Bahamians who visit Florida are being warned against becoming involved in any potentially volatile situations with Florida residents as a new controversial gun law has come into effect in the sunshine state.
The law gives anyone the right who fears for his life to defend himself against an attack as long as they are in a place where they have a legal entitlement like their homes, businesses or a public street.
It also gives the shooter immunity from civil and criminal prosecution as long as the victim is not a police officer.
But an American lobbyist group called The Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence warned that confrontations now have the potential to become dangerously violent and visitors could be caught in the crossfire.
“You should avoid aggressive or combative arguments with strangers in public places when you are in Florida,” said the group’s Director of Communications Peter Hamm in a Bahama Journal interview.
But while critics of the new law insisted that it is an enormous step backwards in civic responsibility and public safety, proponents maintained that the measure pushed by the National Rifle Association in the U.S. would make the state safer.
Not so, according to Mr. Hamm, who argued that the law would cause the most aggressive people in society to overreact.
Members of his organization were handing out leaflets at the Miami International Airport this week, warning visitors about the change. They also intended to expand their campaign to the Orlando International Airport soon.
State and government officials had already considered how the “scare tactic” could potentially adversely affect Florida’s tourism industry and responded by issuing a statement that said the state is a very safe and secure destination.
“We believe that Americans and international visitors are smart enough to understand that the Brady Campaign is one group’s political agenda and not a real safety issue,” noted the statement on the Visit Florida website. “A change in the law does not necessarily create a change in behaviour.”
JoAnn Carrin, director of communications at the Attorney General’s Office in Florida told the Journal that there is a 34 year low in the crime rate in Florida which has been dropping for 13 consecutive years.
She maintained that the law merely gives an individual who is going about his business the right to defend himself against an attacker.
“Florida is one of the safest places there can be,” she said.
Groups that try to discourage visitors from Florida will not be successful because it has too much to offer.”
Throngs of Bahamians cross the small expanse every year that separates the United States and The Bahamas, with many of them choosing South Florida as the preferred holiday and shopping destination.
The state welcomes approximately a million visitors on any given day, according to its tourism website. Last year, there were 79.8 million visitors.
With the new law in effect, Mr. Hamm advised Bahamian visitors to avoid arguing unnecessarily with Floridians as they could become embroiled in a dangerous predicament.
“If you’re involved in a traffic accident or a near miss of an accident on Florida’s Highways, you should remain in your car and keep your hands in plain sight,” he said. “Someone appears to be angry with you and you don’t understand what they are angry about, you should do everything you can to maintain a positive attitude and don’t shout or make threatening gestures.
Try to diffuse the situation before rather than make the situation even more volatile.”
Bahamian law enforcement authorities were not familiar with the gun law but one official said it would be in the best interests of Bahamians visiting Florida to remain calm to diffuse any potential danger.
By: Tameka Lundy, The Bahama Journal
