Citizens Can Protect Themselves With Deadly Force
Today’s USA Today reporter Richard Willing notes that it has been a year since Florida has enacted a law allowing victims to use deadly self-defense. He also notes that there are fifteen other states considering enacting the same kind of law. There is nothing really special about the article since Richard seems to be just reporting both sides, mostly. What I did find absolutely astonishing is the quote by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Critics, including the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence, say the bills encourage vigilantism and would make it more likely that confrontations would turn deadly. Zach Ragbourn of the Brady group says the proposals “are more accurately called ‘Shoot First’ laws. They allow a person who just feels something bad is going to happen to open fire in public.”
Come on! If someone sticks a pistol in your face and says I am taking your car, I would say something bad is going to happen. If I have a gun I will, given the chance, shoot first and ask questions later. Finally a law is being debated and passed which will allow the citizens to defend themselves. Before passage of this law, victims had a duty to retreat. LaPierre, president of the NRA says the NRA is supporting this law in the twenty-nine states where would-be-victims have a duty to retreat. In those states if a would-be-victim does not retreat, they can be prosecuted and/or sued. People have a right to protect themselves, their families, and their property against those who would take, destroy, or harm them.
Apparently states are beginning to take the protection of their citizens more seriously. According to the Courier-Journal newspaper of Louisville, Kentucky, the state is on the brink of signing a bill expanding the “people’s right to shoot anyone they believe is threatening them.” Among the states they list as having pass the right to shoot legislation include: Florida, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Indiana. The measure has failed in Wyoming, Iowa, and Virginia, states where the NRA is concentrating their efforts.
Critics say it gives people the right to shoot anyone, but supporters disagree. It is meant to help citizens defend themselves.
This codifies that you are under no obligation to retreat if you are under attack,” said Robert Pruden, a supporter of the bill and secretary and treasurer of the Kentucky Firearms Foundation.
It’s about time this kind of law was passed.
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