Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Standing Your Ground in Florida

Strange verdict in the Florida trial of Michael Dunn for opening fire on a car full of black teenagers. Dunn said he thought someone in the car pointed a gun at him, which is why he shot, but then he kept firing as the car drove away. The jury deadlocked on the charge of premeditated murder, which certain liberals have complained shows the danger of "stand your ground" laws and our tolerance of gun-willing vigilantes. On the other hand, Dunn was convicted of three counts of attempted murder for continuing to fire at the retreating car, since the jurors agreed that by that point he had no reasonable fear of being shot himself. And in Florida, that will get him 60 years in prison. Murder would get him the death penalty. I would say that 60 years is quite enough punishment for opening fire in a fit of rage.

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