HB-249 Use of Force/Castle Doctrine Hearing Scheduled

Last week HB-249 by Rep. Baxley was withdrawn from House Justice Appropriations Committee and moved on to its last committee before going to the House floor.

The Florida House Justice Council could hold a hearing as early as Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Please immediately send email to members of the Florida House Justice Council and URGE THEM TO SUPPORT HB-249 by Rep. Baxley.

(Below is a list of the email addresses)

FLORIDA HOUSE JUSTICE COUNCIL

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

BACKGROUND:

HB-249/SB-436 corrects a serious problem for citizens who chose to protect themselves in the face of attack by violent criminals.

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.

The Courts in Florida have clearly eroded the rights of law-abiding citizens by imposing a "duty to retreat" (leave your property and RUN) when attacked.

Law-abiding citizens should not be victimized by the state/courts for failing to retreat (RUN) from their own property or any place they have a right to be in the face of attack by an unlawful intruder. Nor should they be victimized for using deadly force against a perpetrator who unlawfully intrudes -- regardless of whether the victim knows what kind of force the perpetrator intends to use.

Any victim should be able to presume that an unlawful intruder is there for the purpose of doing great bodily, and subsequently places the victim and the victim`s family in great imminent peril.

The Florida Constitution Article I, Section 2 guarantees basic rights to all natural persons including the right to defend life and protect property.

The citizens of Florida have a right to expect absolute safety within their own homes or vehicles and to be able to use all manner of force against and unlawful intruder/attacker.