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Atlanta papers on Florida no-retreat law
Below I'd noted that Florida newspapers covering that state's recent self-defense law seemed strangely ... evenhanded. They actually reported what the law did (remove the requirement of "retreat" for self-defense outside the home, while still requiring that a person reasonably believe they were in danger of death or serious injury due to attack, and recognize a presumption that one is in such danger if the attacker is an intruder into the person's home), and gave both sides of the issue.
Now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution brings back memories of what press coverage of gun issues was like in the bad old days. "Florida has ignored common sense and public safety by adopting a law that encourages violent confrontations between its residents. Worse still, the National Rifle Association is gleefully planning to lobby for similar changes in other states," it writes. The law will worsen the State's "gunslinger environment" (under which the homicide rate has steeply fallen). It "limits the ability of police to arrest whoever claims self-defense." (No kidding; laws which establish defenses to criminal charges generally have that effect). And ends with "Let's hope the NRA shoots another blank if it tries to introduce Florida's recipe for mayhem to Georgia."
Now THAT's the press coverage we're accustomed to seeing!
Comments
By bad old days, do you mean last week?
Posted by: SayUncle at May 2, 2005 09:04 AM
The Journal-Constipation has it exactly backwards. "[E]ncourages violent confrontations between its residents" should read - encourages self-defense by law abiding citizens who are being violently confronted by criminals.
Posted by: RKV at May 3, 2005 09:05 AM