9,000 associates worldwide, including 1,900 research analysts and consultants, serving clients in more than 10,000 enterprises.
Gene Hall, chief executive officer of Gartner, said, “We appreciate the hard work of Enterprise Florida and the incentives approved by the State of Florida and Lee County. These efforts will help us continue to invest in the local community and support our long-term growth. We look forward to adding new talent to our existing workforce in Southwest Florida.”
This project was made possible through the close partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Lee County Economic Development Office, CareerSource Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “I’m proud that Gartner, one of Southwest Florida’s top employers, has chosen to expand its operations in Fort Myers. While Gartner has offices all across the globe, Florida’s skilled workforce has the talent the company needs to succeed.”
CareerSource Florida has offered Gartner performance-based partial reimbursement grants for employee training through the Quick Response Training (QRT) program. QRT grants are structured to be flexible and responsive to the training needs of new or expanding businesses.
CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard said, “CareerSource Florida is pleased to have assisted Gartner, Inc., with employee skills training through a Quick Response Training grant. The CareerSource Florida network stands ready to help Gartner and Florida businesses of all sizes meet recruiting, hiring and training needs to support their continued success and growth.”
Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, who is the Economic Development Office liaison for the Lee Board of County Commissioners, said, “These new jobs along with Gartner’s continued investment in Lee County will provide opportunities for generations. Lee County has worked very hard to position itself as one of the most attractive places to live, work and raise a family in the United States.”
About Gartner
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE) is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. We deliver the technology-related insight necessary for our clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior information technology (IT) leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to supply chain professionals, digital marketing professionals and technology investors, we are the valuable partner to clients in more than 10,000 distinct enterprises. We work with clients to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual roles. Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has almost 9,000 associates, including 1,900 research analysts and consultants, operating in more than 90 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.
Senator Torres files “Save Florida Call Centers Job Act of 2017”
State Senator Victor Torres (D-Orlando) has filed SB 1632 in an effort to reduce outsourcing of call center jobs and protect employees working in Florida. Nearly 350,000 Floridians are currently employed in customer service and support call center jobs today in the Sunshine State. As companies seeks ways to reduce costs, relocating these jobs to areas with lower wages, either out-of-state or to another country, places Florida workers in jeopardy of losing their livelihoods.
“Off shoring and out-sourcing of jobs may be good for the corporate bottom line but it has tragic consequences for the working men and women of Florida,” said Senator Torres.
Representative Robert Asencio (D-Miami) has filed the companion bill HB 815 in the House of Representatives. “Call center workers often handle sensitive financial, health care and personal information that Floridians have a right to know is secure and protected,” he said. “When that interaction involves state business, it is only proper that their tax dollars are being used to support a secure and professional call center here in Florida. Not only is this about the good jobs that call centers support in communities across the state, it is about ensuring that we are at the forefront of data security.”
This bill will require existing call centers planning to relocate outside of Florida, or reducing their staff by more than 30 percent, to notify the Department of Business & Professional Regulation 120 days in advance of any relocation or downsizing. It also authorizes DBPR to establish an inventory list of call centers and number of employees and create a financial penalty for companies not in compliance with the notification requirements. Once on the non-compliance list, the bill would also bar these companies from certain state grants, loans and tax benefits for five years.
The AFL-CIO has expressed support for this legislation. Don Abicht, President of CWA Local 3122, which represents Florida’s communication workers said: “We thank the sponsors of the new legislation for their leadership and for recognizing that taxpayer money should go to strengthen Florida’s economy. It shouldn’t be used to ship jobs overseas. The “Save Florida Call Center Jobs Act of 2017” is an important bill that would help American workers, protect American communities, and benefit American consumers’ safety.”
For more information, please contact Senator Torres’s Legislative Aide Al Yorston at (850) 487-5015 or via email at: [email protected].
Florida Supreme Court: New Posting, 3/6/2017, 2:35 p.m. ET
New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
- Dante Martin v. State of Florida (jurisdictional brief of respondent).
Senate Education Committee Passes Religious Liberties Act
Legislation protects the Constitutional rights of students, parents, and teachers
The Florida Senate Committee on Education today passed Senate Bill 436 by Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Lady Lake), Religious Expression in Public Schools. The legislation creates the “Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act,” and specifies that a school district may not discriminate against a student, parent, or school personnel on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression.
“Freedom of Religion is a central right protected by our Constitution,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “This legislation makes it clear that the State of Florida stands for religious liberty and will take the steps necessary to protect the free speech rights of public school students, parents, teachers, and school administrators.”
Senate Bill 436 authorizes students to express religious beliefs in written and oral assignments, free from discrimination. Students may also wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display a religious message or symbol to the same extent secular types of clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted in public school dress codes. Further, students may pray, or engage in and organize religious activities before, during, and after the school day, to the same extent student engagement in secular activity or expression, and the organization of secular activities and groups are permitted.
“We should be encouraging, rather than preventing our students from expressing their religious convictions,” said Senator Baxley. “This legislation safeguards Freedom of Religion by protecting our students from being discriminated against based on the free expression of their religious ideals in spoken word or prayer, attire, school assignments, and extracurricular activities.”
The legislation requires a school district to comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and specifies that a school district may not prevent school personnel from participating in religious activities on school grounds that are student-initiated at reasonable times before or after the school day.
Districts must allow a religious group access to the same school facilities for assembling as a secular group without discrimination. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to adopt a policy that establishes a limited public forum for student speakers at any school event at which a student is to speak publicly. The legislation also requires the Florida Department of Education to develop and publish on its website a model policy regarding a limited public forum and the voluntary expression of religious viewpoints by students and school personnel in public schools. The model policy must be adopted and implemented by each district school board.
