Florida was certainly quick to step to the plate when they
became the first state to pass a “Stand your ground” act in 2005. The law
allows a person to use deadly force as a first option not only if they are
threatened but even if they merely feel threatened. This feeling doesn’t have to be substantiated
by facts or evidence because its a feeling. Essentially, instead of saying, “the devil
made me do it” the shooter could now say he was “hooked on a feeling” and all would be
forgiven.
Twenty-three states followed Florida’s lead, which could easily be
called rushing to action—or at least a rush to please the NRA since there was
no great public outcry for such a law.
After a decade on the books a casual observer might conclude
that Florida’s law is doing more harm than good—both to the state and to the
number of non-threatening but, it-feels-like-they-are individuals that are being killed.
Shouldn’t the state be taking a second look into a law that practically
justifies murder rather than prevent it?
Maybe but many are saying, “What’s the rush? Let’s give it time
to work.”
My guess is these same people are keeping their fingers crossed,
much the way school principals cross their fingers every morning when they turn
on the lights in their schools.
