You just can’t get enough gunplay in America. If it’s not all over our kids’ video games, it is out in the street for real. This year, the Legislature figured (with some help from the NRA, of course) that times were tough for the lil’ ol’ gun owner just walking down the avenue and minding his/her own business when accosted by a criminal. So they changed state law to expand the Florida’s “Castle Doctrine,” which previously indemnified only those who defended themselves against intruders in their homes if they prove they could not safely escape. The change, approved overwhelmingly by lawmakers, said gun-toters can do the same outside of the home, in darkened alleys or out on the streets of Florida, regardless of whether they could instead turn and run away. Floridians now have “the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force,” according to the expanded law. Yip!
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.