Fla. Gun Law to Expand Leeway for Self-Defense

Washington Post ^ | 4/26/05 | Manuel Roig-Franzia

[jalisco555]

MIAMI -- It is either a Wild West revival, a return to the days of "shoot first and ask questions later," or a triumph for the "Castle Doctrine" -- the notion that enemies invade personal space at their peril.

Such dueling rhetoric marked the debate over a measure that Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) could sign as early as Tuesday. The legislation passed so emphatically that National Rifle Association backers plan to take it to statehouses across the nation, including Virginia's, over the next year. The law will let Floridians "meet force with force," erasing the "duty to retreat" when they fear for their lives outside of their homes, in their cars or businesses, or on the street.

NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said in an interview that the Florida measure is the "first step of a multi-state strategy" that he hopes can capitalize on a political climate dominated by conservative opponents of gun control at the state and national levels.

"There's a big tailwind we have, moving from state legislature to state legislature," LaPierre said. "The South, the Midwest, everything they call 'flyover land' -- if John Kerry held a shotgun in that state, we can pass this law in that state."

The Florida measure says any person "has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm."

[jalisco555]

Here's my favorite quote from the piece (which I forgot to include in the excerpt)

"I am in absolute shock," Sarah Brady, chair of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in an interview. "If I had known about it, I would have been down there."

[Dubh_Ghlase]

An armed society is a polite society...

[Vaquero]

bingo

[GrandEagle]

Well, this should be interesting!
I think it is about time that the good guys got the benifit of the doubt.

GE

[Kidan]

*gasps in shock*

government in my home state...doing something intelligent....heart can't handle it....

[NRA1995]

"This," [Sarah] Brady says of the new Florida measure, "will be the thing that will awaken the sleeping great number of Middle Americans who will think this is so absurd."

Correction, you ignorant wuss....this will be the thing that will awaken the great number of Middle Americans who will think this is an idea whose time has come, especially since no one except the private citizen seems to give a damn about border security.

[shekkian]

"I am in absolute shock," Sarah Brady, chair of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in an interview. "If I had known about it, I would have been down there."

Sounds like they managed to keep this one quiet. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.

[Calusa]

I don't own a gun. I support the right to bear arms. Florida is a place prone to home invasions and a mecca for people on the run. Ms. Brady won't be around to protect our homes. But this will make many criminals think twice.

[NRA1995]

Critics argue that the measure is so broad it will encourage fights between neighbors, parents at soccer games or drinking buddies to escalate into gunfights.

Imagine that; the DUmmies may start shooting each other if they disagree in a thread.

[MichaelP]

Maybe all those gun toten rednecks can scare some of them sissy liberals back up north... Make some room!

Mike

[Fenris6]

Critics argue that the measure is so broad it will encourage fights between neighbors, parents at soccer games or drinking buddies to escalate into gunfights.

Thats an old arguement that hasn't held up when other states passeed concealed carry laws. The Left is out of ideas.

[em2vn]

She just keeps leeching off of her husband's misery.

[NRA1995]

Thats an old argument that hasn't held up when other states passed concealed carry laws. The Left is out of ideas.

Agreed; but then the Left feels that Communism would have worked in the Soviet Union if it had been given more time. Fairy tales abound among those idiots. Still laughing here at the image of DUmmies shooting it out.

[Fenris6]

Still laughing here at the image of DUmmies shooting it out.

DUmmies with firearms? Ha. Darwin will run rampant when that day comes ;)

[yarddog]

My Grandfather was a victim of the old Florida law back in the 1920's. He killed a man in clear self defense but was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Fortunately the governor realized an injustice had been done and gave him a full pardon after he had served less than a year.

[poobear]

"Maybe all those gun toten rednecks can scare some of them sissy liberals back up north..."

One can only hope!

[1Old Pro]

National Rifle Association backers plan to take it to statehouses across the nation,

One can only hope.

[Joe Brower]

Just one recent example of the overall positive effect the NRA has had on the restoration of our human rights.

There are many others. As I have stated before, warts nonwithstanding, if we didn't have the NRA, the RKBA would have been nullified over a quarter-century ago.

[GrandEagle]

Fortunately here in Alabama it is not illegal to take another's life. It is illegal to illegally take another's life.

First the DA has to show that your actions were illegal, then the charge has to make it through the Grand Jury.
After having served on our Grand Jury, I understand the wisdom of our founders in setting up that system.

Regards
GE