The shoot first state? Ads warn about law (Florida)

The St. Petersburg Times ^ | September 29, 2005 | STEVE BOUSQUET

[dawn53]

It's definitely not your typical tourist pitch.

"Thinking about a Florida vacation?" the advertisement asks. "A new law in the Sunshine State authorizes nervous or frightened residents to use deadly force."

Ads, fliers, billboards and a Web site are part of a campaign by a national gun control group to warn visitors about Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law that takes effect Saturday.

The law gives broad legal protections to a person who is attacked not only at home, but "any other place where he or she has a right to be," and removes a common-law duty to retreat in the face of attack. A person being attacked will have "the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force," not only at home but in public places.

The law also gives the shooter immunity from criminal and civil charges unless the victim is a police officer.

[coconutt2000]

Next time I take a vacation I'll be sure to check out the stats for the crime rate and compare that against wrongful shooting statistics before deciding on a destination... /sarcasm

[avg_freeper]

Yeah, I feel much safer in a "Get Shot First" state like Kansas.

[sgtbono2002]

Sounds great to me. I see absolutely nothing wrong with a victim of a burglary being able to stand his ground instead of aplogising for interrupting the burglar while he was robbing him.

[WakeUpAndVote]

I would feel safer vacationing in an area that there was a high gun ownership rate. That area will have the lowest crime rate.

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like a good safe place for law abiding people to vacation.

[mewzilla]

The law gives broad legal protections to a person who is attacked not only at home, but "any other place where he or she has a right to be," and removes a common-law duty to retreat in the face of attack.

Uh, how does one retreat if the perp has a gun?

[dawn53]

As if to make up for lost time, the Brady group will hire people to hand out leaflets at Miami International Airport about "Florida's Shoot First Law." Hamm said temporary workers, not pro-gun control political activists, will be paid to pass out fliers in English and Spanish.

Handing out the fliers is a great idea! If the Brady group wants to use their money to help keep down crime in Florida by warning criminals coming in from other places, no problem.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Funny thing happened yesterday. The "Family Crisis" lady visited class and showed a video of an a couple of abusive men mistreating some girls on two different occasions with cursing (blocked out, the boy told me). My boy asked the lady why the women didn't keep a weapon handy to defend against abuse. The FC lady answered, what would she do if he took it away from her and used it on her." My son answered, "That's what's called a backup weapon. The whole class broke out in laughter and the lady didn't have a reply.

[dawn53]

Exactly, but the way it was before the law, the victim was "obliged" to retreat. Now they can stand their ground and not be held responsible if the perp gets hurt.

[ARCADIA]

"A new law in the Sunshine State authorizes nervous or frightened residents to use deadly force."

So did the old law. Fear of serious bodily injury or death, is a primary requisit to claim self defense.

[metmom]

Good to know you've raised a son with common sense.

[mewzilla]

I only know one person who was ever a victim of a shooting. He was a senior. At an ATM. In FL. This was years ago, and fortunately he survived, but I can't believe that retreat BS has been on the books this long.

[bobjam]

I like this campaign. Maybe it'll discourage New York liberals from moving down here....

Or better yet, maybe the moveon.org types will have second thought about going through our neighborhoods to put out signs and harass normal people.

[ovrtaxt]

Yet another reason to live here. FL is the best!

[G.Mason]

I would imagine those that are intimidated by Florida law can always hop on over to Aruba, where though they may suffer death, it will not be by someone defending their property with a gun.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...and removes a common-law duty to retreat in the face of attack.

Where was that written in the body of the law?

[papertyger]

Where was that written in the body of the law

Google is your friend.

[nothingnew]

...and removes a common-law duty to retreat in the face of attack.

I didn't know Florida was a commonwealth of France.

FMCDH(BITS)

[EricT.]

So my only fear of vacationing in Florida remains getting nibbled on by a young shark that has not learned the difference between my leg and a fish.

I hope this keeps more libtards from going down there.