Multiple power outages in Lee CountyTruck hits powerline in Lehigh Acres leaving several homes without power
Multiple power outages in Lee County There was heavy rain Sunday afternoon. This caused power outages and car crashes.
NHC tracking tropical waves in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico The National Hurricane Center is tracking three tropical waves. The waves are not expected to develop into tropical cyclones.
LEHIGH ACRES Truck hits powerline in Lehigh Acres leaving several homes without power According to authorities, a truck struck a powerline at 513 Wyoming Rd. in Lehigh Acres.
CAPE CORAL Man helps contain fire in neighbor’s Cape Coral apartment The resident had been cooking and thought she turned off the burner, but the residual oil in the pan caught fire.
FORT MYERS BEACH 2 found dead at Fort Myers Beach home after reported gas leak Around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, crews were dispatched to a home on Palermo Circle after a reported gas leak/gas odor call.
FORT MYERS A draft of Lee Health’s proposed agreement to switch from public to private now available The community is getting a look at the proposed agreement for Lee Health to go private. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on October 11.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Tracking tropical moisture and enhanced rain chances Sunday’s forecast high temperatures will reach the low 90s. Tropical moisture enhances rain chances for the afternoon and evening.
NAPLES World War II veteran gets honored nearly 80 years after serving Florence Weinstein, a private in the Army during WWII, received three medals from her service in the 1940s on Wednesday.
CAPE CORAL Second disaster preparedness holiday underway Florida’s second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday began Saturday.
Have you seen these fugitives? Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on multiple fugitives.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral police officer rescues owl The Cape Coral Police Department responded to a call for an owl with a broken wing.
FORT MYERS BEACH Woman arrested after allegedly driving on grass, colliding with park benches on Fort Myers Beach Lee County deputies were dispatched to Bayside Veterans Park in response to a vehicle that was driving on the grass and colliding with park benches near the restaurants.
FORT MYERS BEACH Protecting the Matanzas Pass Preserve with planting event The preserve is one of the few undeveloped, protected areas on the island, so all the planting done on Saturday will help make it grow into a space for all to continue to visit and learn from.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Traffic stop, spousal shooting and antique theft This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a trafficking traffic stop, a marital assault, and an antique theft. Matthew Christopher Whited has been arrested after several drugs and guns were allegedly found in his car during a traffic stop in Cape Coral. On Tuesday, Cape Coral police officers conducted a traffic stop on a red […]
FORT MYERS Man arrested after FHP pursuit and crash in Fort Myers After a short pursuit, the vehicle exited the roadway and crashed into the tree line on the Southbound Interstate-75 entrance ramp.
Multiple power outages in Lee County There was heavy rain Sunday afternoon. This caused power outages and car crashes.
NHC tracking tropical waves in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico The National Hurricane Center is tracking three tropical waves. The waves are not expected to develop into tropical cyclones.
LEHIGH ACRES Truck hits powerline in Lehigh Acres leaving several homes without power According to authorities, a truck struck a powerline at 513 Wyoming Rd. in Lehigh Acres.
CAPE CORAL Man helps contain fire in neighbor’s Cape Coral apartment The resident had been cooking and thought she turned off the burner, but the residual oil in the pan caught fire.
FORT MYERS BEACH 2 found dead at Fort Myers Beach home after reported gas leak Around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, crews were dispatched to a home on Palermo Circle after a reported gas leak/gas odor call.
FORT MYERS A draft of Lee Health’s proposed agreement to switch from public to private now available The community is getting a look at the proposed agreement for Lee Health to go private. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on October 11.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Tracking tropical moisture and enhanced rain chances Sunday’s forecast high temperatures will reach the low 90s. Tropical moisture enhances rain chances for the afternoon and evening.
NAPLES World War II veteran gets honored nearly 80 years after serving Florence Weinstein, a private in the Army during WWII, received three medals from her service in the 1940s on Wednesday.
CAPE CORAL Second disaster preparedness holiday underway Florida’s second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday began Saturday.
Have you seen these fugitives? Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on multiple fugitives.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral police officer rescues owl The Cape Coral Police Department responded to a call for an owl with a broken wing.
FORT MYERS BEACH Woman arrested after allegedly driving on grass, colliding with park benches on Fort Myers Beach Lee County deputies were dispatched to Bayside Veterans Park in response to a vehicle that was driving on the grass and colliding with park benches near the restaurants.
