Pizzapinochle
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- Joined
- Jul 25, 2013
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http://news.wjct.org/post/what-exactly-does-warning-shot-bill-allow
That has some of the transcript and a link to the interview I heard.
Some highlights:
Sullivan said calling the proposal the "Warning Shot Bill" is somewhat of a misnomer as the bill does not legalize the firing of warning shots.
"The only time you could fire a warning shot is when you would already have the right to fire a lethal shot," Sullivan explained, noting that the bill does not allow the threat of lethal force to protect property.
And....
The bill now being considered would allow Stand Your Ground to be applied to warning shots. As the law currently stands, warning shots are charged as aggravated assault, which carries a mandatory minimum 20 year sentence upon conviction. The second key component of the bill deals with those mandatory sentences.
"It says, if a judge finds that you had a good faith belief that a warning shot was necessary, but you were wrong, and you're convicted, we don't have to put you in 10-20-life," Sullivan said.
"The judge can use discretion to use the sentencing guidelines that are used for somebody who assaults somebody with a knife, and doesn't have to put somebody in jail for the full 20 years."
That has some of the transcript and a link to the interview I heard.
Some highlights:
Sullivan said calling the proposal the "Warning Shot Bill" is somewhat of a misnomer as the bill does not legalize the firing of warning shots.
"The only time you could fire a warning shot is when you would already have the right to fire a lethal shot," Sullivan explained, noting that the bill does not allow the threat of lethal force to protect property.
And....
The bill now being considered would allow Stand Your Ground to be applied to warning shots. As the law currently stands, warning shots are charged as aggravated assault, which carries a mandatory minimum 20 year sentence upon conviction. The second key component of the bill deals with those mandatory sentences.
"It says, if a judge finds that you had a good faith belief that a warning shot was necessary, but you were wrong, and you're convicted, we don't have to put you in 10-20-life," Sullivan said.
"The judge can use discretion to use the sentencing guidelines that are used for somebody who assaults somebody with a knife, and doesn't have to put somebody in jail for the full 20 years."