USA Carry: Florida law-enforcement officials dipped into secret intelligence files to lobby against legislation that would have allowed holders of concealed-weapons permits to carry their guns openly. Newly released records show that a staff lobbyist for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office handed out restricted photos of bikers with valid concealed weapons permits to lawmakers as examples of the sort of people who might scare away tourists if they displayed their pistols.
"I actually stopped by every one of you guy's office this morning and dropped off … photographs of some biker outlaw gang guys that have concealed firearm permits. Those are the ones we're worried about carrying," sheriff's Capt. Mike Fewless told the state Senate Judiciary Committee on April 12, 2011. "Please defeat this terrible bill."
After the provision allowing open carry of firearms was removed from the bill, the state Senate voted against the measure, prompting accusations of fear-mongering by law-enforcement officials and raising concerns about police misuse of confidential files for political goals.
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