DSC multicultural event showcases language skills, March 30
Students enrolled in Daytona State College’s School of World Languages and Speech will showcase their skills in American Sign Language, French, German, Italian and Spanish during the seventh annual Multicultural Show on Thursday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m.
“Students will sing, dance, perform in skits and play various instruments,” said School of Adult Education instructor Yvonne Ward. “It’s a chance for students to put their language skills into practice, as well as showcase their talents.”
This year’s performance includes students who are learning English as a second language. ESOL classes at Daytona State teach beginning to advanced English language skills, helping students to learn or improve English, develop the skills needed to find a job or get a promotion, or prepare for college-level academic courses at Daytona State.
The show will be performed in the Davidson Theater at DSC’s News-Journal Center at 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. Light refreshments will be served following the 90-minute show.
The performance is free and open to the public.
For more information, call (386) 506-3070.
U.S. Forecast: How Will Economy Fare on Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride?
Forecasters’ Fear of Recession Continues to Decline
Just a few turbulent weeks into President Donald Trump’s administration, forecasters’ fears of a recession continue to decrease, according to the latest U.S. forecast from the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at UCF College of Business.
In the first Survey of Professional Forecasters by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia since Trump took office, the forecasters indicated an 11.21 percent chance that a decline in real Gross Domestic Product will occur in the second quarter of 2017.
“That anxious index, which is a term coined by The New York Times reporter David Leonhardt, indicates the probability of a decline in real GDP in the quarter after a survey is taken,” said Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness, in his first quarterly national economic forecast of 2017. “In the most recent survey, the forecasters’ assignment of probability for a near term contraction in real GDP is the lowest since 2015.”
Snaith said he anticipates faster economic growth and higher inflation—both of which have eluded the Federal Reserve for years—based on Trump’s proposed economic policy path, which emphasizes tax reform, regulatory rollbacks and infrastructure spending.
“As details of the economic policies pursued by the Trump administration become available and the wild ride of the initial weeks of the administration concludes, the possibility that economic growth could accelerate at an even faster pace, which seemed unlikely prior to the presidential election, could very well come to pass,” said Snaith, likening Trump’s first few weeks in office to Disney’s topsy-turvy Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. “But if the wild ride lasts longer than expected, economic motion sickness could change this positive outlook to a negative one.”
The Institute for Economic Competitiveness report forecasts average real GDP growth from 2017 to 2020 of 3.1 percent. The projected growth rate for 2019 would be the first time the U.S. economy experienced annual growth at 3.4 percent or higher since 2004, according to the forecast.
Average monthly payroll job growth has been decelerating since 2014, but the forecast projects the new administration will provide a bump to job growth in 2018-19. Snaith said uncertainty and regulatory burdens have been hindering payroll job growth, which will slow to a growth rate of 1.5 percent in 2017 before increasing to 1.6 percent in 2018 and 1.7 percent in 2019.
A stronger dollar in a world of weak growth and rising interest rates in the U.S. are expected to boost imports and depress exports. As a result, Snaith said he expects net exports to weigh on the economy through 2020, although he notes Trump’s trade policies could alter this outlook significantly.
The forecast shows the housing market slowly improving through 2020, despite rising interest rates, with housing starts rising from 1.28 million in 2017 to 1.67 million in 2020. Unemployment rates are expected to decline to 3.8 percent in mid-2020, and job growth will be enough to keep up with labor-force growth until 2019 when unemployment stabilizes.
Inflation is expected to accelerate in 2017, which Snaith says will push the Fed to move more quickly to raise interest rates. Core Consumer Price Index inflation is expected to average 2.5 percent during 2017-20.
For the full forecast, visit: https://issuu.com/ucfbusiness/docs/ucf-us-forecast-feb_2017
Snaith is a national expert in economics, forecasting, market sizing and economic analysis who authors quarterly reports about the state of the economy. Bloomberg News has named Snaith as one of the country’s most accurate forecasters for his predictions about the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate, the Federal Funds rate.
The Institute for Economic Competitiveness strives to provide complete, accurate and timely national, state and regional forecasts and economic analyses. Through these analyses, the institute provides valuable resources to the public and private sectors for informed decision-making.
About UCF College of Business Administration
Established in 1968, the UCF College of Business Administration offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and executive levels. All programs, as well as the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting are accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The college provides high-quality academic programs designed to give students a competitive advantage in the world of business now and in the future. Learn more at business.ucf.edu.
Boynton Beach woman claims $1 million prize playing $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Kaswanna Bean, 29, of Boynton Beach, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $745,000.00.
“This all feels like a dream,” said Bean. “I have to keep pinching myself to make sure this is actually happening!”
Bean purchased her winning ticket from Express Food & Beverage, located at 103 East Boynton Beach Boulevard in Boynton Beach. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $20 game, $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER, features six top prizes of $5 million, 30 prizes of $1 million, and more than $752 million in total cash prizes! This $20 game offers more than 16.8 million winning tickets, and overall odds of winning are one-in-2.99.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
PSC Helps Consumers in Miramar and Hollywood During National Consumer Protection Week
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Miramar and Hollywood about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
8:30 a.m.
Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose Center
2030 Polk Street
Hollywood, Florida 33020
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Miramar Senior Center
6700 Miramar Parkway
Miramar, Florida 33023
And
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
12 – 1 p.m.
Sunset Lakes Senior Center
2801 SW 186th Avenue
Miramar, Florida 33029
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
