On March 23, 2005, The Florida Senate passed SB-436,
the "Castle Doctrine" unanimously, by a vote of 39 YEAS to zero
NAYS. They know something about this bill.
On April 5, The Florida House passed SB-436, "Castle Doctrine"
by a vote of 94 YEAS to 20 NAYS, a margin of better than four to one.
On April 26, Governor Jeb Bush SIGNED SB-436, the "Castle Doctrine"
into law (Chapter No. 2005-27) It takes effect on October 1, 2005.
The news media nationwide started in immediately with its “Gunshine
State,” blood in the streets, Dirty Harry, vigilante, irrational
mass murder nonsense, mythologies, lies and blatant unethical behavior.
A great deal of erroneous information has been written, published and
spoken about Florida's new "Castle Doctrine" law.
Claims that the new law will turn Florida into the Wild West are not only
an insult to intelligent people but give a patently false portrait of
what the bill actually does.
The Florida "Castle Doctrine" law basically does three things:
One: It establishes, in law, the presumption that a criminal who forcibly
enters or intrudes into your home or occupied vehicle is there to cause
death or great bodily harm, therefore a person may use any manner of force,
including deadly force, against that person.
Two: It removes the "duty to retreat" if you are attacked in
any place you have a right to be. You no longer have to turn your back
on a criminal and try to run when attacked. Instead, you may stand your
ground and fight back, meeting force with force, including deadly force,
if you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily
harm to yourself or others. [This is an American right repeatedly recognized
in Supreme Court gun cases.]
Three: It provides that persons using force authorized by law shall not
be prosecuted for using such force.
It also prohibits criminals and their families from suing victims for
injuring or killing the criminals who have attacked them.
In short, it gives rights back to law-abiding people and forces judges
and prosecutors who are prone to coddling criminals to instead focus on
protecting victims.
SO -- is this the impression you got from the news? Why not? Aren’t
media people impartial purveyors of objective facts, with no bias or spin,
faithfully and accurately reporting the news? Everyone who believes that’s
an accurate description of the news media please raise your hand. See?
No hands go up. Despite their protests otherwise, the news media has,
in general, and especially with respect to gun issues, become an outrageous
purveyor of agenda-driven nonsense on the dark side of the force.
