Gov. Scott rejects ban on guns near GOP convention

[Tim Nunan]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... 6FJ--1Qb4Q

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has turned down a request from the city of Tampa to ban concealed weapons outside the Republican National Convention this summer.

The Tampa Bay Times reports Scott responded to a letter from Mayor Bob Buckhorn requesting him to temporarily ban concealed weapons from downtown Tampa while thousands of people are in town to formally nominate Mitt Romney for president.

Florida, like North Carolina where the Democrats will gather to renominate President Obama, has a state law that allows concealed weapons.

"An absolute ban on possession in an entire neighborhoods and regions would surely violate the 2nd Amendment," Scott wrote to Buckhorn.

"It is unclear how disarming law-abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law. It is at just such times that the constitutional right to self-defense is most precious and must be protected from government overreach," Scott said in his letter.

Scott, a Republican, was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in his 2010 campaign and received an "A" rating from the group.

Buckhorn had said last month that the state concealed weapons law constrained Tampa and made the city "look silly," because officials could ban items like "super soaker" water guns.

The Republican National Convention will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Tampa Bay Forum.

[decotriumph]

Good for Gov. Scott. That was a rational decision, well explained.