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Florida Legislature "Lets Liberty Ring" With More Gunshots

"Freedom Next Left!"

The 2013 session of the Florida legislature dealt with 15 gun bills. Out of those 15, including five changes to the Stand Your Ground law, only one passed, which was a bill that prevents people voluntarily admitted to a mental institution from possessing a firearm.

None of the Stand Your Ground changes passed. (George Zimmerman also recently passed on a Stand Your Ground hearing.)

Of the others that failed: One that mandated that only licensed dealers could sell guns at gun shows, a bill that would have repealed the "Docs and Glocks" law that banned doctors from asking patients about guns, one that would have given local governments the ability to regulate firearms in public locations, one that would have created firearms sales tax with revenues to be used for school safety, a bill that would have allowed counties and cities to regulate firearms, another to create a tax on guns sales to support mental health treatment, a bill to require anger management classes before ammunition purchases, one that would allow school principals to designate school employees to carry concealed weapons in schools, and one that would require universal background checks.

As the U.S. Senate was voting for strengthening background checks, which ultimately failed, the Legislature passed House Memorial 545, which warned federal officials not to infringe on the rights of gun owners:

One Representative shouted out “Let liberty ring!” before making the sound of loading a gun and asking his colleagues to support the bill. It passed in a lopsided vote that broke down mostly along party lines.

And of course, liberty rings on in Florida. On, and since Friday, the end of the legislative session:

Melbourne police arrested a member of Florida's National Guard on suspicion of threatening a group of women with a smoke grenade and an assault rifle. According to Melbourne police, William Soto Figueroa, 24, entered an apartment on Woodwind Trail—without permission—Wednesday night and scared four women inside with the grenade. The victims thought the smoke bomb was a grenade and ran into different rooms in the apartment, police said. Police say Figueroa left the apartment but later returned with an AR-15-style assault rifle.

A six year old child was shot by her 13 year old brother.

A 3-year-old boy who found a gun in a backpack and shot himself died.

In another location where three women were shot, the carnage took place about 150 feet away from what should be an ideal crime deterrent — a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office substation.

Since Newtown, there have been 253 gun deaths in Florida.

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They'll Protect Bunnies, But Protecting Children From Guns Is A Bridge Too Far?

Last year, despite a 50-year ban on dyeing bunnies and chicks in festive Easter colors, the Florida Legislature repealed the ban. Never mind that this practice is a form of animal cruelty and results in animals being tossed aside after the novelty of having a pink bunny pop up in an Easter basket has worn off.

No, because Florida is now a "corporations are people too" state, and the lords of business must be protected at all costs and allowed to profit off most anything or anyone in the name of the "free market." So say Republicans in the Legislature and the governor. Be it the poor in need of Medicaid, children in need of a decent education, or defenseless animals, in Florida anything goes, and they're given the privilege of paying almost nothing in taxes to do so.

This is why the 50 year ban on dyeing animals had to end:

But Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, the amendment sponsor, said dog groomers want the ban on dyeing lifted so they can colorize pets for competitions and parades. "We neuter dogs without their permission. I've never asked my poodle if he wanted a hair cut," Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said."

Yes, one's right to "colorize" a dog to resemble, say the American flag, to celebrate the Fourth of July must not be infringed! Despite objection from animal rights groups, Rick Scott naturally signed the bill post-haste.

Well, now Bogdanoff is gone, and the woman who defeated her, Democratic Sen. Maria Sachs has filed a bill to reinstate the ban.

I'm an animal lover and think it's great that Sachs wants to ban this practice. But while we jump to file bills to protect animals like this one, we're quickly told that any bills to protect children from gun violence will likely go nowhere in the upcoming session. Nor will gun bills of any kind. Why is that?

Sure, I know the answer, because the National Rifle Association owns most of our Republican lawmakers. But why, in the face of increasing mass murders, the latest being of children, are we still so quick to say that those are the breaks, and don't bother wasting time on legislation because it will never pass? Of course, the answer is the same, the NRA.

But this time it is, and should be different. In spite of the naysayers, some bills have been filed already. Another which passed last year, one that prevented doctors from asking patients and parents with children if they had guns in their homes, was struck down by a court. Naturally, the state is appealing that ruling. Also, like clockwork, the NRA is all over the issue and trying to sway public opinion in their favor. Because children's safety takes a back seat to profits for gun manufacturers and lobbyists.

