Scott considers inquiry into weapon permits

Gov. Rick Scott is reviewing a request to launch an independent investigation into the state’s handling of concealed-weapon permits, amid mounting pressure for the process to be checked.

Republican Adam Putnam’s campaign for governor has been roiled by revelations that the agency he leads failed to perform complete background checks on hundreds of applications for concealed-weapons permits, along with a whistleblower’s claims that she had a quota to process 75 applications a day and was told by her bosses she “works for the NRA” when she brought problems to their attention.

Putnam, the elected head of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said he ordered internal reviews and corrected those issues when they came to his attention.

Democratic state Sen. Linda Stewart is asking Scott, a Republican, to order another review by the state’s chief inspector general.

She calls Putnam’s internal investigation “flawed” and says it included “mischaracterizations” and “omissions.”

McKinley Lewis, a Scott spokesman, said the request is being reviewed, but he did not have a time-frame on how long the review could take.

The Florida League of Women Voters and the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence also wants further investigation, requesting Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a review.

In a letter, Bondi wrote that her office does not have the authority to initiate such an investigation. She referred the request to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the Office of Inspector General.

Asked whether Putnam would support another review, campaign spokeswoman Meredith Beatrice defended the veracity of the internal reviews and criticized Democrats for “engaging in partisan politics.”