Former Florida Senator: I Regret My Vote For Stand Your Ground More Than Any Other

[applegrove]

Former Florida Senator: I Regret My Vote For Stand Your Ground More Than Any Other

By Nicole Flatow at Think Progress

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/31/2389171/florida-legislators-passed-stand-your-ground-amidst-confusion-about-scope-of-the-law/

"SNIP.............................

The drafting of the committee substitute is somewhat confusing in the way that the Florida common law duty to retreat is completely abrogated. Existing s. 776.012, F.S., authorizes the use of force, including deadly force, in self-defense and defense of others. To this section, the committee substitute adds the sentence: “[A person] does not have a duty to retreat . . . under the circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013,” which is a new section created by the committee substitute. For the most part, s. 776.013, F.S., speaks to self-defense in a dwelling, place of temporary lodging, or a vehicle. Further, that section does not address the existence or non-existence of a duty to retreat in a dwelling, place of temporary lodging, or vehicle. Section 776.013(3), F.S., however, states that a person has no duty to retreat if attacked in “any other place.” The Legislature may wish to amend the committee substitute to eliminate the confusion.

Geller, who had previously warned about the potentially sweeping scope of the statute, did propose an amendment to remove the “any other place” language and limit the bill to home and vehicle protection. But that proposal was defeated. And then he and every other Democrat voted for the law anyway. “We’d be seen as Democrats soft on crime,” he explained after the vote.

Whether some legislators believed, as Miller contended, that the bill would be limited in scope to homes and vehicles is unclear. But an editorial in the Palm Beach Post described the situation this way: “It doesn’t take a lot of thinking to predict problems with Florida’s fast-tracked Make My Day Law. The Legislature didn’t notice potential problems because, as usual when the National Rifle Association wants something, the Legislature didn’t do a lot of thinking.”

That editorial warned, “When Make My Day is in force, individuals will practice the racial profiling police forces have tried to eliminate. More innocent people will get shot. Prosecutors and courts are going to have their hands tied.”

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[Skittles]

1. protecting gun humping cowards not your finest moment?

a little late, I'd say

[Buns_of_Fire]

2. And to think legislators keep presenting themselves as The Best and The Brightest.

But, as I read here a while back, it's not as if these boobs fall out of the sky. They're elected, often by bigger boobs than they are.

[Hoyt]

3. Zimmerman, the NRA, and every gun carrying yahoo appreciates your support.