In the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing, the Stand Your Ground law came to the fore. Instead of actually taking a realistic look at what was wrong with that law, Gov. Scott formed a so-called task force, stacked it with pro-gun lawmakers, including the funeral home owner who helped write and sponsor the law itself, Rep. Dennis K. Baxley (R-Ocala), who predictably concluded that the law was just fine, thank you very much.

Again, we've already been told that passing any gun laws in Florida in spite of the shootings on 12-14, is really just wishful thinking. No, I don't think so. Because as those in Tallahassee pat us on the head and dismiss our "silly" concerns, they'll not only be shameless, but will illustrate yet another reason why Florida is a laughingstock to those of the sane persuasion, and why Republicans here give the nuts in their party elsewhere a real run for their money.

Because while ignoring the sane view that children have a right to be able to attend school without being riddled with bullets, they have no qualms about protecting a chick from being dyed blue.

These are the same lawmakers who argue among themselves over whether taking photographs of farm animals should be a felony or a misdemeanor. 

These are the same lawmakers who have urgently fought among themselves since 2008 over the illegality of bestiality. The need to avenge the "accidental strangling death" of a goat named Meg after intercourse was of the utmost importance in 2011.

These are the same lawmakers who are actively trying to put woman's uterus behind bars even if it kills her because they claim to be pro-life.

Yes, these are the same lawmakers who may, or may not finally stand up to the NRA and say enough is enough and protect children, and all of us, from the out of control gun culture that values profits over lives every single time.

When you take a stand by saying "We neuter dogs without their permission" and that we never ask a poodle if he wants a hair cut, and also do nothing to protect children, aren't you saying "we don't ask a defenseless child if they want to be shot and killed?"

To not act on this issue is worse than being spineless. I don't care whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or any other party.

For once, you need to do the right thing. Seriously.

These are children, not rabbits.

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Frederica Wilson Introduces Resolution On Trayvon Martin's Birthday

Trayvon Martin would have turned 18 today, had he not been killed by George Zimmerman in the shooting that set off renewed questions on Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground law.

Frederica Wilson (D-FL) marked his birthday today by introducing a resolution:

"We all know the tragic circumstances surrounding his murder: Trayvon was racially profiled, chased, made to fight for his life, and ultimately murdered. Yet we as a nation have yet to take substantive action to stop such a heartbreaking incident from happening again," Wilson said, calling for an end to "Stand Your Ground" laws and racial profiling. "Enough is enough: We as a nation have buried too many young black boys.  Let’s set Congress on course to address the underlying causes behind the crisis that Trayvon’s death symbolizes.  Let’s take action to stop racial profiling and give our people a chance to succeed.”

The task force supposedly formed to investigate the Florida law, which included the legislator who sponsored and wrote the law, along with several Republican pro-gun legislators, found that no changes were needed.

Last week, State Rep. Cynthia Stafford (D-Miami) filed a bill to alter the Stand Your Ground law, along with co-sponsors Rep. Mark Pafford (D-West Palm Beach) and Representative Barbara Watson (Miami Gardens):

“The way the law currently reads, a person claiming stand your ground need only have a reasonable belief that they are in imminent danger of great bodily harm or death. There is no provision that requires something other than a person’s belief. This bill will require an overt act, in essence, an initial aggressive act that places the claimant in fear for their life.

“House Bill 123 will help to eliminate assumptions that have proven deadly in the past. It’s no longer, `I thought’ he or she looked dangerous so `I thought’ I would be harmed or killed. With this bill, there must be something more than `I thought’ there must be an overt act that placed a person in reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm. 

Rep. Pafford said  “Representative Stafford’s proposal provides a smart change to a complex law that obviously needs urgent attention.” 

Rep. Watson said “I believe there are loopholes in the current law that too often lead to opportunities for individuals to make a judgment of fear or threat to their safety that result in deadly consequences. House Bill 123 tightens the guidelines as to whether they can claim stand your ground.” 

Republicans in the Florida legislature have played down any suggestions that gun legislation needs to be addressed this session, and Gov. Rick Scott has merely made the usual vague statements on "looking at the laws" and "wanting people to feel safe."

This legislation by Reps. Staford, Pafford and Watson would certainly be a step in that direction.

With Republicans in the state heavily backed by the gun lobbyists at the NRA, it remains to be seen if they, and Republicans in Washington will finally pay attention to the polls that show overwhelming support of the President's gun proposals in the wake of the Newtown massacre.

It's time to finally do the right thing.

