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LETTER TO THE EDITOR -  FREE SPEECH AND ACTIVISM
PROSECUTOR FIRED FOR EXERCISING
FREE SPEECH
 

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution grants every citizen freedom of speech.  This is a right cherished by all Americans  -  a right we believe that is not given to us by government - but granted to us by God.

That’s why I was shocked to learn that KrisAnne Hall, an assistant state attorney in Florida’s 3rd Judicial Circuit was fired from her job for exercising her right to free speech.  According to published reports, Hall says she was fired by State Attorney Skip Jarvis because, on her own time, she spoke to local tea party and conservative groups to share her knowledge of history and constitutional law.

Her firing was clearly wrong and a questionable act by the employer, the state attorney.

As the lieutenant governor of Florida, I have taken an oath to uphold the constitutions of the state of Florida and the United States.  Jarvis as state attorney has taken a similar oath, which makes his actions even more questionable.

As an assistant state attorney, Hall was an employee of the state of Florida and even though her position is considered an at-will job, meaning she could be dismissed for any reason, Florida law protects her free speech rights as well as her right to participate in political activity.

In fact, it appears just four years earlier, Jarvis, while an assistant state attorney, used the same protections granted by Florida law.  A quick search on the Internet shows, according to the St. Petersburg Times, he participated as a “community leader” for a Democratic candidate for governor.

So what’s the difference in what Jarvis did in 2006 and what Hall did in 2010?  The only thing I see is that zJarvis supported a Democrat, while Hall spoke to conservative organizations.

It is hard to believe that a person who put criminals behind bars and helped protect the safety of Floridians was fired from her job because of her political ideology. 

On this Memorial Day weekend, we reflect on the sacrifices made to preserve our precious freedom.

We must do all that we can to protect those freedoms – including freedom of speech.

I thank Hall for exercising her free speech rights at a time when our freedoms are under attack in Washington.  It is unfortunate that her former employer doesn’t share that view.

Jeff Kottkamp

Tallahassee

 
 

Call to complain:

Bill McCollum, Attorney General

Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Email Attorney General Bill McCollum
Switchboard: 850-414-3300

 
 
THE MEN NEED TO STAND UP

My mother cannot take the news anymore.  She cries more easily these days and I can often hear her sighing as she goes about her daily activities. We sit in the kitchen drinking our coffee, listening to talk radio and morning after morning she turns to me and asks "What are we going to do?" , "How is this being allowed to happen?" 
I know I will take some "heat" from what I am about to say but it has to be said and I am not the only one who feels this way. Until the men in our communities organize themselves and start paying a visit to our congressmen and senators on a regular basis nothing will change.  Do you think Buchanan would vote the way he sometimes does if the men in his disctrict were beating a pathway to his office on a regular basis and would be waiting for him after he voted against them?  Now I am not talking about violence but the bottom line is that Buchanan will be more obliged to listen to a group of 10-20 men who show up at his office than a group of women....right or wrong, that's how it is.  These politicians have to made to feel extremely uncomfortable!  How is it that we are all scared as hell or mad as hell and these SOBs go about their very comfortable lives without a care?  Because the bottom line is that as long as we allow them to, they will do as they please in DC because they can come home and not have to answer to anyone. 
The woman in our community, like me and my partners, can organize and educate...and that does make a difference in the citizens....but as for our politicians...?  Until the men decide to take action and organize we are headed for trouble. 
If there are any men out there that would want to start an "action committee" for the men, I would be so thankful and would help organize a meeting....but would not attend.  It is time for the men, young and old, in our community to gather and see what they are going to do about the "attack" that is being made on our country. 
Please do not leave this to the women in the community.....we need our men to stand up!

A Crying Mother