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Gun Continued From Page 1A rorist attacks, Obama and his administration are working to make it harder for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights through policies that would not have stopped any of the recent mass shootings." The White House has not revealed Obama’s plans, but senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said at a vigil commemorating the three-year anniversary of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecti-
cut, that the president has urged aides to submit a plan to him “in short order.” Twenty-four Democratic senators, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, wrote Obama on Nov. 23, urging him to address the “loophole that allows guns to be sold without a background check by eliminating the ambiguity surrounding the term ‘engaged in business.’” They sent the letter nearly two months after an Oregon college student shot and killed eight classmates and a teacher. He reportedly bought his guns legally.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015 Days later, a gunman opened fire on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. In a recent report, Everytown for Gun Safety said ambiguity over the exemptions is keeping prosecutors from winning - or even initiating - cases involving illegal gun sales. The Nov. 12 report found convictions in only 30 percent of cases where defendants were accused of not doing background checks despite being “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. Juries acquitted defendants in half the cases
that went to trial. In 2011, for instance, a jury in Florida acquitted a man accused of selling more than 400 guns between 2006 and 2010 at as many as 25 gun shows a year, and making as much as $50,000 in a year, the report found. It quoted his attorney as saying, "You know, it would be easy if we had a law that says you can sell 50 firearms in a year, or 10 firearms or 100, but that’s not what it is." Everytown for Gun Safety wants Obama's order to clarify that a person is not an “occasional seller” if they sell more than 25 guns in a year. It says factors like whether sellers deal unused guns or guns in their original packaging - or if they resell firearms shortly after acquiring them - also should be considered. Such an action would stand up in court, Oransky said. Statements made by members of Congress show the exemptions to background checks created in the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act never meant to cover those selling multiple guns. But Hammonds said even a 25-gun limit restricts those just trying to sell their collections. “Gun groups claim there’s a loophole, whenever gun rights exist,” he said. He called a move by Obama to narrow the exemption a legal “Hail Mary” by a president frustrated at not being able to push tougher gun laws through Congress. Representatives of the National Rifle Association did not return calls and e-mails for comment. However, Doug DuBois Jr., executive director of the Texas State Rifle Association, said in a statement: “The executive order has not been explained and it is speculation at this time as to what would be impacted.” Still, gun-rights groups
are focused on the issue, even taking out ads on taxicabs in Washington. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said Obama is using recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, as "yet another excuse to attack the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding United States citizens." Blunt co-sponsored a bill proposed by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, that would improve access to mental health services and improve state
StartClass Continued From Page 1A graduation rates. The average percentile rank improvement between the two were calculated and the district with the greatest increase was chosen as the biggest up-and-comer in the state. The Lafayette School District was in the 46th proficiency percentile in the 2011-12 school year and increased to the 51st proficiency percentile in 2012-13. For the graduation rate percentile, Lafayette School District was 29th in 2011-12 and increased to the 88th in 2012-13. According to Superintendent Robby Edwards, Lafayette County increased to a graduation rate of 93 percent in the 2014-15 school year. “We are pleased to see this number continuing to grow toward the 100 percent mark,” said Edwards. “We feel one of the main factors there is the increased number of college and career opportunities we are offering our students.” At this time roughly 40 percent of Lafayette County’s juniors and seniors are taking dual enrollment courses at North Florida Community College, Taylor
Two Continued From Page 1A Jamal S. Reid, 26, Mayo was arrested Dec. 10 and charged with two counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and manufacture or deliver controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church. The Mayo Fre e Pre ss reported in June that eight others were arrested on drug related charges as a result of the investigation. They
reporting of mental health issues to the national background check database. Citing his "firm" support for gun rights, Blunt said reforming those services can “get to the root cause of many recent incidents” without expanding background checks. Kery Murak am i is the Wash ingto n, D.C., re p o rter fo r CNHI's new sp ap e rs and w e b site s. Reach him at k m urak am i@cnhi.co m
Technical Institute and RIVEROAK Technical College in Live Oak, according to Edwards. Out of the 46 states examined, Florida’s Lafayette County School District was ranked 11 with an average percentile change of 32.2 percent. According to StartClass, Idaho, Kentucky and Oklahoma were not included in the list because they were not required to report their graduation rates for the 2011-12 school year and Hawaii was not included because it has just one district. StartClass also did not include school districts with fewer than 100 students participating in the state math and reading assessment. “We are very pleased to hear Lafayette County School District is selected as the up and coming school district for Florida,” said Edwards. “Any recognition is greatly appreciated, and to be recognized on a national level is truly an honor. There is a genuine dedication by our parents, students, teachers, administration and all support personnel involved to be the best. Being a part of a community where parents strongly support our school system and work hand in hand with our teachers to promote education is a blessing.”
are: Melissa G. Byrd, 52, Mayo, Demetrius D. Cook, 36, Mayo, Antonio Maxwell Jones, 28, Mayo, James Marques McDonald, 46, Mayo, Wendy Danielle Thornton, 43, Mayo, Jessica Garland Thornton, 25, Mayo, Lamar Bellamy, 49, Mayo, and Salih Thomas, 36, Mayo. “Credit goes to the law enforcement officers working hard on these cases to make Lafayette County a safer place,” said Sheriff Lamb.
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