One Day After Mass Shooting, Florida Officials Boast Million Concealed Weapons Permit Record

In the state where we recently saw the deadly shootings of Trayvon Martin and others while those who shot them "shot first and invoked Stand Your Ground later," and less than 24 hours after the latest mass shooting in a crowded shopping mall in Oregon, Florida officials and the NRA are patting themselves on the back as they're poised to celebrate a big milestone:

Sometime next week, somewhere in Florida, someone will become the state’s one millionth holder of a concealed weapons license. That makes Florida No. 1 in the nation.

Yes, they feel this is worthy of celebration. But then of course they would. Recently a task force composed of some who wrote the Stand Your Ground law found that indeed, the law was just dandy! And then another teenager became the victim of a senseless shooting. Yes, the shooter invoked SYG. Because unarmed teenagers playing loud music are now apparently a threat to grown men who are armed.

The popularity of active concealed weapons permits has surged in Florida during the past 10 years, climbing from about 250,000 in 2000 to more than 1 million next week. [Florida’s Secretary of Agriculture Adam] Putnam credited a love of the Second Amendment for the increase, but it probably has more to do with a number of laws and policies approved during that period that has improved access to licenses.

While Putnam said the state’s low revocation rate of licenses was proof that the program worked and was responsible, he defended a 2006 law that keeps secret those who have permits – making it difficult to verify for the public just how safe the program is.

“The Legislature made the decision to protect gun owners and we should respect that,” said Putnam, who oversees the issuance of the permits.

Yes, at all costs we must protect the gun owner, just as we protect those who shoot to kill with a law that says they can shoot anyone they feel is threatening them, which works out nicely when it's the shooter's word against a murdered child.

Naturally, the NRA is thrilled by the new record, especially Florida's NRA lobbyist, and the brains behind those gun laws, Marion Hammer, who says "It's great news!"

Great news, great profits for gun sales, and great for fundraising as all those sizable donations roll in that the NRA asks for every time there's a mass shooting like yesterday, or when there's an election. Because as anyone from the NRA will tell you, President Obama is going to take all your guns away, don't you know? 

Sure. The proof is in the numbers. Nothing says they're taking all the guns away like one million concealed weapons permits. Who could have seen those numbers coming?

Thanks to those "protect the gun owner at all cost" laws, you'll never see the weapons coming either, and for many, not until it's too late.

Report: ALEC Exerts Unprecedented Influence Over Florida

Today Progress Florida, Florida Watch Action, People for the American Way Foundation, Common Cause and ALEC Exposed released a new report detailing the influence of the corporate front group ALEC (The American Legislative Exchange Council) has over Florida’s policy makers. The report, entitled ALEC in Florida, documents the growing footprint that ALEC has in Florida, including its unprecedented access to elected officials and the drafting of ‘model’ legislation which compliant lawmakers then push into law.

The release of the report coincides with ALEC’s 39th annual meeting being held in Salt Lake City.

It also comes amid the news that two more coporations, General Motors and Walgreens have just cut ties with ALEC, bringing the total to 30 corporations and four non-profits, 34 total private sector members that have cut ties to the right-wing corporate bill mill. (You can see the entire list here.)

ALEC has a huge influence over Florida's legislators who have passed significant "cookie-cutter" legislation in the state, most notably and recently in the news, the Stand Your Ground gun law being used in the Trayvon Martin case.

ALEC's influence also made news when Republican Rep. Rachel Burgin introduced a bill in November of 2011 calling on the federal government to reduce taxes for corporations. She had received the bill from the ALEC, which was written by the Tax Foundation, corporate members of ALEC’s ‘Tax and Fiscal Policy task force” and a group founded and funded by major corporate interests, including the billionaire Koch brothers. She introduced a bill that was the same as the model word-for-word, forgetting to remove the paragraph naming ALEC and describing its principles. Burgin is now involved in an ugly race for the state Senate against Tom Lee.

