Warning: Constant ABSPATH already defined in /home/flanews/public_html/wp-config.php on line 37
Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Warning Shot Bill Passes Legislature

Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

Warning Shot Bill Passes Legislature

April 3rd, 2014 by flanews

Shooting at someone could land you 20 years behind bars, but legislation expanding Stand Your Ground could soon make warning shots legal.

Marissa Alexander got 20 years for firing a gun at her now ex husband. A bill waiting for the governor’s signature could change that.

“This is about self defense. This is about the right thing to do,” said Senate bill sponsor Greg Evers (R-Pensacola).

The bill allows for equal use or threatened use of force. The House sponsor says it’s not designed to allow people to take to the streets with guns blazing.

It will get some people in some serious trouble if they can’t convince a judge that they fired a shot because they felt their life was threatened,” said Rep. Neil Combee.

The bill received only 7 no votes with some of the Senators that voted ‘No’ worrying that warning shots could turn deadly.

Everybody’s going to get armed and say well I’ll have a warning shot and my feeling is that they’ll be shooting each other,” said Tampa Democratic Senator Arthenia Joyner.

The NRA says that it’s more about protecting people, and it could help Marissa Alexander, who’s currently awaiting a retrial.

“Under retrial, the prosecutor said she’s going for 60 years. That’s abuse, that’s wrong, that’s what this bill is designed to stop,” said NRA spokeswoman Marion Hammer.

Alexander wasn’t allowed to use Stand Your Ground during her trial because of current law mandating 20 years in prison if a gun is fired during a crime.

An amendment was proposed that would track successful Stand Your Ground claims, which are currently expunged if a person is found innocent. The amendment was voted down.

Posted in State News | Comments Off on Warning Shot Bill Passes Legislature

Comments are closed.

copyright © 2016 by Capitol News Service | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by LyonsHost.com