Florida Homes & Travel

Visit Florida, the State's official tourism arm has issued the following statement in response to the Brady Campaigns policy of highlighting a change in the law regarding personal defence that came into being on October 1st.

Florida is a very safe and secure destination that excels in caring for its visitors. On any given day, Florida hosts a million visitors. In 2004, Florida welcomed 79.7 million visitors, a record for the state.

-- Florida has a low crime rate. In fact, it’s at a 34-year low and has been falling for 13 consecutive years. (2004 Florida Annual Uniform Crime Report.)

-- We believe that our visitors are wise enough to understand that the Brady Campaign is one group’s political agenda and not a real safety issue. It is a scare tactic campaign, not an education campaign as stated.

-- In 1987, the same group predicted that the gun permit law passed in Florida that year would increase gun violence. This increase in violence never occurred. A change in a law does not necessarily create a change in behavior.

Statement From Florida’s Office of the Attorney General

"Along with VISIT FLORIDA, we welcome visitors to the sunshine state with open arms and make their enjoyment and safety a top priority," said Florida’s Attorney General Charlie Crist. "Florida is a very safe and secure destination and our leaders continually strive to enhance the personal safety of the nearly 80 million global visitors who travel here annually."

He added, "The new Florida law that groups are using to raise visibility for their political agenda already exists in at least 26 states throughout the country allowing you to protect yourself if attacked. Some groups are assuming that the average Florida citizen will change their behavior in a negative manner in response to this law. In reality, law enforcement and the courts are not going to allow this to happen."

Statement from Gary Kleck, Ph.D., Criminology and Criminal Justice

"There is no evidence at all that this sort of law results in people using unjustified force in self-defense. The Brady Campaign has always been hostile to self-defense in general and would like the Florida legislature to reverse their position. The group is trying to hold the tourism industry hostage to further their purposes," said Dr. Gary Kleck, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University.

Posted on 7 October 2005