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FDP Requests Adam Putnam Release All Correspondence with Gun Lobby
Florida Democratic Party Requests that Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam Release All Correspondence with the Gun Lobby
Tallahassee, FL. — On Friday, the Florida Democratic Party filed a public records request with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services requesting copies of any communications between Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and gun lobby groups.
The letters request any emails, text messages, faxes, and letters, between Putnam or his staff and the National Rifle Association, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Florida Carry, and Florida Gun Rights
“After another senseless and tragic mass shooting, Floridians aren’t just mourning —they are outraged by the power that the gun lobby has over our politicians,” said FDP spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. “Adam Putnam has proudly called himself an NRA sellout and Floridians deserve to know what promises he has made to the gun lobby — and whether Floridians’ safety has been compromised in the process.”
Putnam has received $9,500 from the NRA over his political career and since launching his campaign for governor last year has taken extreme positions on gun control. Under his leadership, the concealed carry background check program at the Department of Agriculture has broken down repeatedly. And just a few weeks ago, Putnam inserted language into a 98-page agriculture bill that would weaken background checks and could allow criminals to receive a gun. Putnam sent a statement yesterday calling for that provision to be postponed. Putnam declined to tell ABC News when he would want a vote to take place.
Read the two letters:
Friday, February 16, 2018
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Attn: Lorena Holley, General Counsel
FDACS Custodian of Records
Phone: (850) 245-1000
Submitted via Online Portal
To Whom It May Concern,
Pursuant to the Florida Public Records Act, as per Chapter 119, I respectfully request copies of the following records related to Adam Putnam’s tenure as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
- Any communications, including but not limited to emails, text messages, faxes, and letters, between Commissioner Adam Putnam or any member of the commissioner’s staff and any representative of the National Rifle Association, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, or Florida Gun Rights from January 2011 to present.
- Any records of scheduled meetings between Commissioner Adam Putnam or the commissioner’s staff and any representative of the National Rifle Association, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, or Florida Gun Rights from January 2011 to present.
I authorize an expense limit of $200 to be accrued for the purposes of this request. If the request is determined to generate costs greater than my initial expense limit, please contact me when you can provide a cost projection for the remaining cost associated with this public records request. Please note that I prefer electronic formatting of any responsive records.
If a document is determined to not fall within the scope of this request, please identify each record. Additionally, please identify a specific legal grounding to the withholding of any documents determined to be potentially responsive.
You may email your response to [email protected]. If you wish to speak over the phone, please call me at 603-531-3998 between 9AM and 6PM (ET).
Regards,
Kevin Donohoe
Florida Democratic Party
214 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
***
Friday, February 16, 2018
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Attn: Lorena Holley, General Counsel
FDACS Custodian of Records
Phone: (850) 245-1000
Submitted via Online Portal
To Whom It May Concern,
Pursuant to the Florida Public Records Act, as per Chapter 119, I respectfully request copies of the following records related to Adam Putnam’s tenure as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
- Any communications, including but not limited to emails, text messages, faxes, and letters, between Commissioner Putnam, his staff, or the leadership of the division of licensing and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, or Attorney General’s office related to the Florida Department of Agriculture’s access to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
- Any communications copied to Putnam or his staff related to the Sun Sentinel’s 2012 series of articles revealing that the Department of Agriculture had not had access to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System and had been neglecting background checks for applicants with illegible fingerprints.
- Any communications between Commissioner Adam Putnam or any member of the commissioner’s staff and any representative of Florida Carry from January 2011 to present.
- Any records of scheduled meetings between Commissioner Adam Putnam or the commissioner’s staff and any representative of Florida Carry from January 2011 to present.
I authorize an expense limit of $200 to be accrued for the purposes of this request. If the request is determined to generate costs greater than my initial expense limit, please contact me when you can provide a cost projection for the remaining cost associated with this public records request. Please note that I prefer electronic formatting of any responsive records.
If a document is determined to not fall within the scope of this request, please identify each record. Additionally, please identify a specific legal grounding to the withholding of any documents determined to be potentially responsive.
You email your response to [email protected]. If you wish to speak over the phone, please call me at 603-531-3998 between 9AM and 6PM (ET).
Regards,
Kevin Donohoe
Florida Democratic Party
214 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301