Strange Bedfellows

Parkland families push petitions for 2020 ban on assault weapons in Florida [More]

Their losses do not entitle them to initiate police state violence against me and mine to force their will upon us.

It's an initiative from Ban Assault Weapons Now, a shadowy group of Astroturf subversives we've bumped against before.

Who are these guys?

Searching the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. we see Gail Schwartz, the activist "aunt," but also another name,  MAGGIOLO, GLORIA, and a  6619 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY #148, MIAMI address.

It's a box in a UPS store. Maggiolo looks like a political operator who plays both sides of the street.

Curious thing, that. The same name and address are listed on a Federal Elections Commission filing from April 2018, for the principal campaign committee of REPUBLICAN congressional candidate Javier Manjarres.

His "Issues" page pledged:

"The right to self-defense is protected by the 2nd Amendment. I will protect this most fundamental right by standing against those who are trying to undermine it. We can all come to the table and agree on enforcing sensible and existing laws that will keep us safe, but these laws can not undermine or erode the rights of law abiding citizens."

Manjarres appears to understand blaming guns is not the answer. On top of that, he's endorsed by NRA "A"-rated endorsee Sen. Marco Rubio. Conversely, he was also endorsed by FL AG Pam Bondi, who NRA called a "bully."

This first-generation son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic's website claims "His Republican and conservative bona fides are without question."

Sorry, Mr. Manjarres, I have some questions. Starting with "What's your relationship with Gloria Maggiolo?"

[Via Roger J]