Thanks again, Miss Marion
I thought this topic was worth revisiting in light of what's happening in my state. Marion Hammer was just inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Don't know her? Read on.
For the past 30 years, Ms. Hammer worked tirelessly to promote the rights of firearms owners and hunters. She was instrumental in the development and growth of United Sportsmen of Florida and served as the first woman president of the NRA. She has spearheaded efforts to preserve free, open shooting ranges, conservation areas, and helped foster education programs that have taught millions of children about the safe handling and use of firearms. But she didn't stop there.
Marion Hammer deserves as much credit as anyone for the creation of Florida's Right-To-Carry (RTC) law. Her fight began in the early 1980s and despite continuous attacks and a concerted disinformation campaign led by anti-gun lobbyists, legislation was passed by the Florida House and Senate. However, it wasn't until liberal Governor Bob Graham's departure that the bill was enacted into law. Governor Bob Martinez signed it into law within five hours of its passage by the reassembled Florida Legislature.
However, one serious flaw still remains:
Florida law requires those being attacked to retreat before using force to defend themselves. Failure to do so (say, you stand your ground and seriously harm or kill an attacker intent on murdering you) could result in YOUR conviction and imprisonment.
Well, Ms. Hammer has been all over this like wool on a sheep and sanity is about to prevail.
Hammer spearheaded efforts to lobby for Florida Senate Bill 436 that would restore the Castle Doctrine. Last Wednesday, the Florida Senate passed SB-436 by Senator Durell Peaden by a UNANIMOUS VOTE of 39-0. The bill was passed by the House this Tuesday, 94-20. Jeb will sign this bill into law and the overwhelming majority of Floridians are ecstatic. Here's the gist:
This bill REMOVES the "duty to retreat" in the face of attack; it creates the presumption that an attacker or intruder intends to do great bodily harm and therefore force, including deadly force, may be used to protect yourself, your family and others in the face of attack; it prohibits prosecution for defending that which you have a right to defend and prohibits civil lawsuits by criminals or relatives of criminals when criminals are injured or killed while attacking law-abiding people. Full explanation at Outdoors Best Article.
The 'usual suspects' were outraged at the bill's swift passage, just as they were upon passage of the nation's first right-to-carry law in 1987. Many thanks again, Marion.