Jeb Legalizes Murder
Just in case you needed another reason to dislike Florida. this morning Jeb Bush signed the law that encourages Floridians to shoot first and ask questions later.
Florida’s lawmakers have passed a bill to remove criminal penalties for anyone who shoots an attacker even if the shooter didn’t first make an effort to escape.The “Stand Your Ground” bill, which is expected to be signed by Gov. Jeb Bush, removes the “retreat if it is prudent” clause from state law, thus giving citizens the right to use deadly force – even when it may not be needed.
States and courts have long tried to draw a line between legitimate self-defense and a “duty to flee” principle. In many cases, fleeing is considered the safest way to protect oneself, a good reason state laws should encourage citizens to make that kind of split-second decision in a tough spot.
. . .
The Florida measure would push citizens toward a mentality of “shoot first and ask questions later.” And it could even encourage more citizens to carry weapons, thus increasing the possibility for using deadly force. Accidental shootings could also rise, especially among those with no gun training. Even Florida’s police are concerned about that possibility.
Despite the title I put on this post, I’m not 100% sure that this is going to lead to an explosion in the murder rate or anything, but I still despise this bill and everything it stands for. This is obviously a pet project of the NRA whose ultimate goal is to ensure that every citizen is armed and ready to shoot anything that moves, but even that isn’t the worst part.
What I really, really hate about this is the bill’s title :”Stand Your Ground” Ugggh….you know they chose this title because it made them feel like badasses and gave them another excuse to pat themselves on the back for being “tough on crime”. They didn’t really care about helping out some hypothetical crime victim that probably only represents a small handful of cases each year, they just wanted to feel like Dirty Harry for a day. With the concern more about macho posturing than actually doing something that could lower the crime rate, I’m surprised they didn’t name it something like the “Stop lookin’ at my lady, faggot!” bill or the “Lock n’ load, motherfucker!” bill.
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We’ve heard this all before.
In 1987, Florida passed the first concealed carry law. Opponents were hysterical, claiming that Florida would be “awash in blood” if ordinary citizens could go lawfully armed. They said “it will turn Florida into the Wild West.”
It never happened.
In fact, violent crime dropped dramatically and has stayed down. I won’t claim that the CCW law made the crime rate drop, but it’s an undeniable fact that it CERTAINLY did not raise it.
Since 1987, Florida has issued close to a million licenses for lawful carry. Less than 1% have have done anything wrong with a firearm that would require that their license be revoked, and it’s usually something like accidentally bringing it into a courthouse or airport.
Following Florida’s success, 37 more states have passed CCW laws of varying degrees. More people than ever before in our history are carrying concealed weapons, yet crime rates are remaining low. In Vermont, you don’t even need a permit to carry a concealed handgun. In Virginia, you don’t even have to conceal it.
Last time I checked, Vermont and Virginia weren’t the Wild West, and I doubt Florida will be.
The sky isn’t falling, I promise.
Comment by Guav — April 26, 2005 @ 11:39 am
The right to carry a concealed weapon and the right to discharge it in public are two different things. A guy carrying a gun is less likely to use it if he thinks he might go to jail. But, if some macho prick thinks he’s got a good reason and won’t go to jail, he just might shoot.
Personally, if a bunch of Floridians kill each other I don’t really care. I’m already boycotting Florida anyway, so lock & load!
BTW – you won’t see an explosion in the MURDER rate (since murder is illegal), but the number of legal, gunshot-related deaths might go up.
Comment by Dave — April 26, 2005 @ 2:40 pm
I know they are two different things, I’m just saying that everytime something like this comes up?the concealed carry law, the “assault rifle ban” sunset?the gun control crowd goes into hysterics about how it’s going to be the “Wild West” and people will be “mowing each other down” for every little fender bender that occurs.
And it never materializes.
All I’m saying is that this law, though completely unnecessary, is unlikely to have any notable effect. You’re already legally allowed to use your firearm to defend yourself in a provable self-defense situation.
Comment by Guav — April 26, 2005 @ 5:13 pm
Although, I tend to agree with you on most things, I too don’t think this willl have any effect on the crime rate in Florida
From a Reuters: article: “The new bill… allow[s] citizens to use deadly force in a public place if they have a reasonable belief they are in danger of death or great bodily harm. It applies to all means of force that may result in death, although the legislative debate focused on guns.”
It sounds like a harsh result but most jurisdictions allow this self-defense anyway… if charged with homicide (and most likely they would be if they killed someone in public) the person claiming self-defense would still have to show beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of self-defense or they will be convicted of homicide… this won’t be an awesome out for the asshole who wants his ex-girlfried dead
Comment by Erin — April 27, 2005 @ 8:23 pm
So if Michael Schiavo had gone in Terri’s room and shot her for attacking him which according to Tom Delay and Bill Frist she was completely capable of doing, it would be okay. It would have been much easier and as we know most pro life advocates are also pro gun. Everyone wins.
Comment by Becky — April 28, 2005 @ 7:27 am
God, I WISH it would have an effect on the crime rate in Florida. Shoot first, fuck the questions. Florida, like Falujiah (sp.) should be a free-fire zone.
Comment by International Jewelry — April 29, 2005 @ 6:45 pm