I assume Melissa "the scared" is resting comfortably in Chicago where the criminals ask the victim questions before shooting them.
If ignorance is bliss, Melissa is one happy camper.
Posted on 10/04/2005 6:32:28 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
MIAMI (AP) - Clark Ramm sees shades of the Wild West in Florida's new law giving greater legal protections to people who shoot or use other deadly force when threatened or attacked.
"It seems like everybody ought to be packing a piece," said Ramm, a visitor from Ukiah, Calif., who found out about the law Monday from a gun control group handing out leaflets at Miami International Airport. "I don't know if that's the right thing to do."
The leaflets begin with the words "An Important Notice to Florida Visitors" in bold red type by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
"Do not argue unnecessarily with local people," it says. "If someone appears to be angry with you, maintain to the best of your ability a positive attitude, and do not shout or make threatening gestures."
Florida's "stand your ground" law, which took effect Saturday, removes a duty on the part of citizens to retreat in the face of an attack as long as they are in a place they have a legal right to be, including a public street or their place of business.
It also gives immunity from criminal or civil charges to a shooter as long as the person shot is not a police officer.
Proponents of the measure, pushed by the National Rifle Association, say it will make Florida a safer place, not more dangerous. Gov. Jeb Bush has repeatedly pointed to a 34-year low in state crime statistics to demonstrate that Florida is not a haven for violence.
"It's pure, unadulterated politics," Bush said last week of the Brady Campaign's tactics. "Shame on them."
The Florida tourism industry, however, is taking the campaign seriously, with Visit Florida - the state's official tourism marketing arm - issuing a statement calling Florida "a very safe and secure destination that excels in caring for its visitors."
"We believe that Americans and international visitors are smart enough to understand that the Brady Campaign is one group's political agenda and not a real safety issue," the statement said.
Florida hosts more than 1 million visitors on any given day, with nearly 80 million tourists visiting the state in 2004, according to Visit Florida.
The Brady Campaign leaflets, which the group intends to hand out for about a month at the Miami and Orlando airports, call the measure the "Shoot First" law and urge people to "take sensible precautions" while visiting the state.
"There is no other state in the nation - and no other civilized nation on Earth - that has a law like this," said Brady Campaign spokesman Peter Hamm. "It could cause the most aggressive people in society to overreact."
The group also has taken out ads in major Detroit, Chicago, Boston and London newspapers about the new Florida law.
Several people who got the leaflets at the Miami airport on Monday appeared taken aback by the new law.
"It's a little scary," said Melissa Vosberg, on her way home to the Chicago area after a cruise in the Bahamas. "It's 'shoot first, ask about it later.'"
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On the Net:
Brady Campaign: http://www.shootfirstlaw.org
National Rifle Association: http://www.nra.org
AP-ES-10-04-05 0452EDT
Nazi gungrabbers are really up in arms over the idea of Americans *gasp* being allowed to defend themselves.
The Florida Tourism Bureau should take out a counter ad campaign encouraging tourists to come visit knowing that they have nothing to fear since they aren't coming to Florida to assault people. Maybe a couple of digs about what a poor opinion the Brady people have of tourists that they expect tourists to assault and threaten people would be a good idea too.
He's getting it!
Geeeeeez, does this mean its going to be a closed season on "snowbirds"?
Sounds like a damn good idea. Being armed is always wise.
"Do not argue unnecessarily with local people," it says
Wise words anywhere
I think he is right. The aggressive anti-gun crowd is definitely overreacting to this law.
I assume Melissa "the scared" is resting comfortably in Chicago where the criminals ask the victim questions before shooting them.
If ignorance is bliss, Melissa is one happy camper.
Couldn't find out who is supporting Brady on this.
I DO know they are actively supported by the United Methodist Church and other "religious" groups, as well as actors and companies.
Anybody have a link to their sponsors????????????
I had a good friend mugged in the Bahamas while on vacation. He was beaten pretty badly.
The statistics after Florida first allowed everyone to carry show that your average citizen had occasion to pull their gun in response to a crime around 12 times more frequently than the police. They also had one eighth the number of incidents where bystanders were injured.
The tourist warning should have gone out when the Amendment was first passed and the criminals knew that tourists would be the ones who were unarmed.
How many days has this been in the news? Close to a week? The AP is milking this one for all it's worth.
That does it, I'm cancelling my trip to Florida. I had planned on going down there and harassing a few total strangers, now I guess I'll go to Bayonne and curse at old ladies on the street.
Good! The type of people their ads keep away, we do not want anyway.
"I assume Melissa "the scared" is resting comfortably in Chicago where the criminals ask the victim questions before shooting them.
If ignorance is bliss, Melissa is one happy camper."
Melissa should also know that she is "extra" safe in Chicago because out of state police officers (current and retired) aren't even allowed to have guns in here neck of the woods. So only police officers have have weapons and can defend others. That is why violent crime in Chicago does not exist.
note: Out of state police officers have to do lots of paperwork and take a test of some sort to have there badge recognized legally in Illinois (last I heard - may have changed). Otherwise most states recognize police and military licsense that grant right to carry.
They ought to hand these out to every tourist who visits FL. Folks might use their manners when visiting!
Why do these idiots think it is OK for criminals to use deadly force to steal? It is usually illegal for felons to possess firearms but the law does not stop them. Who would be allowed to defend oneself?
The only thing is, I wonder what "Chicago Area" means. If its Chicago proper she's an idiot and a fool. If it's the suburbs Melissa better wake up - because in my suburb (in DuPage County) we are allowed to use deadly force to protect "Life and Property".
And unlike Chicago, whose gun laws consist of 96 pages (or is it 97?), my Villages gun laws are spelled out on 1/2 sheet of paper :-)
If it were legal to shoot people over an arguement, there wouldn't be so many mouthy Gun Grabbers.
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