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Pasco Letters to the Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

Backward Steps

Regarding "Explosive Issues," letters, Monday:

Arthur Hayhoe is trying to compare apples and oranges. The Second Amendment to our Bill of Rights acknowledges the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

The Florida Constitution states: "Sec. 8. The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law."

The manner of bearing arms refers to the concealed carry laws and other provisions of the Jack Hagler Self-Defense bill enacted in 1987, which Hayhoe actively opposed.

Prior to the Jack Hagler law there were no state firearm laws, and each county did as it pleased. As a result, there were different laws for each of the state's 67 counties. What was legal in one county was likely illegal in the next. The net result was a serious infringement on the law-abiding citizen's right to keep and bear arms.

A concealed carry license issued in one county was likely invalid in the other 66 counties, if, indeed, concealed firearm licenses were issued at all. And a legally concealed carrier in one county often broke the law by driving into another one.

It is vital that the state preempt all firearm laws in order to uniformly protect its citizens' constitutional rights. There are no county infringements on the other freedoms we are blessed with, such as the right to free speech or freedom of the press. Such infringements would never be tolerated by the people of Florida. Fireworks, on the other hand, are not protected by any constitutional provision.

Hayhoe's goal is to unfairly restrict the sale of firearms at gun shows, even though state law applies not only to gun shows but to every firearm sale throughout the state on a uniform basis, regardless of location.

Hayhoe would have us return to a system of local firearm laws that created constitutional and legal chaos. He wants to do so one backward step at a time.

LEE HANSON

Hudson

Where Are Fees Going?

I just received my Pasco County vehicle registration renewal notice in the mail. I am disturbed by how high it is.

I purchased the sea turtle license plate. A portion of the fee is supposed to be donated to saving sea turtles. What organization gets the money?

A few years ago I purchased a Florida university plate. Did the funds go to them?

I am wondering if there is an auditing process on Pasco County and other counties to make sure these license plate funds go to the organizations they are supposed to.

FRAN WRIGHT

Zephyrhills

All Eyes On Bills

I would like to alert consumers to two instances that have occurred to us recently.

My husband and I both had cataract surgery in the last four months. My husband couldn't see through his new glasses that were made for him. So when I was in for a follow-up to my surgery, I mentioned this to our doctor. He said to have him come in, and he'd check him.

The lab (part of this institution) had replaced the wrong lens, even though it was clearly marked on the script. We received a bill for the doctor checking this! I protested, and it was taken off. This was in Muskegon, Mich.

I didn't have time to get new glasses done before we came to Zephyrhills. So I went to the local "Big Eye Institute" to have new glasses made. I had to pay an extra $53, even though Medicare normally would have covered it. I later got a bill for photo-chromatic tint ($55 per lens). I again protested and was told I was incorrectly billed, and it would be corrected.

Do not pay your statements unless you read them carefully. I have a feeling that this is a regular occurrence because people don't check their bills. Your hospital bills frequently get mis-billed because the billing people reading the reports can't read the codes or hit the wrong ones.

Protect yourself and your insurance company. After all, sooner or later it will be billed back to you.

L. ELLIOTT

Zephyrhills

Beware Of Scam

The Lifestyles gym in Land O' Lakes has had break-ins, and identity theft has occurred. It happened to my wife. Bank of America was hit for over $30,000 from my wife's account, which had been closed.

The scam is they call your house and get your Social Security number, and somehow they are able to cash checks. Police officers don't seem concerned about this. It is a major problem.

BRAD HALL

Land O' Lakes

Liability Dispute

I live in a mobile home park community in Zephyrhills called Betmar. We have a number of ponds for groundwater retention. In the past we have used these ponds for recreation. Now our insurer says they have to be posted "No Trespassing."

We contend that a form could be presented to the people to sign for the purpose of relinquishing any liability to the insurer!

ROGER SCOTT

Zephyrhills

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