Firearms are prohibited at the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival, which opens today in Plant City, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Major Chad Chronister told Tampa’s FOX 13…
Obviously, the move raises a plethora of questions, including possible preemption law violations.
Florida Carry is aware and working on a statement.I’m calling the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for clarification.
Source: BREAKING: Guns banned at the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival,including CCW licensees – The Gun Writer
Obviously the Hillsborough County Sheriff does not have the power to suddenly declare a locale Gun Free Zone over what the law states., so inquires were made:
Oops! So why did the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office gave such initial and legally overreaching statement?
My opinion? Because they thought the could get away with it! Simple as that. Hillsborough County is the New Jersey of the South and it is only thanks to State preemption laws that people in Tampa and surrounding areas are free to exercise their Second Amendment Rights.
But we have a happy ending!
UPDATE #3. Licensed concealed carriers are WELCOME at the Florida Strawberry Festival.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is going to publicly retract their earlier statement, which claimed otherwise.
The move drew a quick response from Florida Carry:
“Florida Carry appreciates Sheriff Gee and his legal team taking prompt action to get this issue resolved and for being responsive to the concerns of Florida Carry’s 39 thousand members and supporters, many of whom were prepared to miss this festival rather than give up their rights,” said Eric J. Friday, general counsel of Florida Carry.This is what can happen when gun owners and concealed carriers are diligent about their Second Amendment rights.Thanks to all who have helped out today — you know who you are.
Spanked back into legality. And that is the way to do it.
One more thing. Make The Gun Writer another of your must-read stops. Lee Williams is a hard-nosed individual who has no problems chasing after gun-grabbers in Florida. You can also find him in Facebook where you can see him telling me to shut up and stop spamming him…OK, I made up that last part.
Note: The top photo was originally a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Youtube video of the original interview where Major Chad Chronister said no guns were allowed at all. That video has been removed. I stole the screen capture from The Gun Writer to cover the hole. You can still see the video at Fox 13 news, click to minute 2:00.
The last comment, people are subject to search triggers me to think they are ‘trying’ to get people to leave guns in cars or at home…
Suck it, Sherriff Gee.
Thanks, fellas!
Lee, you keep hitting them till they bleed or give up.
I think it was more them following the policies of the land owner over the HCSO trying to suppress our 2A rights. I went to the Florida State Festival a few weeks back and didn’t have an issue getting in the gate with my firearm. Once the Strawberry Festival people saw it becoming an issue, they backed off quick.
Pretty brazen even for the Hillsborough SO to try to pull this off. With concealed carry and open carry being the hot issues right now, how did they think this wouldn’t be contested? Anyway, more rational minds prevailed in the end and hopefully the HSO will think twice before making such royal decrees in the future.