Posted on 05/31/2011 6:40:54 AM PDT by marktwain
HARRISBURG — When Florida lawmakers in 2005 made their state one of the first to significantly expand its citizens' self-defense rights, they hoped doing so would deter criminals and ultimately reduce violent crime.
What they got instead was two years worth of increasing gun violence. By mid-2007, the incidence of murders, armed robberies and assaults had increased statewide by 42 percent, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website.
While few lawmakers, police or prosecutors argue that the expansion of self-defense rights played a direct role in that increase, those figures have caused some observers to question whether expanding such rights can reduce violent crime, as supporters claim.
The issue is a relevant one these days in Pennsylvania. A "stand-your-ground" provision — which does away with a citizen's "duty to retreat" in the face of violent assault — could be written into law here this summer, opening up heated debate between pro- and anti-gun groups and across the state.
The issue is familiarly known as the "Castle Doctrine."
"This is certainly a discussion that has been going on around the country for several years now," Scott Burns, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association in Alexandria, Va., said of the push by a number of states to expand self-defense rights, which allow U.S. citizens, under certain circumstances, to use deadly force to repel an assault.
As many as 15 states, including Florida and Kentucky, currently have stand-your-ground provisions on the books.
"Right now states and laws vary quite widely on how far they extend self-defense, and there is not a whole lot of indication either way about how successful those laws are at reducing crime, or whether expanding the doctrine makes a community safer or has an impact on particular criminal actions," Burns said.
(Excerpt) Read more at http: ...
Later in the article:
"There is a real lack of empirical evidence."
Increase safety?
Not for criminals and would-be assailants, it won’t.
Is that a bad thing?
Castle Doctrines are not about reducing crime. It is to give clear cut, common sense rules about self defense. It should have no effect one way or the other on the crime rate.
I doubt that you intended the absolute statement that you posted. Perhaps a considerable number of black people believe as you stated; however, I know quite a few that would object, because they believe differently.
The Castle Doctrine was focused on home defense. So where does the following fall in “home defense”:
“By mid-2007, the incidence of murders, armed robberies and assaults had increased statewide by 42 percent, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website.”
Granted, there probably are some “armed robberies” and “assaults” that occurred during criminal activity at a person's home; but isn't that what the new law allows.
The bottom line: There is a significant percentage of the media that doesn't want anyone but the police to have guns. To achieve that goal they will “cook the books” to spread their position. My only question is will they continue to “cook the books” after they are the victim?
“The Media” will never be the victim. Individual members may be victims, and potentially come to their senses. Those who do so will subsequently be shunned by the rest of the media, ensuring that the remainder of the bloc remains ideologically pure.
The MSM is dying. Their market share is shrinking. There readership is aging. The new media will replace them.
tech note: there seems to be a foul-up with the original link. Could you repost it?
Perhaps this will work:
If a home invader is shot and killed during a robbery, I’m sure that it would show up in crime statistics as a homicide, even though it would be justified.
Precisely.
The "Castle Doctrine" law is more about protecting homeowners from overzealous liberal Democrat prosecutors than anything else.
b
Yes, thanks.
I can’t stand “studies” like this.
I’m sure that I could find a study showing that crime goes up after 6 PM.
Would liberals therefore take away your freedom to leave your house after 6 PM?
Sigh...they probably would.
“While few lawmakers, police or prosecutors argue that the expansion of self-defense rights played a direct role in that increase,”
AHA!!! But of course we are to IGNORE the facts and just believe what the leftist “journalist” tells us...more law abiding citizens exercising their rights is a dangerous thing!!!!!!
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