Florida GOP's New Stand Your Ground Expansion: Trayvon's Killer Would Get Paid $200,000

Crossposted under SemDem on DailyKos

As always, I have to begin my posts by pointing out that this is NOT a snark. In the Gunshine state, the NRA doesn't just get laws passed, they write the laws. At a time when the nation despairs over weekly gun massacres, our f*&*ing legislature is currently on track to force our colleges to allow assault-rifle toting gun nuts to roam the campus. (Naturally, guns will still be banned in the Capitol.) But while our state suffers from all the terror that our unchecked NRA has unleashed, including the nation's first so-called "stand Your Ground" law, it's about to get a whole lot worse.

House bill 169 grotesquely flips the burden of proof to anyone arrested for a gun-related crime. In other words, if you knife somebody in the gut, the burden of proof will still be on you as to why you did that. But if you SHOOT somebody in the gut, the burden of proof will be on the guy who got shot to prove IT WAS NOT SELF-DEFENSE!!!

It's like the NRA is actively trying to get more violent crime in our bloody state. Actually, it is exactly what they are doing.

OH, and one more thing.

If you get shot in the gut and you (or more likely, your surviving relatives) should fail to prove that the guy did not act in self-defense, the taxpayers of Florida would have to pay the shooter up to $200,000 for any costs and expenses related to the trial.

From the same article:

That payment part is unprecedented.

"This is a dangerous piece of legislation," said Phil Archer, the gun-toting Republican state attorney for Seminole and Brevard counties. "I don't know how else to say it."

Archer said the law would essentially force prosecutors to try every case twice — once to validate self-defense claims and then again for the actual trial — a costly hurdle for prosecutors "even if it is obviously not a viable self-defense claim. Every defendant in every case is going to ask for it."

The $200,0000 payments would also probably force offices to cut prosecutors, he said, explaining: "There's nothing else to cut."

Our homicide rate increased dramatically under Stand Your Ground... this will make it skyrocket.

Oh, and why did they pick $200,000 as a number, you might ask? It was the amount George Zimmerman wanted the state to reimburse him for all of his "expert witnesses, travel expenses, and transcripts". Seriously.

It's bad enough that he murdered Trayvon in cold blood. NRA legislators supporting this bill in Tallahassee apparently think his parents should also have paid him as well.

With all of the benefits of shooting people, you'd be crazy NOT to have your planned gun rampage here in Florida. (Well, I'd guess you'd be crazy either way.)

I've seen a lot of stupid in this state, but I've never before seen a bill that actively encourages gun massacres. I guess since the GOP's base is now down to just angry, white men, they feel they need to appeal to their fastest growing constituency: the paranoid and violent lone gunmen.

What's Wrong With America Shown in One Tweet

Crossposted on DailyKos

She owns an Oregon gun shop very close to UCC. This is right after the tragedy...

She was downright giddy at the prospect at the surge in business that no doubt came her way. I promise she wasn't the only one.

Because the first thought of too many people in this country after a massacre isn't "Oh My God, That is Horrible!"

javascript:void(0); It's "Oh My God, I Better Get More Guns!"

Then they will hand over a fortune to a lady like this and buy even more guns because THIS time, they will be told, Congress will be motivated to take their guns.

Never mind that after every mass shooting there are successful efforts by the gun lobby to LOOOSEN gun restrictions.

Never mind that the only two gun laws that our president, (the man they swear is after their guns), has ever signed actually gave MORE gun access.

And never mind that there has been record gun sales in our country every year since Obama has taken office. (See the despicable display at the front of this lady's gun shop).

None of these facts matter. The members of the NRA range from easily-frightened to downright paranoid; so when Wayne LaPierre tells them that THIS time Congress will order government agents to confiscate guns, (so buy more and give us money), they will believe him. The fact that this very same Congress is so whipped by the gun lobby that they can't even muster a simple majority to require a basic background check or even allow data to be gathered on gun deaths is lost on these knuckle-dragging idiots.

