Stand Your Ground
“‘Stand your ground’, lets people use guns or other deadly force to defend themselves in public places without first trying to escape.”
Dubya’s brother Jeb says “hav(ing) to retreat (from a life-threatening situation) and put yourself in a very precarious position defies common sense.” I’m assuming the “very precarious position” he’s referring to is what logical people call survival.
Maybe I’m naive but I’ve always heard that fleeing from a life-threatening situation is far better than standing around. This whole “stand your ground” notion spurs from NRA (National Rifle Association) obsessed macho pride. If you don’t believe me seek out the information yourself. You’ll probably turn up something like this:
Many people faunch and worry that showing fear will provoke an attack. On the other hand, many make a far worse mistake by insisting on a “no fear” approach. And in doing so, such people refuse to retreat from a dangerous situation. This is a pendulum swing to the other extreme based on piss poor communication by many so-called “experts” on the subject of self-defense who insist on telling people to walk with confidence as though you are heading somewhere.
If someone tries to follow you, get close or is loitering in an ambush area get to an area where there are people.
Sorry Jeb, but I think that is common sense.
Articles cited:
Florida Expands Right to Use Deadly Force in Self-Defense
Tips on how to avoid being robbed
There is a lot of great feminist literature on how the self-defense doctrine is an excuse for unnecessary violence created by male pride.
While most self-defense laws consider in some way the relationship between the two actors, setting of altercation, and sometimes pychological mindset of the actors, the Florida law strips away these rational considerations and gives proud & violent Florida men a hunting license.
“shoot first ask questions later”
Nice quote. You sound like you’re attending law school or something.
As my post assumes I completely agree. There’s an idea of cowardice associated with fleeing from a dangerous situation born out of testosterone. In essence I feel it’s more courageous to take every opportunity to escape from those situations. A “bigger man” will walk away. I would rather have someone take my life than take theirs. How’s that for courage.
Well, that sounds mighty Christian of you, Mr. Heathen! Bwaahahahahahahah…..less than two weeks, dude!
But the question is should moral self-sacrifice be imposed by law?
If it is immoral to eat humans, and you are stranded in a lifeboat for three weeks and the person with you dies, should you be punished by law for eating him?
The real determination should be necessity, and thats what the FL law has gotten rid of.
To compare the FL law to my hypo, its like saying not only can you eat him but you can kill him to protect your own self interests. (maybe that’s not exactly fair, but on some levels it is.)
I see your point but I think that might be pushing it a bit too far.
The part of this bill that really irks me is how its supporters argue that it helps people defend themselves when in truth it does the exact opposite. It’s safer to flee, plain and simple. If you’re sending a message that fleeing is against “common sense” your risking more life than before.
Inevitably this is going to cause much more havoc and chaos. It doesn’t take a crafty lawyer to prove that someone was in a potentially life-threatening situation when they blew some dude away. Basically this opens the door for people to literally get away with murder.
Cas, is it Christian or just human?
Oh, it is completely human. To think otherwise is sociopathic and completely inhuman. Just my humble opinion, though.
Remember you don’t have to be in danger at all. Your property can be in danger. If an unarmed teenager is stealing cds out of your bedroom, you may by law shot him in Florida. If a homeless person is sleeping on your porch, don’t bother calling the cops, just get your rifle.
My problem with the self-defese doctrine is that it usually applies to crimes that aren’t worthy of the death penalty (even in Texas), or even jail time.