In a September 12, 2011 article for Bloomberg.com, writer John Crewdson may have admitted to committing willful perjury in order to obtain a Florida concealed weapon/firearm license, a second degree misdemeanor under Florida statutes.
The subject of Mr. Crewdson's article was to criticize H.R. 822, the proposed National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, sponsored by Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Heath Shuler (D-NC). Unlike driver's licenses, each state now decides which concealed carry licenses it recognizes within its borders, resulting in possible felony convictions in one state for doing the same thing which is perfectly lawful in another. The proposed legislation would mandate uniform recognition of concealed carry licenses, greatly expanding the rights of properly licensed concealed carriers. The bill does not create federally mandated minimum standards, nor does it require states to change their laws to permit carry in places prohibited to their own licensees. It merely requires states to recognize out-of-state licenses issued by other states the same as their own resident licenses.
In his effort to illustrate the ease in which a non-resident could obtain a concealed carry license, Mr. Crewdson, a Maryland resident, downloaded an application package from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Licensing Division. He visited his local police department to have his fingerprints taken for the required fingerprint card, and obtained a certificate of completion from the Maryland Police Training Commission by watching an online video about gun safety. Along with the required fees, Mr. Crewdson then sent the application package back to Florida and was issued a non-resident concealed carry license.
Before the application could be approved however, Mr. Crewdson had to answer "YES" to question 6, which asks, "Have you received training with a firearm as required by Section 790.06(2)(h), Florida Statutes, relating to competency with a firearm?" He also was required to have his signature notarized affirming that he had been furnished a copy of Chapter 790, Florida Statutes, relating to weapons and firearms, and that he was knowledgeable of the provisions contained therein. Chapter 790.06, Florida Statutes clearly states that completion of any firearms safety or training courses available to the general public by a law enforcement organization shall be attested to by an instructor who must maintain records certifying that he or she observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm. Mr. Crewdson, in his own article admits, “There was no such documentation in my case.”, and therefore knowingly and willfully lied on his application in response to question 6. The notarization statement on the application declares, “THIS APPLICATION IS EXECUTED UNDER OATH. FALSIFICATION OR MISREPRESENTATION OF ANY PART OR ANY DOCUMENT SUBJECTS THE APPLICANT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION UNDER SECTION 837.06, FLORIDA STATUTES.” By signing his application and having his signature notarized, Mr. Crewdson swore and affirmed that "the information contained in this application and all attached documents is true and correct to the best of my knowledge."
§837.06 Florida Statutes - False official statements.— Whoever knowingly makes a false statement in writing with the intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of his or her official duty shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
A second degree misdemeanor is a criminal act, and can incur a penalty of incarceration up to 60 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $500. Upon being notified of the pertinent facts by Mr. Crewdson himself, the state has suspended his concealed carry license, and rightfully so. The State of Florida issues concealed carry licenses to eligible law-abiding citizens, and in attempting to discredit the proposed National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, Mr. Crewdson has possibly shown himself to be unworthy of holding such a license.
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