'Standing Your Ground' in Florida

The Florida House of Representatives and Senate have sent their latest bad idea to Governor Jeb Bush for signing. The ‘idea’ has been dubbed the ‘Stand Your Ground’ bill. Rather than just tell you that this bill is a bad idea, I thought I would explain, briefly, what the bill does, and why it’s a step backward for Floridians…

 ‘Stand Your Ground’ allows Florida citizens to use deadly force when defending themselves, rather than attempting to flee. This right extends beyond the home, citizens who have a ‘reasonable’ belief they are in danger of bodily harm or death are now permitted to use lethal force against their attacker in any public or private setting. Just for the record, this bill includes all forms of force including the use of a gun or other weapon.

 It’s nice to see our culture of life coming into full blossom. While I do not wish bodily harm on most individuals, I feel this bill take it a step too far. Allowing people to kill at will on the basis of their own personal assessment of the threat posed to them is preposterous, because there is, without a doubt, someone who feels oddly threatened by the most benign things. The fact that this is being offered as a necessary alternative to fleeing is just irresponsible. I also don’t think that any law governing an individual’s right the take the life of another human being should include the word ‘reasonable’. See if you can follow this --- Lets say Joe has a serious fear of clowns (a very common fear) and a street entertainer (dressed as a clown) approaches Joe to pull a coin out of Joe’s ear --- I think you can begin to see how this is going to play out. Forgiving the absurdity of the example, consider what little it takes to make people feel threatened.

 Hell, I was driving home one night and happened to make eye contact with another motorist who proceeded to brandish a knife in my direction. While I may have considered this display pathetic and Neanderthal-ish, I’m certain that another person would consider that a threat of physical harm.

This bill will more than likely lead to a bevy on controversial court cases in which individuals will be claiming that they felt threatened by the individual they stabbed, shot, or beat to death. We’ll also see a re-birth of lawless vigilantes out for a thrill. All the nonsense aside, is this really the most important issue facing Floridians today?

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