Revision to Self-Defense Laws for Florida
The case of a woman who has been sentenced to twenty years for shooting a warning shot in a confrontation with her husband has forced Florida legislators to rethink their self-defense laws. Marissa Alexander, in an argument with her husband in which she felt bodily threatened, fired a warning shot that did not wound her husband. Based on a 1999 law called “10-20-life,” she was sentenced to twenty years in prison. The law mandates a sentence of ten years in prison for presenting a gun in certain situations. Twenty years is sentenced if the gun is shot and life is the ruling if someone is injured from the shot. By this system, Alexander’s warning shot required her to receive twenty years in prison. However, an article recently completed by Fox News indicates that her case has alerted officials to the call for a change to this legislation.
A new bill has been introduced; it is being nicknamed the warning shot bill and allows for situations in which a victim feels threatened and is able to use a gun without falling under the 10-20-life ruling. Senator Greg Evers, a Republican from Pensacola, reassured that this bill emphasizes cases of self-defense, such as was the situation for Alexander’s case. Evers deters from employing the term “warning shot,” as he fears that will only encourage reckless behavior with firearms. However, he believes in a case such as Alexander’s, victims should be allowed to defend themselves and not automatically face ten or more years in prison.
With the introduction of this new bill, Alexander’s ruling has been suspended. She is out of jail on bail and awaiting another trial, once the fate of the bill is decided. Supporters of this new bill claim that 10-20-life wasn’t to be employed in cases of self-defense. The legislation was originally intended to keep prosecutors and judges from merely slapping gun-wielding offenders on the wrist with reduced sentences. Supporters remind the public that self-defense is a constitutional right; laws should not work against its intent.
Those who oppose the warning shot bill base their opposition mostly upon the term “warning shot.” They believe this will only encourage citizens to fire guns unnecessarily into dangerous situations, with crowds or innocent bystanders. Arguments from both sides are under consideration, as the bill’s next stop is to be reviewed by Republican Governor Rick Scott. Scott supports the Second Amendment and self-defense laws and looks forward to reviewing the bill for consideration.
