Marion Hammer’s unique influence over legislators has produced laws that dramatically alter long-held American norms.
Hammer works in Tallahassee, on a quiet downtown strip a few blocks from the capitol. Don Gaetz, Matt Gaetz’s father, who was a Republican state senator between 2006 and 2016, said that Hammer rejects the upscale trappings of other lobbyists’ offices. “There’s no fancy reception area, leather-covered chairs, or brandy decanters,” he said. “Just two or three rooms filled with paper, files, magazines, and a couple of older ladies clipping newspaper stories.
Moskowitz hoped that the shooting at Douglas might be a turning point. During an interview with CNN, Governor Scott, a Republican who has never taken a position contrary to that of the N.R.A., said, “Everything’s on the table.” Still, Moskowitz was keeping his expectations within reason. “They’re not going to ban assault weapons,” he said. “But I have to bring these parents something. I have to show them we didn’t ignore what happened.
“If you’re the governor, and you’ve won by a handful of votes, and you’ve got great political ambitions, you’re going to take Marion’s call in the middle of the night,” Don Gaetz said. “And, if she needs something, you do it, and if you don’t think you can do it you try anyway.” In 1974, Florida lawmakers introduced a bill that sought to ban the possession of black powder, which is used in muzzle-loading firearms. Hammer joined a local N.R.A. volunteer in his successful fight against the legislation. The campaign occurred just before the launch of the Institute for Legislative Action, the N.R.A.’s lobbying arm, which transformed the organization from one primarily concerned with sporting and hunting into one that advocated for gun rights.
Katie Cunningham was the policy chief of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee during Governor Scott’s first term in office, and she spoke with Hammer often. When Cunningham discussed revisions to gun legislation with other government staffers, she would send e-mails that said things like “Would you like to call Marion and let her know you’ve got another change to her bill?”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Newsmax Hosts Gun Lobbyist Who—Of Course—Blames Uvalde Shooting on Gun Control“The left is calling for gun control, and yet it’s gun control that has contributed to this mass shooting that we saw in Texas,” Gun Owners of America senior vice president Erich Pratt said
Read more »
The NRA Is Banning Guns for Trump's Appearance at Its Upcoming ConventionThe organization that lobbies for laws that make it easy for anyone to carry a gun does not want anyone carrying a gun to their own event, oddly.
Read more »
NRA gun law event set to draw lawyers to Texas days after shootingAn event billed as the 'largest gathering of Second Amendment attorneys in the country' is scheduled to take place Friday in Houston, four days after authorities said an 18-year-old gunman killed at least 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Read more »
‘Why are we willing to live with this carnage?’ Biden pushes to tighten gun laws after Texas school shootingBiden on Tuesday offered condolence and urged lawmakers resist gun industry lobbyists to pass firearm legislation hours after a gunman killed 18 children in Texas.
Read more »
Gun control: Research shows how policies can reduce gun deathsInsider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »