Posted on 09/30/2005 1:29:43 AM PDT by Stoat
Miami advice for Brits | ||||||||||||
By EMILY SMITH BRITS visiting Florida are being warned dont pick a fight or you could be SHOT. Any tourist who starts a road-rage or bar row risks being gunned down under a new state law. It makes it legal to use any force necessary on an attacker WITHOUT first trying to escape the confrontation. Opponents call it The Shoot First Law and fear it will lead to a huge increase in gun deaths. Anti-gun groups plan to issue leaflets to Brits arriving at Orlando and Miami airports giving the chilling advice: Do not argue unnecessarily with local people. The groups also plan to put ads in British papers. Peter Hamm, of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said: Its a particular risk faced by travellers coming to Florida because they have no idea its going to be the law. If they get into a road rage argument the other person may feel he has the right to use deadly force. Gun supporters call the measure The Stand Your Ground Law and insist it is reasonable to meet force with force. Ex-National Rifle Association president Marion Hammer said: No law-abiding citizen should be forced to retreat from an attacker. The new law comes into force tomorrow. Latest figures reveal there were 30,242 gun deaths in the US in a year and enough firearms to provide every adult with one. More than 1.5million Britons go to Florida every year, making it the No1 long-haul holiday destination. Eighty per cent head for Orlando. |
>Scared? I'm not scared. I've got the gun, remember? :-) <
Well, bully for you! So you're the only one with a gun in your area? That must be a comfort.
Well, don't be shy, the hurricane season will soon be over. The Freeper family is quite large, and if you and your family come to Texas, for instance, we'll show y'all a good time.:)
LOL! Oh no, you give me too much credit.
I'm sure there are many, many other people with guns too. Imagine being a bad guy and just not knowing whether or not your intended victim may give you more holes than what you started the day with.
Of course in the UK that's not possible. You must be meek and quietly hand over your property as to not offend society's victim.
Thanks, but no thanks!
If they come to Tennessee, they should realize we have the highest percentage of CCW permit holders from the eligible population of any state in the Union. Of course we do't have much in the way of really violent crime, like car jackings, here that threatens tourists and other law abiding people. I wonder of there could be a connection...
Unfortunately, some people will never understand this. I have had a PA carry permit for years. I just this week requested CCW applications from Florida and Virginia. Florida permits are recognized in many states and Virginia permits are accepted in West Virginia where I plan on buying some property. I wish some smart congressman would submit a bill that would provide a permit for concealed carry in all 50 states. After all, the Constitution (2nd Amendment) trumps state law.
>Imagine being a bad guy and just not knowing whether or not your intended victim may give you more holes than what you started the day with.<
I expect this is why many bad guys too carry guns and use them straight away. Still, if you feel safer with guns, go ahead, it's your country.
>Of course in the UK that's not possible. You must be meek and quietly hand over your property as to not offend society's victim.<
You're completely wrong here, but don't worry, a lot of people in the USA (and especially FR) harbour the same delusions.
So then you're saying if a citizen is not allowed to have guns then the crooks will just give them up?
How's that working out for you in the UK?
The comfort in my area is that we all have guns and many of us have CCW permits, something that decisively keeps our crime down. In the UK about 50% of your burglaries are "hot," meaning the residents are home when their residence is hit. Here the number's only about 12%. That's not because Americans are inherently more virtuous than Brits, it's because home invaders here regularly get shot; in Britain the homeowner who shoots a burglar gets prosecuted. It makes a big difference whose side the law is on.
Just kiddin. Next time you're over here drive the old Route 66 from Chicago to LA for a good look at Middle America.
Well, before I turn 30 I will sail the Atlantic, and before I turn 35 I´ll drive through the US by car (visiting the rural areas, National Parks - of course the Colorade river, etc). After having seen the East and West Coast, it´s time to do that.
>in Britain the homeowner who shoots a burglar gets prosecuted<
Almost nobody has a gun in the UK, so shooting is rare.
I don't live in the UK.
Gun crime is very rare there.
Not as rare as in Florida.
Cool. Come on over, just remember to brush up on your english and spanish, and drive on the right side of the road.
Maybe so.
LOL, my capabilities of speaking Spanish are quite a bit limited. And here, I use to drive on the right side of the road, just like you. I live in continental Europe, actually, the heart of continental Europe. :)
Oh, and your car pool lanes in the urban areas are great. 5 or so lanes of traffic jam with one person in each car, and a free lane just for cars with two people. Had lots of fun when we passed by the other cars...
Well, that shows how much I know. I thought all Europeans drove on the left side.
Huh? There´re a couple of states that use the left system, but in Europe, it´s only the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Other countries: Japan, India (?), Australia, a couple of African states (former colonies), HK, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapur, Malaysia, Sri Lanca, lots of Carribean and Pacific Islands. Therefore, Europe is mostly driven normal. In both senses. :-)
Which states have those $250 and $460 fines
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