Posted on 02/28/2024 3:31:04 AM PST by marktwain
On February 21, 2024, the Florida Senate amended and passed HB 87. The bill allows people threatened by bears to use deadly force to protect themselves when they reasonably believe a bear is a danger to themselves, others, or their pets or is causing significant damage to their dwelling. The bill has already passed the House. The changes made in the Senate are not large. It seems likely the bill will end up on Governor DeSantis’ desk and be signed into law.
68A-4.009 Florida Black Bear Conservation.
- No person shall take, possess, injure, shoot, collect, or sell black bears or their parts or to attempt to engage in such conduct except as authorized by Commission rule or by permit from the Commission.
- The Commission will issue permits authorizing intentional take of bears when it determines such authorization furthers scientific or conservation purposes which will benefit the survival potential of the species or to reduce property damage caused by bears. For purposes of this rule, activities that are eligible for a permit include:
- (a) Collection of scientific data needed for conservation or management of the species;
- (b) Taking bears that are causing property damage when no non-lethal options can provide practical resolution to the damage, and the Commission is unable to capture the bear.
- The Commission authorizes members of the public to take a bear in an attempt to scare a bear away from people using methods considered non-lethal. Staff shall authorize specific methods and situations that qualify for this authorization at http://MyFWC.com/bear/.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
This bill restores people right to shoot bears which threaten them, their pets or their homes.
In many parts of the state, bears are common. I’ve been kayaking in Myakka and seen bears stalking the river banks. I would’ve never thought twice about opening fire if they charged, but FWC would’ve liked to have words with you if you did. Dumb.
Glad there’s a turnaround in logic in Florida. We’ve got a lot of really stupid laws that need to be reversed.
The only good bear is a dead bear. That goes for commies as well.
What is really wrong, is this was done without any legislature voting on it. Rule by administrative decree.
Florida needs to allow more discretion to be used with Great Blue Herons. They are protected to the tune of a year in jail and a $10,000 fine, but they play havoc with fishermen by trying to steal their fish.
I will never, ever, understand the desire to save animals that want to, and can, eat us.
I say Ban the Yankee invaders and leave the black bears alone . I say lets shoot the Yankee developers .
Now the same Yankee invader crowd wants to kill Blue Herons .
The state is lost .
However, the bear must be armed.
A common sense bill... but irrelevant. If a bear was a threat it would be a dead bear regardless of the bill or not.
It may be just me, or maybe a Texas thang, but I’m not waiting for anyone’s permission to protect myself, my family, my home, or my pets.
Well, let’s just say if an angry bear is charging at me I’m not going to be my referencing my state law book to figure out it defending myself is legal or not. Shoot and shovel as the saying goes.
Great Blue Herons are protected here, too. One ate my friend’s koi right out of her backyard pond.
I'm all in favor of outlawing cookie-cutter boxes as houses.
But black bears don't let you leave them alone. They're predators, and they reproduce and eat like any wild animal. Up in the Northeast, they're all over the place, and they don't mind attacking and occasionally eating people.
They need to be kept at a distance with the aid of firearms, so we don't become the prey.
What about self-defense against lions, tigers, alligators and sharks? Has the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission made self-defense against attacks by these animals illegal?! And is self-defense against the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission illegal as well?!?
Most of the FWC field officers are great guys. I’ve worked with them, fished with them, and talked at length about the laws. They don’t exactly selectively enforce laws, but they have been known to look the other way for some less than egregious violations.
How about pit bulls?
That law wouldn’t have mattered to me anyway. If my family is in danger, all bets and my safety are off.
Pitt bulls need shot on sight.
There should be no need ever to pass legislation to *allow* someone to protect themselves.
What horrendous overreach.
The government is NOT our masters who bestow on us rights and privileges to tell us what we can and cannot do.
I just wanted to add--in deference to the idea of wasting nothing--I've had sausage made from black bear meat by Boy Scouts, and it was pretty good.
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