Will new self-defense laws increase safety? :: 05/31/2011

HARRISBURG - When Florida lawmakers in 2005 made their state one of the first to significantly expand its citizens' self-defense rights, they hoped doing so would deter criminals and ultimately reduce violent crime.

What they got instead was two years worth of increasing gun violence. By mid-2007, the incidence of murders, armed robberies and assaults had increased statewide by 42 percent, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website.

While few lawmakers, police or prosecutors argue that the expansion of self-defense rights played a direct role in that increase, those figures have caused some observers to question whether expanding such rights can reduce violent crime, as supporters claim.

The issue is a relevant one these days in Pennsylvania . A "stand-your-ground" provision - which does away with a citizen's "duty to retreat" in the face of violent assault - could be written into law here this summer, opening up heated debate between pro- and anti-gun groups and across the state.

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Background information: The article above was written by an intern with the PA Legislative Correspondents Association. The statistics quoted in this article are not only misleading but factually deficient. In addition Castle Doctrine is now law in 23 states and crime has fallen in those states, including Florida.

IF you want to examine the 'real' crime statistics please go to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports website by clicking here , and you will be able to see the fallacy in this article. It is our opinion that these errors were intentionally placed to damage the push for the PA Castle Doctrine Law - HB 40 .