FORT MYERS BEACH Protecting the Matanzas Pass Preserve with planting event The preserve is one of the few undeveloped, protected areas on the island, so all the planting done on Saturday will help make it grow into a space for all to continue to visit and learn from.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Traffic stop, spousal shooting and antique theft This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a trafficking traffic stop, a marital assault, and an antique theft. Matthew Christopher Whited has been arrested after several drugs and guns were allegedly found in his car during a traffic stop in Cape Coral. On Tuesday, Cape Coral police officers conducted a traffic stop on a red […]
FORT MYERS Man arrested after FHP pursuit and crash in Fort Myers After a short pursuit, the vehicle exited the roadway and crashed into the tree line on the Southbound Interstate-75 entrance ramp.
How hard is it to purchase an AR-15, the rifle that was used in the attempted assassination of former President Trump, and a gun called a weapon of mass destruction? In Florida, AR-15s have a similar process of purchase in comparison to other firearms. WINK News visited the Naples Gun Shop to meet owner David Rich. Rich has an extensive background in guns after working in investigating, law enforcement and corrections. He says his shop has the same rules as Walmart, a gun show or any other place in Florida selling guns. Step 1: you have to meet the qualifications. In Florida, you have to be 21 to buy any and every firearm. You also have to be a citizen or green card holder. Then, depending on what type of firearm you want, there may be other qualifications to meet. “If they are a resident of any state with valid identification, they can buy a long gun, which means a rifle or shotgun, but that’s it. To buy a handgun or a receiver, they have to be a resident of the State of Florida,” said Rich. When someone comes in with all of these qualifications, it doesn’t mean they’ll get a gun like. The store has the authority to not sell to someone if they feel that is the right choice. “If we think something’s not right, or something’s off, we can deny the sale before going forward,” Rich said. Step 2: Purchase a gun. Step 3: Have a government-issued photo ID with proof of current address and complete the ATF 4473 background form. Several questions about your background, past run-ins with the law and citizenship are asked. The form cannot be filled out until a purchase is made. “[Question] 21F is where we get lots of questions. Are you an unlawful user of or addicted to marijuana or any depressant stimulant narcotic drug or any other controlled substances,” Rich said. Marijuana is still illegal in the federal system. You cannot possess or buy a firearm unless you surrender the medical marijuana card. Once you finish the form, you have to sign stating that all of your information is the truth. “We’re going to go over it. If everything’s correct, we’re gonna hit continue,” Rich said. “Then they’re going to be presented with his big paragraph outlined in red, basically saying that all the information they’re supplying to us in the government is true to the best of their knowledge.” Step 4: All information entered in the 4473 will be verified by gun store staff before it is entered into the federal background system. In a year, the Naples Gun Shop does around 1,500 background checks. They cost $5 per check. The state charges the store and then the cost is passed to the customer. “It’s going to come back as either approved or disapproved or decision pending,” Rich said. “A decision pending doesn’t mean you’re denied, doesn’t mean you’re approved. That can take anywhere from a couple days to months, because the system is going to reach out to the jurisdiction that has the record and ask for clarification.” Step 5: If the customer has a Florida concealed weapons license, they can leave with the gun once the background is approved. If they do not have a Florida concealed weapons license, they can return to the store in three business days (not counting weekends or holidays) and pick up the firearm. Rich said most people coming in to buy a gun say it’s for protection. He also said he has been getting a lot of first-time gun users. “If someone’s brand new, we’re not going to turn them down from buying the gun, but we heavily recommend they take one of our classes before buying the gun,” Rich said. WINK News Reporter Olivia Jean asked Rich if the process of buying a gun is easy. “If you qualify, it’s not hard as long as you have the right documentation, and you follow the steps that we walk you through during the process because we have to be involved in that as well, but as far as if you don’t qualify, then no, it’s obviously hard.” He went on to say, “I think it’s a pretty good system. We do get denials. Not everyone’s approved, doesn’t happen often. But again, we try to weed that out before it gets to that point.” While you have to be 21 in Florida to buy a gun, you can be 18 to possess a gun. The idea of gifting a gun is in the context of a parent buying a gun for an adult child as a gift. The gifting is not supposed to be used for a 21-year-old friend to buy it for an 18-year-old because the 18-year-old can’t buy it. That is a straw purchase and a felony.