Bill would relax rules on self-defense

[Rose Siding]

TALLAHASSEE - Some Florida legislators want to give people the right to shoot an attacker in a public place.

It would be a dramatic departure from current law, but supporters say people should be able to defend themselves without fear of being sued or charged with a crime.
...
Florida courts consider deadly force a last resort and have held that a person being attacked has the "duty to use every reasonable means to avoid the danger, including retreat, prior to using deadly force."

But this legislation says a person who is under attack in a public place "has no duty to retreat."
...
Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Fort Lauderdale, said the bill could give immunity to gang members who commit crimes in public. Seiler's attempt to eliminate the provision failed, on an unrecorded voice vote....
Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, suggested the bill could lead to "tragic" consequences if two people began arguing in a stadium or nightclub, and one person began shooting. An innocent bystander could be killed, Gelber said, yet the person firing the gun might escape criminal charges because he was under attack.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/24/State/Bill_would_relax_rule.shtml

[davepc]

1. Bad law. And I'm about as pro-gun/self defence as you'll find.

Having no duty to retreat in your own home or place of busniess is one thing, but in public?

[LynnTheDem]

2. It's way past time to get outta this place.

:wow: :wow: :wow:

[vpigrad]

3. What a bunch of violent idiots!

It's never right to escalate the violence. When will those complete f---ing idiots learn that? Too many of those idiot repukes grew-up watching and worshiping the TV show Gunsmoke or nickel cowboy movies where people were murdered on main street while others watched. That's what they're trying to do with our streets.

[jokerman93]

4. It's a cowboy thing

Too much bad TV and John Wayne/Arnold reruns on AMC. *sigh*

Real 'Murikan's are rootin' tootin' cowboys, and THAT dog DO hunt!

I'm sick of this country. Wish there was a sane place to live...

[Az_lefty]

5. These fools think their living in the Old West

I'm very pro-gun but I'm totally opposed to shoot'em up legislation like this. Seiler & Gelber are right on in their concern about the consequences.

[raysr]

6. It'll really be stunning

when all these "upstanding" citizens shoot somebody for looking at their wife and end up in the joint. Packing a gun around isn't a good idea.

[davepc]

7. BLOOD WILL RUN IN THE STREETS!!!

Nothing wrong with CCW.