Some of the key findings from the ALEC in Florida report:

• ALEC model bills introduced across the country have devastating impacts upon public education, consumer protections, environmental protections, workers’ rights, equitable healthcare systems, just tax policy, and voting rights.
• ALEC has a strong and growing presence in Florida. Out of Florida’s 160 state legislators, 60 have had ties with ALEC since 2010. Florida lawmakers’ attendance at ALEC’s 2011 annual conference held in New Orleans was “one of the strongest delegations in years.”
• ALEC’s corporate-funded scholarship fund contained, as of January 1, 2011, $46,467. This fund is used to sponsor ALEC members to attend ALEC conferences, and is also spent – as documented in the report – to wine and dine ALEC Florida members alongside corporate lobbyists. Corporations’ expenditures for the fund can be written off as 501(c)(3) charitable donations on their tax returns.
• ALEC provides Florida members with “issue alerts,” “talking points,” and “press release templates” expressing support or opposition to state legislation, despite its claims that “ALEC does not lobby in any state.” The organization also tracks the status of its model bills in legislatures and bills it does not like, and sends its employees to testify in support of its bills in state houses across the country. ALEC model legislation has been introduced in Florida’s legislature, at times word for word, with devastating results. Last year, ALEC member Rep. Rachel Burgin (R-56) made an embarrassing and revealing mistake when she introduced HM 685 – she forgot to remove ALEC’s insignia on the bill, leaving the ALEC’s footprint fully intact.
• After Florida lawmakers passed the NRA-sponsored Stand Your Ground law in 2005, ALEC took it and ran with it. The dangerous law was made notorious in Florida by the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Today, due to the influence of ALEC and the gun lobby, Stand Your Ground laws are on the books in 32 states.
• In response to ALEC’s extreme agenda, 26 for-profit corporations – including Wal-Mart, McDonalds, and Kraft – four non-profit groups and over 50 lawmakers have dropped ALEC in recent months. This report concludes that Florida-based corporations and Florida ALEC members should do the same.

While ALEC prefers to operate in secret, last year several Florida members admitted to participation with ALEC, one saying she was there to meet with lobbyists and fund-raise while charging her expenses to her campaign.

Dennis Baxley, the man behind the Stand Your Ground law at the time said this:

"It's a great place to share model legislation and a great place to learn what's going on in other parts of the country," said Baxley, who sponsored a major rewrite of Florida's election laws that's under challenge in court.

 The report highlights Florida members:

Out of Florida’s 160 state legislators, 60 have had known ties to ALEC since 2010. In the House, 46 representatives have been affiliated with ALEC; in the Senate, 14 Senators. And ALEC’s presence in Florida is on the rise – according to released documents from Representative Jimmy Patronis’ office, Florida lawmakers’ attendance at ALEC’s 2011 annual conference held in New Orleans was “one of the strongest delegations in years.

In keeping with its secretive nature, ALEC does not publicize its membership, thus making complete and accurate membership rolls nearly impossible to obtain. However, we know the following Florida lawmakers paid membership dues or attended at least one ALEC conference since 2010 (lawmakers believed to have been dues paying members at least once from 2010‐12 are denoted with an asterisk):

*Sen. Michael Bennett (R‐21) *Sen. Larcenia J. Bullard (D‐39) Sen. Lee Constantine (R‐22) *Sen. Nancy C. Detert (R‐23) *Sen. Mike Fasano (R‐11)

*Sen. Anitere Flores (R‐38) *Sen. Rene Garcia (R‐40)
Sen. Mike Haridopolos (R‐26) *Sen. Alan Hays (R‐25)

*Sen. Dennis Jones (R‐13) *Sen. Garrett Richter (R‐37) *Sen. David Simmons (R‐22) *Sen. Ronda Storms (R‐10) Rep. Larry Ahern (R‐51) *Rep. Ben Albritton (R‐66) *Rep. Frank Artiles (R‐119) *Rep. Dennis Baxley (R‐24) Rep. Michael Bileca (R‐117) Rep. Jeff Brandes (R‐52) *Rep. Jason Brodeur (R‐33)

*Rep. Rachel Burgin (R‐56) *Rep. Matt Caldwell (R‐73) *Rep. Dean Cannon (R‐35) Rep. Richard Corcoran (R‐45) Rep. Fred Costello (R‐26) Rep. Steve Crisafulli (R‐32) Rep. Daniel Davis (R‐13) *Rep. Jose Diaz (R‐115)

*Rep. Chris Dorworth (R‐34) *Rep. Brad Drake (R‐5) *Rep. Anitere Flores (R‐114) *Rep. Clay Ford (R‐3)

*Rep. James C. Frishe (R‐54) *Rep. Rich Glorioso (R‐62)
Rep. Eduardo Gonzalez (R‐102) *Rep. Denise Grimsley (R‐77) Rep. Gayle Harrell (R‐81)

