Case in Point
Lest anyone still is wondering how it is that Democrats appear to be getting rolled at every turn and wonders why it appears there is no opposition to the radical right in this country, I submit the following story.
TALLAHASSEE - A bill permitting the use of deadly force during a home or car invasion or when an individual considers himself threatened passed the Florida Senate unanimously Wednesday.
The measure (SB 436) eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who uses deadly force as self-protection in his home or vehicle and some other circumstances.
The open-ended language on the bill sponsored by Sen. Durell Peaden Jr., R-Crestview, concerned some lawmakers.
"Under the wording of this bill, somebody could go onto any of the streets and if they think somebody is walking toward them in a threatening fashion, they can pull out a gun and begin blasting away," said Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, who sought unsuccessfully to amend the bill on Tuesday.
"We're heading towards a "Wild West' mentality," Geller said. "I am concerned that you could literally have two guys standing on the street, both of them ready, the guns at their side, and then say, "Well, the other guy threatened me so I pulled a gun and shot him in self defense.' "
Peaden scoffed at that.
"You have to be within the confines of the dwelling as described in this bill," Peaden said. "You just can't shoot anybody on the street and drag 'em in."
Besides mentioning home and vehicle intrusions, the bill says, "A person ... who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm ... or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony."
Geller voted for the bill anyway. Otherwise, "We'd be seen as Democrats soft on crime," he said. (emphasis mine)
A similar proposal (HB 249) was approved 8-2 Wednesday by the House Justice Council.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 3/29/2005
2 comments
2 Comments:
I've been preaching this for years now, though people often get testy because they feel that Dems need to move further to the right than they already have.
This is penny wise and pound foolish in my estimation, as people DO respond to those who stand up for their principles and continue to stick to them no matter the consequences.
If the principles are moral and right, which the majority of Democratic core principles are, then consistently stating them and sticking with them can only lead to becoming the majority in the future.
But instead we have a group of independent agents posing as politicians. Democrats who consistently and maddeningly provide cover and even support for the radical agenda of the right.
I've criticized this and met with howls of protest.
It's not stupid to want to return this country to respecting the things that made the country great to begin with, and to want to restore the country to the place that people the world over admire and aspire to be.
Sucking up and capitulating time and time again to Bush, DeLay, the Rapture Right, anti-science anti-intellectual fundies, etc. does the country harm.
How anyone can argue that if we don't join the delusion we'll get wiped out completely is beyond me.
What good is it if the Dems maintain a minority status but it's further to the right than any Republican president prior to Bush?
To argue that we need to out-Republican republicans in order to gain in the south, etc. is folly.
There are ways to do it without running like a scalded toad to stake out a claim further right than the extreme right.
I've been preaching this for years now, though people often get testy because they feel that Dems need to continue to chase the right in the craven pursuit of the votes of a few whackos.
This is penny wise and pound foolish in my estimation, as people DO respond to those who stand up for their principles and continue to stick to them no matter the consequences.
If the principles are moral and right, which Democratic core principles are, then consistently stating them and sticking with them can only lead to becoming the majority in the future. Poll after poll after poll consistently show that people still agree with Democrats on major issues.
But instead we have a group of independent agents posing as politicians. Democrats who consistently and maddeningly provide cover and even support for the radical agenda of the right.
I've criticized this here and it's met with howls of protest.
It's not stupid to want to return this country to respecting the things that made the country great to begin with, and to want to restore the country to the place that people the world over admire and aspire to be.
Sucking up and capitulating time and time again to Bush, DeLay, the Rapture Right, anti-science anti-intellectual fundies, etc. does the country harm and DOES NO GOOD for the Democratic party at all.
How anyone can argue that if we don't join in the delusion of the right we'll get wiped off the map is beyond me.
What good is it if the Dems maintain a minority status but it's further to the right than any Republican president prior to Bush?
There will be no Democratic party principles left, so therefore the party as we know it will be gone.
Where's the gain in that?
Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Post a Comment
<< Home