The net result of all this is that ever crazier people will be allowed to get ever deadlier weapons. Right now, you can even buy a goddamned flame thrower for your arsenal if you'd like. NO ONE IS TAKING YOUR STUPID GUNS.

But it is their paranoia and stupidity that the gun lobby, and in fact, the whole gun industry, counts on. The gun manufacturers all the way down to the retail gun owners make a fortune peddling fear and death. We have gotten so sick that mass shootings have become a real "black Friday" for this industry. The ones who make their living off of these tragedies have already sold their souls, so it is no wonder they get so giddy about these things. Well, good news for them: there will be plenty more with no end in sight.

Hand it to the gun lobby. They won America. Nothing will change after this tragedy. Do you know how I know? Because Sandy Hook. That was when we as a nation decided that a kindergarten classroom filled with slaughtered children was tolerable and we all collectively decided to do jack squat about it.

(I may remind you that more than a few gun nuts won't even acknowledge that Sandy Hook happened at all, including the bonehead Sheriff now overseeing this current tragedy. Wonder if he is going to tell the grieving parents this time that they are just "actors"?)

It isn't just laws that need to change in America, it's our gun culture. Banking on that to change anytime soon is a fool's errand, which is why this gun shop owner in this photo has a big grin. #stuffhappens

Note: I posted this under my pseudonym on DailyKos, which is SemDem. This wasn't plagiarized, but thanks for being fans.

We Need to Push for Guns in the FL State House

Last year, Georgia passed the "guns everywhere" bill, which allowed guns pretty much everywhere: schools, bars, airports, and churches.

The one place they banned guns? The goddamned state legislature. Proving that they didn't buy into their own BS.

We are facing a similar situation with our tea party legislature. As a first step, they are currently on track to forcing our safe college campuses to allow firearms. Like GA, the FL GOP-controlled legislature doesn't want any firearms allowed in their state house.

Screw that. If this passes, we need to go for a Constitutional Amendment that says firearms should be permitted in the State House with no restrictions. Dems will vote for it, and the gun nuts that infect the GOP will go for it. I would LOVE for the GOPers who oppose this to fight against it. What are they going to say? It's unsafe? It's stupid? Please, continue....

Who's with me?

Today is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Gun Violence

I'm not a politician, but I'm decreeing it because I can.

Two years ago today, children were slaughtered by a nut with an assault rifle that was designed to do the most damage in the shortest amount of time. According to a Newtown EMT on that day, that objective "was achieved."

The mother was NRA-certified gun nut who thought it was just dandy to let her deranged kid play with high-powered assault rifles.

The killer showed no mercy. Some of the teachers, whose entire profession is constantly mocked by conservatives, gave their lives for kids who were crying that they just wanted Christmas. Yet the NRA and their supporters told the parents, in some cases literally, to go to hell. No limits to anyone for any killing machine no matter how lethal. Background checks were somehow an "affront" to the Constitution or some bullshit.

Since Newtown there have been 100 school shootings. This is a uniquely American problem. Other nations that allow citizens to carry guns don't have this problem. This is a direct result from a vocal minority being allowed to suppress any sensible legislation, and have politicians cower in their shadow. This despite poll after poll showing upwards of 85% of people favoring sensible gun laws, and the NRA being defeated roundly in every ballot initiative this past election (in what was the most red election in history).

I want today to be a day of remembrance, for the lives that were lost and what could have been if Americans didn't allow evil entities to use fear/hate to manipulate them or apathy to turn a blind eye.

All of the children killed to this point deserve better, plus the ones that will be killed inevitably tomorrow.

Florida Tries To Become the Wild West

Welcome to Post 1 of My Stupid State:


With wingnuts in full control of the state legislature and the governor's office... expect more nutty legislation like this:

Legislators have filed three separate bills, one that would restrict local governments from regulating firearms, another to stop doctors from even asking patients about them and a third to grant licensed gun owners the right to wear firearms outside their clothing — including on college campuses.

Soooo...students strapping Mac-10s and Glocks to thier backpacks. Nope, can't see anything happening there.