Committee members were adamant that they didn't want to weaken the law. They said it was designed to make sure that people who defend themselves aren't forced to hire lawyers.
The underlying message? A reasonable explanation and a legal bill are just too much to ask of someone who killed another person.
In its most substantive proposal, the task force says the Legislature should fund yet another study — one that would consider race, ethnicity and gender fairness in the way the law is used.
That's a noble goal, but the task force conveniently failed to call the Legislature's attention to other studies it was presented with that focused on stand your ground.
A report released during the summer by Texas A&M economists evaluated whether Florida's law and similar statutes in 20 other states had any impact on deterring crime.
A centerpiece of the pro-gun lobby is that an armed populace, empowered to use weapons without worry of prosecution, is safer for it.
But the study found these laws don't deter crime at all. There is no reduction of aggravated assaults, robberies or burglaries in states with "stand your ground" laws when compared with states that don't have such a law.
The homicide rate actually increased in states with these laws by 8 percent.
But that didn't fit the committee's ultimate goal of upholding the law.
So the do-nothing committee passes the buck to what will likely be a do-nothing Legislature.
And the rest of the country can have a good laugh.
bkassab@tribune.com or 407-420-5448
