Emily Smith
US Editor
Miami advice for Brits (Antigun zealots spreading disinformation
and fear to visitors from overseas)
The
Sun (U.K.) ^ | September 30, 2005 | EMILY SMITH
BRITS visiting Florida are being warned — don’t pick
a fight or you could be SHOT.
Any tourist who starts a road-rage or bar row risks being gunned
down under a new state law.
It makes it legal to use any force necessary on an attacker WITHOUT
first trying to escape the confrontation.
Opponents call it “The Shoot First Law” and fear
it will lead to a huge increase in gun deaths.
Anti-gun groups plan to issue leaflets to Brits arriving at Orlando
and Miami airports giving the chilling advice: “Do not argue
unnecessarily with local people.”
The groups also plan to put ads in British papers.
Peter Hamm, of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said:
“It’s a particular risk faced by travellers coming to
Florida because they have no idea it’s going to be the law.
If they get into a road rage argument the other person may feel he
has the right to use deadly force.”
Gun supporters call the measure “The Stand Your Ground
Law” and insist it is reasonable to meet force with force.
Ex-National Rifle Association president Marion Hammer said: “No
law-abiding citizen should be forced to retreat from an attacker.”
The new law comes into force tomorrow.
Latest figures reveal there were 30,242 gun deaths in the US in
a year and enough firearms to provide every adult with one.
More than 1.5million Britons go to Florida every year, making it
the No1 long-haul holiday destination. Eighty per cent head for Orlando.
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