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More guns, less crime – AGAIN

Posted 20 Oct 2005 in gun control, liberals

A few months ago, I posted about the subject of more responsible gun ownership contributing to lower crime rates. This week, Steve Chapman (of the Chicago Tribune) wrote a good one about Handgun Control’s ridiculous anti-gun campaign in Florida.

Oh, wait. They’re not called Handgun Control, Inc. anymore. Now they’re called The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Hrmmm, I wonder why they changed their name?

Maybe they’re just following the Liberal playbook:
– when the public won’t back your ideas, change things up to confuse people
– if you change your name, make sure to use words that demagogue the opposition

Anyhow, Chapman makes many good points. Here’s just a small section of it. You can read the rest here.

Last spring, the Florida legislature passed a measure giving citizens more legal protection when they act in self-defense. That alarmed the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which describes the policy as “shoot first, ask questions never.” Recently, the group handed out leaflets at the Miami airport to advise arriving passengers to exercise extreme caution: “Do not argue unnecessarily with local people. If someone appears to be angry with you … do not shout or make threatening gestures.”

The new law gives greater protection to citizens who feel compelled to use deadly force when they are attacked in a public place. Before, someone facing “imminent death or great bodily harm” had an obligation to retreat if possible. Under the new rule, as David Kopel of the Colorado-based Independence Institute puts it, “If a gang tries to mug you while you are walking down a dark street, and you draw a gun and shoot one of the gangsters, a prosecutor cannot argue that you should have tried to run away.”

Opponents have characterized the change to mean any Floridian with a firearm can blast away with impunity. “I can picture a stressed-out Tampa soccer mom drawing a bead on an approaching panhandler and shrieking, `Go ahead, make my day!’” fantasized Time magazine columnist Michelle Cottle.

But the law doesn’t say you can shoot anyone who approaches you on the street, or anyone who annoys you. It says you may resort to deadly force only if (1) you are attacked or threatened with violence and (2) you have good reason to fear being killed or badly hurt.

If a panhandler asks you for spare change, or even curses you, that wouldn’t qualify. If a beefy, hostile biker screams that he’s going to stomp you, or rape you, that probably would.

It’s sad that we have to keep passing laws just to allow common sense. And even more sad that some on the Left fight against common sense.

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UPDATE
Here’s a great article from RealClearPolitics about the myths of gun control). (h/t: Severe Writer’s Block)

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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