*Rep. Doug Holder (R‐70) *Rep. Mike Horner (R‐79) *Rep. Matt Hudson (R‐101)

Rep. Clay Ingram (R‐2)
*Rep. Paige Kreegel (R‐72)
*Rep. John Legg (R‐46)
*Rep. Ana Rivas Logan (R‐114) *Rep. Debbie Mayfield (R‐80) Rep. Charles McBurney (R‐16) Rep. Peter Nehr (R‐48)
Rep. Bryan Nelson (R‐38)
*Rep. Jeanette Nunez (R‐112) *Rep. Jimmy T. Patronis, Jr. (R‐6) *Rep. Ray Pilon (R‐69)
*Rep. Scott Plakon (R‐37)
*Rep. Stephen L. Precourt (R‐41) Rep. Lake Ray (R‐17)
*Rep. Ron Saunders (D‐120) *Rep. Kelli Stargel (R‐64)
Rep. John Tobia (R‐31)
Rep. Carlos Trujillo (R‐116)
Rep. Will Weatherford (R‐61) *Rep. John Wood (R‐65)
Rep. Dana Young (R‐57)

You can read the entire report here.

ALEC's Latest Effort To "Stand Their Ground" Backfires

(Photos: I Stand With Alec, Not ALEC)

While I was off the grid last week, it seems that another company joined the now long list of those companies cutting their ties with the American Legislative Exchange Council (Better known as ALEC.) The pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson gave into pressure from progressives pushing back against ALEC which churns out model legislation for mostly Republican and Conservative legislators around the country. Two types getting widespread attention lately are voter suppression laws and the Stand Your Ground law used in the Trayvon Martin shooting, both having a big impact in Florida right now.

While ALEC used to operate in the shadows for the most part, pushback against their right-wing agenda and cookie cutter legislation has been thrust into the spotlight, and now far right wing-nuts and bloggers are going out on a limb to defend ALEC. They're not even keeping up the pretense anymore after ALEC sent out a cry for help from conservative bloggers earlier in the year. They recently put up a website called "I Stand With ALEC" that says: "Fight the left-wing assault on free enterprise, limited government, and individual liberty." The site is filled with the typical ALEC and Koch Industries propaganda in the hopes of coaxing people to "fight back" due to the loss of corporate members who are finally doing the right thing and bailing on ALEC.

One problem though. The group didn't bother to register all the appropriate urls. 

Oops.

The result? Well, this: "I Stand With Alec, Not ALEC."

The site compares ALEC crafted legislation to the liberal leanings and movie roles of actor Alec Baldwin, for example, comparing Baldwin's scholarships for low income students to the "scholarships" handed out by ALEC which are really just perks given to legislators who pen their ideas into law. In another example, they compare the real life ALEC Stand Your Ground laws that are more like "shoot first and no need for questions later" to those of the actor playing with fake guns in movies and television. Each example provides links to the appropriate ALEC legislation.

Once again, the left picks up where the right stumbles off using parody that almost writes itself to shine a light on what ALEC doesn't want you to know.

The truth hurts. Literally.

Nothing funny about that.

A Second Chance On Shoot First

 

For more information on the Second Chance On Shoot First campaign, click here.

Florida SYG Task Force Member: Guns Are Fine, But Abortion Is Deadly Force?

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed a legislator who pushed the Florida bill banning physicians from asking patients with children if they have firearms in the home.

Rep. Jason Brodeur (R-Orlando) backed the bill which would fine or land doctors in jail for asking a patient or a patient's family members if they had guns in the home, saying that would be a violation of privacy.

Broeder joins the author of the Stand Your Ground law on the task force, Rep. Dennis Baxley.

Brodeur also backed another bill involving doctor-patient relationships, this one placing requirements on what the physician does say to the patient, when the patient is a women seeking an abortion. In the absence  of any scientific evidence to base it on, a physician would have been required to inform the woman that her fetus could feel pain. The bill didn't pass. 

So this Stand Your Ground task force member believes that allowing a physician to ask about guns in the home to potentially protect children is a no no, but requiring one to tell a patient something that has no basis in fact is ok, because he says:

"I think when you make a choice to unilaterally end someone’s life by force we generally call that murder."

 What's wrong with this picture?

SYG Task Force Member Wrote The Law, Says It Works As No One's "Been Prosecuted For Self Defense"

Dennis Baxley, Stand Your Ground Law Sponsor, Task Force Member and Funeral Home Owner

Florida Governor Rick Scott announced the members of his Stand Your Ground task force today. The task force has been named the "Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection."

