By Brian Bohl

The state of Florida soon might be known for more than spring training camps and flawed election recount methods. A new bill, sponsored by the National Rifle Association and supported by Republican lawmakers in the state House and Senate, would lax the requirements for using deadly force in self defense.So far this sounds reasonable. Why shouldn’t people be allowed to use force to protect themselves and their family? However, the bill would set ridiculously flaccid standards as to when deadly force could be used. The legislation would allow for lethal methods to “respond to any unlawful force, deadly or not.” Some of the provisions of the new law, as reported in the St. Petersburg Times, include but are not limited to the following:-The right to use deadly force if an intoxicated person throws a punch at you in a bar.-If your spouse throws an object at you during an argument, you are legally entitled to shoot him/her.-You can shoot an angry co worker that pokes you in the chest.The bill, introduced Feb. 23 in the Florida Senate, would allow people the right to shoot an attacker in a public place among other new liberties. Implementing these more lenient rules could have dire consequences in the future. Imagine minor disputes escalating more quickly than necessary because people believe they are legally entitled to settle arguments using firearms. State law already had provisions for using deadly force in urgent, life or death circumstance. The reason why we have a judicial system set up is to make sure citizens do not take matters pertaining to the law into their own hands unless very special circumstances dictate otherwise. If the bill is passed, citizens will act like they have full discretionary power as to when and where a baleful retaliation is warranted.Still not convinced this bill is a good idea? Consider that Florida has the fourth highest crime rate in the nation, the second-highest violent crime rate, and the 21st highest murder rate. This is without the passage of the bill. Allowing greater power to use guns to citizens already in a crime hotbed is simply negligent.This bill would not only increase violence, it also would not be a victory for second amendment advocates. Not one member of the opposition has suggested that gun control laws be strengthened. No rights or freedoms pertaining to gun control and access to fire arms would be restricted if the bill failed.As for the aforementioned examples, unless a spouse is hurling the knife set at her significant other, gun shots would be a pretty major overreaction. Everyone loses their temper at one time or another, but they shouldn’t have to endure a bullet as punishment.Since 2003, Florida has the 14th highest incarceration rate, and ranked third in the number of prisoners on death row. If this pending bill comes to fruition, incarceration statistics might be the least of the state’s worries.