Today, Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed a bill into law which allows people to "meet force with force" if they feel threatened. Under this new law, which was pushed hard by the National Rifle Association (NRA) citizens no longer have to make an effort to "retreat" (i.e., get away from the threat) before opening fire with a gun. Of course, citizens of Florida already have the right to defend themselves against intruders in their own homes; what this law does is to take that right outside the home - to a park, a street, a place of business, etc.The bill was strongly opposed by those who believe it will lead to a "Wild West" situation in Florida. One opponent of the bill, Florida Rep. Dan Gelber (a former federal prosecutor), argued, "You are telling people when they are in the midst of an emotional moment ... you can stand your ground until death happens." Sarah Brady of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence added, "Governor Bush made a huge mistake signing this law, which threatens to enable every rogue with an itchy trigger finger in Florida." In addition, police chiefs and sheriffs of Miami, St. Petersburg, and Broward County opposed the bill.
So what does all this have to do with Virginia? Well, according to the Washington Post, "The legislation passed so emphatically [in Florida] that National Rifle Association backers plan to take it to statehouses across the nation, including Virginia's, over the next year."
Which means, of course, that whoever is elected governor in November will very likely have such a bill come across his desk during the next four years. The question for Governor Kaine, Fitch, Potts or Kilgore will then be whether to sign or veto this NRA-sponsored legislation. And, regardless of whether or not you support allowing "force with force" to become the law of the land, I think you'll agree that what happened in Florida today raises the stakes on the importance of this year's Virginia governor's race.
Personally, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Tim Kaine deciding what to do about such a bill, if it ever comes to that, than with Potts, Fitch, or Kilgore in charge. How about you?