Category Archives: Gun Laws & Violence
Man Arrested on Weapons Charges After Accidental Shooting Death of Child, 5
In a tragic accident on February 4, 2017, an eight-year-old boy shot two other children with a gun he found in the Jacksonville, Florida home where the three had been left alone. According to News 4 JAX, just one shot was fired by the boy, but it was enough to kill his five-year-old sister… Read More »
Cases Involving “Stand Your Ground” Defense on the Rise in Florida
Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law gained nationwide attention in connection with the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case a few years back, but this defense to murder was in the news more recently for another reason: The Wall Street Journal covered the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association –… Read More »
Comparing Florida and Federal Gun Laws
Orlando’s News Channel 6 recently got a rare, up close look at a cache of guns, firearm accessories, and other weapons confiscated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The munitions are stored at a warehouse in Central Florida, and were taken off the streets from people who had either stolen… Read More »
Defending Yourself Against Gun Charges in Florida
Florida gun laws can be confusing, even to law enforcement, as proven by a recent case involving a hunter and his antique rifle. The Jackson County Floridan reported on a matter that started with the hunter’s arrest in 2012 and ended with an overturned conviction by the Florida Supreme Court in September 2016. Though… Read More »
11th U.S Circuit to Rehear “Docs v. Glocks” Law in Florida
Florida is one of the more pro-gun states in the nation. Pro-gun measures that have been enacted and protected over the last decade have pushed forward, making laws like “Stand Your Ground” and open-carry and concealed carry legislation more broad-reaching. The most recent controversy to hit Florida is related to the Firearm Owners’ Privacy… Read More »
The Psychology and Contagion of Mass Shootings
In the United States at this moment in time, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of mass shootings and domestic terrorism. Each day it seems that our media is reporting on another violent incident or another active shooter situation that makes people wonder: what is going on? Where are these people… Read More »
One Step Closer To Removing Ban on Concealed Weapons on College Campuses in Florida: Bill for 2016
The 2016 legislative session will bring to light considerable issues surrounding the rights of gun owners. Recently, Florida’s Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Senate Criminal Justice Committee are helping push forward a bill that would permit concealed carry permit holders on college campuses; the purpose behind the bill is that concealed carry permit gun holders… Read More »
“Stand Your Ground” Florida Supreme Court Holding: Criminal Defendants Have Burden of Proof to Demonstrate Justified Use of Force
“Stand your ground” legislation in Florida has been a significant aspect of the criminal justice system. Florida is one of the few states that protects the right of a person to use deadly force when threatened with great bodily harm or the possibility of death. The Florida Supreme Court came out with a ruling… Read More »
One Gun, Many Crimes
The federal firearms laws are structured such that one act of wrongdoing often constitutes multiple offenses. As a result, the potential sentence facing a defendant who commits a firearms offense is often significantly greater than one would expect. In general, however, the Constitution’s Double Jeopardy clause prevents so-called “duplicative” or “multiplicative” prosecutions, wherein one wrongful act is treated as two… Read More »
Gun And Weapons Charges In Florida
Recent news events put the State of Florida in the spotlight when it comes to gun ownership and control. The split of opinion as to the right to self-defense and when defense goes too far divides the country. The laws surrounding gun ownership are many and are sometimes hard to understand — when left… Read More »