Florida House Passes 'Warning Shot' Bill

by Steve Foley
April 1, 2014

From BizPacReview:

The Florida House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB-89, a “warning shot” bill Thursday, allowing for a person to brandish a firearm or fire a warning shot when feeling threatened.

After two days of intense debate, the measure was approved 93-24, while the Senate tentatively approved a similar measure, according to the Bradenton Herald.

The bill was introduced by GOP state Rep. Neil Combee, in response to the notorious Marissa Alexander case. She received a 20-year sentence after being caught up in Florida’s 10-20-Life statute when she fired a warning shot to ward off her abusive estranged husband.

After serving 21 months, an appeals court granted Alexander a new trial.

Fort Lauderdale Democrat Rep. Perry Thurston sought unsuccessfully to use the bill as a vehicle to amend Florida’s “stand your ground” law, but the bill’s sponsor wouldn't have it.

http://readychimp.com/2014/04/01/florida-house-passes-warning-shot-bill/

I'm trying to figure out how I feel about this. I mean, I think it's only right the woman shouldn't be jailed after warning off her ex.

On the other hand, I believe any "warning shots" should be fired center mass.

Prior to this law being passed, if you pulled out your firearm and used it as a tool to scare-off a threat without firing the weapon, or you accidentally exposed your gun while carrying you could be jailed in prison for 3 years.

I agree with you though... for a couple of reasons.

First off... if you have the need to pull your firearm and defend yourself, you shouldn't waiver on that decision. That is typically how individuals have the tables turned on them and are injured or killed with their own weapon.

The second reason is... this law now opens the door for those individuals against the "Stand Your Ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws to weaken those laws, because some scumbag lawyer will now use it as an argument to question and challenge those who had the need to stand their ground or defend their "castle" (which includes your business and personal space) with an argument of "why didn't you fire a warning shot instead of shooting ?"

So the law has pros and cons... it's a good law for preventing individuals from going to prison for accidentally exposing their concealed weapon, yet the law itself will now more than likely be the tool used to convict those standing their ground or defending their castle.

I'm glad I live in Missouri, where we have the "Castle Doctrine" law. Then again, my Governor (The friggin traitor!!) sent the names, addresses, and personal info of every CCW permit holder to D.C. (without any kind of court order, mandate, anything - just did it!)

P.S. (There must be something wrong with me. If that woman drew a bead on me, I'd be in trouble. Despite the fact she's pointing a gun at the camera in that picture, one of the first things my twisted mind said was "Wow! She has some gorgeous eyes!!"