Among those appointed to the task force is the Sponsor of the Stand Your Ground law, funeral home owner Rep. Dennis K. Baxley (R-Ocala).

Long before being named to the task force, Baxley seemed to indicate he had already made up his mind that his law was not applicable in the Trayvon Martin shooting.

In an interview with NPR on March 26, he said this:

"I think that actually indicates that the law is working because it says that a number of people have not been prosecuted for defending themselves."

Many believe that, had it not been for public outcry, George Zimmerman may never had been prosecuted for the Trayvon Martin shooting either. Which is, of course, one of the problems with the Stand Your Ground law in the first place.

Baxley also wrote an op-ed for Fox News on March 21, entitled:

"Trayvon Martin's Alleged Attacker Not Covered Under Law I Wrote."

Some excerpts from that op-ed:

I have been in the funeral services profession for over 40 years; I've walked with families through many tragic circumstances and I know how difficult it is.

During the debate concerning this incident, some have brought into question the "Stand Your Ground" law, more commonly referred to as the "castle doctrine," which has been used by the attacker to pardon his actions. 

As the prime sponsor of this legislation in the Florida House, I'd like to clarify that this law does not seem to be applicable to the tragedy that happened in Sanford. There is nothing in the castle doctrine as found in Florida statutes that authenticates or provides for the opportunity to pursue and confront individuals, it simply protects those who would be potential victims by allowing for force to be used in self-defense.

Until 2005, the castle doctrine had never been canonized into Florida law, but had been used with differing definition and application to the concept of self-defense. The focus of the law was to provide clear definition to acts of self-defense. 

The castle doctrine as passed, clarified that individuals are lawfully able to defend themselves when attacked and there is no duty to retreat when an individual is attacked on their property. Since the passage of this law in Florida, 26 other states have implemented similar statues. 

Additionally, the American Legislative Exchange Council used the Florida version of the castle doctrine as model legislation for other states. 

One of the problems with determining the "applicability" of the Stand Your Ground laws is if that person, allegedly acting in self-defense, was attacked or in fear for his life. Hard to determine what Baxley calls a "clear definition of self-defense" when one of the only witnesses is dead.

Since Baxley seems steadfast in defense of "his law," not to mention defending ALEC for providing the model legislation for Florida as well as all the other states that have used it, which is worth nothing, let's hope others on the task force can look at the law free of bias.

Progress Florida Launches Campaign Urging Legislators To Sever ALEC Ties

 

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC has been losing support and funding in light of being exposed as one of the groups behind laws like the Stand Your Ground and those involving the current rash of voter suppression efforts across the country by Republicans.

There's also an effort to start pressuring the legislators who cut and paste those laws that we voters and constituents have to live with, and now Progress Florida has launched a statewide campaign urging lawmakers to sever ties with ALEC.

Mark Ferrulo, Progress Florida executive director, said of starting the effort, “ALEC represents what is essentially an unelected, shadow Legislature in Florida. Responsible lawmakers should disavow the group’s extremist and secretive influence on Florida law making.”

Progress Florida is activating its online network of more than 100,000 concerned Floridians to call on Florida legislators to either drop their membership in ALEC or publicly sever all ties. Due to controversy over the tragic death of Trayvon Martin and the "Shoot First" law along with extreme Voter Suppression laws popping up in states around the country, ALEC’s deep tentacles in state policy making are being exposed.

As a result of public pressure regarding their involvement with ALEC, many corporate backers including Wendy's, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Intuit, and McDonald's, have all left ALEC.
 
“Dozens of Florida legislators are either members of ALEC or have attended their conferences,” said Ferrulo. “With such an extremist, anti-middle class track record, there is no excuse for our representatives to continue to have any involvement with ALEC.”

If you're not yet familiar with ALEC, they're the corporate funded group who work with lobbyists and conservative politicians to the write "model legislation" that legislators then bring home to their states and pass into law. ALEC, which is largely funded by the Koch brothers among others. Some of those others, like Coke, Pepsi, Kraft, Intuit, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wendy's, and McDonald's have recently cut ties with ALEC. For a full list of companies associated with ALEC, you can go here.

If you would like to see which legislators and politicians are known to "work" with ALEC, you can check the extensive list put together by ALECExposed at SourceWatch. The Florida list is here, national list here.

You can join Progress Florida in urging Florida lawmakers to sever ties with ALEC here.