Guns, Not Gays, OK for Adoptive Parents: GOP

Guns, Not Gays, OK for Adoptive Parents: Florida GOP
By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2010

Updated: 03/16/2010 06:37 pm

TALLAHASSEE - Republican legislation that would decouple adoptions
from gun ownership gave Democrats a forum Tuesday to lambast
the state ban on adoption by gay and lesbian couples.

Republican bills advancing in both houses would prohibit child
welfare workers from asking couples who want to adopt children
whether they own guns. Sen.Thad Altman of Melbourne, one of
the sponsors, said asking people about gun ownership violated
their Second Amendment rights.

"That's a private matter," Altman said. "A person has a lawful right
to own a weapon."

Democrats did not attack the actual bill. Instead, they floated
amendments in both chambers that would repeal the ban on gay
and lesbian adoptions. In the Senate, Democratic speakers said
the ban was outdated and unconscionable in a state where 3,000
children await adoption and 25,000 kids are in foster care.

"It's a policy grounded in fear and ignorance, not on sound policy
considerations," said Sen. Nan Rich, a Democrat from Sunrise who
has sponsored bills to repeal the ban for several years.

No Republicans rose to speak for or against the Democratic
amendment. During the speeches, several Republicans were away
from their desks, holding private conversations on the Senate floor.

Charlie Justice of St. Petersburg, the Senate sponsor of the
amendment, withdrew it after the Democrats had their say.
Justice said later he had to agree to withdraw the bill or
Republican Rules Chairman Alex Villalobos would have objected
that the amendment was not germane to the bill, forestalling debate.

Florida is the only state that expressly bans gay men and lesbians from adopting