Surely Adam Putnam, this state’s agriculture commissioner, has bigger priorities than weighing in loudly on Virginia’s decision to no longer recognize the concealed weapons permits of outsiders, including Floridians.
“The Virginia attorney general’s politically expedient decision to end reciprocity for concealed weapon licenses is a knee-jerk reaction that tramples on people’s Second Amendment rights,” said Putnam, who wasn’t alone in blasting the Virginia decision. The NRA also slammed it.
Two points.
First, Putnam has been part of a cabinet that has been little more than a political chew toy for Gov. Rick Scott. However this (grand) stand–although a hypocritical exercise in political expedience and disingenuousness–gives him an opportunity to sound tough and take advantage of concealed-weapons jurisdiction. It’s also a forum to pander to an electorate he’ll need when he runs for governor in the next cycle.
This is, after all, the Gunshine State.
Second, lack of Glock reciprocity is hardly a problem. What is a problem–actually a crisis–is what’s going on with Florida’s $10 billion citrus industry. Specifically, the bacterial disease known as citrus greening.
This year’s orange crop–about 80 million boxes–is the smallest in more than half a century. Just 18 years ago the yield was 244 million boxes. The iconic industry’s future, which includes some 70,000 jobs, is bleak if a cure isn’t found for citrus greening.
Guns are not an endangered species, but the Florida orange industry is.
Putnam needs to leave the gun battles to Marion Hammer and the like and laser-focus on saving Florida’s groves from citrus greening. Last year Putnam asked the Legislature for $8 million to fight citrus greening. He got half that.
Put it this way. He’s the agriculture commissioner. This is his domain. He’s the point man for his department’s ultimate existential issue. Nothing is more important.
If the Florida citrus industry–which already has issues with competing breakfast drinks, dietary critics and loss of acreage from urban sprawl–further accelerates its economic tailspin on Putnam’s watch, it will be major baggage to lug around a gubernatorial campaign.
Avoidance of that is not the best reason for doing the right thing, but it might be the only one that resonates enough with the agricultural commissioner who would be governor.