Duel at high noon?

THE new tourism brochures could be real attention-getters featuring sun, swaying palm trees, and real life gunslingers. It's not your father's Florida anymore with enactment of a new law allowing citizens to shoot it out on the streets of the Sunshine State with deadly force to preserve the peace. The development would be almost comedic in the land of Disney if the ramifications weren't so tragic. <snip>

The new law says prosecutors must automatically presume would-be victims feared for their lives before shooting.

Critics argue the measure is so broad it could encourage verbal arguments to escalate into gunfights. Why back down when you're packing heat? "You are telling people when they are in the midst of an emotional moment … you can stand your ground until death happens," says state Rep. Dan Gelber, a Miami Democrat.

Florida came through for the NRA again by wholly embracing its top priority as public policy. With an NRA representative at his side, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed the measure into law, saying "it defies common sense" to retreat when you can reload in self defense. <snip>

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050430/OPINION02/504300340/-1/OPINION

...is it really self-defense?