The ‘stand your ground’ law encourages Floridians to shoot first and ask questions later,” McBath told the committee. “This is a dangerous bill that would make it even harder to protect communities from gun violence.”
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said prosecutors should always bear the burden of proof in criminal cases. He said the state’s highest court made “a classic overreach” in ruling that a defendant had to prove justification for using a weapon — rather than deciding the state attorney had to prove illegal intent.
Bradley’s bill (SB 344) also would allow successful defendants to be reimbursed for legal costs if they get a charge dismissed in a pre-trial hearing.