Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist nominated former NRA President Marion P. Hammer to the state's Women's Hall of Fame.Photo courtesy of the Florida Attorney General's Office. |
Former NRA President Marion P. Hammer, recently nominated by Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist (R) for the state's Women's Hall of Fame, has been chosen as one of ten finalists from all the nominees, by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Governor Jeb Bush (R) will select three of the finalists for induction into the Women's Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was created by Florida Statute to honor women who have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of Florida.
"Marion Hammer has long proven herself to be a worthy recipient of appointment to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame," said Crist. "Throughout her career she has diligently and uncompromisingly pursued issues that are beneficial to women and their families, as well as her community, her state and her nation."
Hammer served as NRA President from 1995-98 and remains on the Board of Directors. She has been the Executive Director of the Unified Sportsman of Florida since 1978 and is a Certified Firearms Instructor.
"I have had the great fortune to know Marion for a quarter of a century and to have worked closely with her, especially during her historic term as the first woman President in the National Rifle Association's long history," said NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre. "I have always sought and valued her counsel, not only because of her legislative and political acumen, but more importantly, because of her rock-solid integrity. I concur 100% with Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R), who stated of Marion: 'When she says it, you know she means it, and you know her word is golden.'"
And Marion Hammer backs up her words with actions. Because of her efforts, Florida is today a safer place for decent citizens in every corner of the state. Marion worked seven long years to bring a "shall-issue" Right-to-Carry law to her state in 1987, and it is hardly coincidental that Florida's violent crime rate has dropped 26% since then, according to the latest FBI statistics.
Equally remarkable have been Marion's pioneering efforts in the area of child and family safety. In 1987, as a member of NRA's Board of Directors, she was devoted to organizing a top-notch team of educators, clinical psychologists, law enforcement officials and urban housing safety officials to develop a firearms accident avoidance program for our children. The result was the award-winning Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, which has reached more than 18 million children in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Eddie Eagle has touched more than 850,000 Florida youngsters with the assistance of 303 police officers and sheriff's departments and 579 schools throughout the state.
To support this effort, letters may be sent to: The Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, Plaza Level, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001, SUBJECT: Florida Women's Hall of Fame. You may phone the Governor at: (850) 488-4441, or e-mail him at one of the following addresses: jeb@myflorida.com, jeb@jeb.org, or bushj@eog.state.fl.us. |