Republican Convention Protest Zone: Squirt Guns Forbidden, Real Guns Allowed
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Florida state law has trumped common sense as the Republican Party prepares for its national convention in Tampa later this year.
In developing security measures for the August 27-30 event, city officials have prohibited protesters from carrying squirt guns into the authorized protest zone.
But not real guns.
Tampa leaders wanted to ban people from carrying handguns, but were prevented by a 2011 state law that forbids local governments from enacting ordinances regulating guns.
“It was just kind of common sense,” Assistant City Attorney Mauricio Rodriguez told the Tampa Bay Times. “We felt if we’re going to regulate people carrying sticks and poles, why wouldn't we regulate people carrying firearms, because those could pose significant risks to police and other protesters.”
Real guns will be prohibited in the convention itself because the gathering will be under the authority of the Secret Service.
In addition to squirt guns, demonstrators will not be allowed to bring in super soakers, air guns, paintball guns, containers containing urine or feces, tape or string longer than 6 inches, glass containers, ceramic vessels, light bulbs, padlocks and bicycle locks, gas masks, coolers, camping gear thermoses, ladders and umbrellas with metal tips.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky
To Learn More
Permitted Concealed Firearms Would Be Allowed in GOP Convention Protest Zone (by Richard Danielson, Tampa Bay Times)
- Top Stories
- Unusual News
- Where is the Money Going?
- Controversies
- U.S. and the World
- Appointments and Resignations
- Latest News
- Americans are Unhappy with the Direction of the Country…What’s New?
- Can Biden Murder Trump and Get Away With it?
- Electoral Advice for the Democratic and Republican Parties
- U.S. Ambassador to Greece: Who is George Tsunis?
- Henry Kissinger: A Pre-Obituary
Comments