Compromising Your Right to Defend Yourself
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Transcript of Compromising Your Right to Defend Yourself
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Compromising Your Right to
Defend YourselfAn In-depth analysis and the unintended consequences of SB 130 that could affect
your rights.
Analysis brought to you by
The Liberty First Network, 1334 Tampa Rd #6, Palm Harbor, FL, 34683
http://www.libertyfirstfl.org
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.libertyfirstfl.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFVz6kPYDU6vyT6S426VR_NN5myhQ -
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Background on Stand Your Ground and the Use of Justifiable Force
Point 1: Neighborhood Watch Programs
Point 2: Civil Immunity from Liability
Point 3: Criminal Investigation
Point 4: Stand Your Ground Hearing and Burden of Proof
Point 5: Aggressors in Disputes
Point 6: Unlawful Acts and Justifiable Use of Force
Liberty First Network Summary
Marion Hammers Analysis of SB 130
Justifiable Use of Force BEFORE the Passing of Stand Your Ground
Justifiable Use of Force AFTER the Passing of Stand Your Ground
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Introduction
Marion Hammer, the longtime lobbyist of the NRA, has come out with another statement in
support for SB 130 while making a veiled attack on the Liberty First Network. We have always
analyzed bills in a very accurate and methodical manner. We look for every detail and any
unintended consequences any legislation may cause. The Liberty First Network values ourreputation and the accuracy of our action alerts. We will continue to tell you our honest and
thorough take on legislation and other situations arising in Tallahassee.
Also, we would like for you to understand how we feel about compromise. Politicians and the
political elite have always said that compromise is the art of politics. We dont know about you,
but we are fed up with compromise, because it seems like we are always on the losing end.
Havent you had enough of politicians telling us that we have to accept compromise when it
comes to our core principles? Another thing we have learned in our experience in Tallahassee, is
once you compromise, the politicians will then expect you to always compromise and you will be
asked to accept compromise every year until they snuff out any semblance of liberty. Our
opponents will know we will cave in to pressure. A wise person once said that you cant make a
bad bill better with a couple of amendments, otherwise you cant put lipstick on a pig.
SB 130 is a compromise bill on Stand Your Ground. Everyone from legislators, lobbyist and the
media have said it is a compromise bill. Make NOmistake the anti-gun rights crowd, lead by
state Senator Chris Smith, Democrat from Miami, are on a mission to repeal Stand Your
Ground. In fact, the changes in SB 130 came from Senator Smiths bill SB 122. Their strategy is
to shred Stand Your Ground one compromise bill at a time. If we let SB 130 pass, as U.S.
Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Democrat from Jacksonville said, it is a start.
After the Liberty First Network analyzed the recent changes to SB 130, we shared our concerns
that this bill was a compromise bill and it did make changes to Stand Your Ground, that could
have unintended consequences. Nobody refutes that this is a compromise bill and that it makes
changes to Stand Your Ground. The only question is whether the changes could have
unintended consequences?
The founders knew that it was ultimately up to the citizens to be the best check against
government abuse. That means we should never accept any bill at face value or because
somebody said it was OK. We are sorry if we offended Marion Hammer, but we will never tell
you to just take our word for it, we have too much respect for you to be that condescending.
We do feel the need to explain in detail our review of Marion Hammers analysis of the
changes in SB 130, in which she states SB 130 by Sen. David Simmons & Sen. ChrisSmith is a bill about which much false information is being disseminated. Regardless of
what is being said, SB 130 as amended does not materially change or diminish the Stand
Your Ground law. It does clarify some provisions but doesn't change them. Marion
Hammer goes on to make 6 very short points to support her claim. We will take each
point one at a time and respond.
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Background on the current Stand Your Ground Law
In reality there is no such thing as the Stand Your Ground law. When people refer to the Stand
Your Ground law, they mean that SB 436, titled Protection of Persons and Property. SB 436
passed the Florida Legislature and was signed into law by then Governor Jeb Bush in 2005. SB
436 did not create a new law, it just added new language to Chapter 776 Justifiable Force.Before SB 436, the idea that a person had a right to force, including deadly force, if the person
had a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm already existed. The term Stand
Your Ground is mentioned once in SB 436, in regards to no duty to retreat, but it quickly
became the nickname of SB 436. The term Castle Doctrine also became a nickname for SB
436.
The Stand Your Ground law (SB 436) passed in 2005 by the Florida Legislature created a statute
that basically did two things:
1.Added a new section (776.013) that had language to embrace the theory of
the Castle Doctrine. The Castle Doctrine was a common law doctrine statingthat an individual has no duty to retreatwhen in his or her home, or castle,
and may use reasonable force, including deadly force, to defend his or her
property, person, or another. This new section also expanded the Castle
Doctrine of no duty to retreat outside of one's castle, where they had a right
to be and allowing an individual to use force in self-defense when there is
reasonable belief of a threat.
2. Added a new section (776.032) dealing with Immunity. The Castle
Doctrine and the No Duty to Retreat sections added statutory definitions of
Justifiable Force in Chapter 776. these changes increased the ability for adefendant to be granted a Motion for Declaration of Immunity and Dismissal in
a Pretrial Hearing.
Justifiable force was allowed if it was determined:
1. The defendant was not otherwise engaged in unlawful activity
2. The defendant was at a place where he had a right to be
3. The defendant was attacked and
4. The defendant reasonably believed that he was about to suffer death or great bodily
injury.
However, if it is determined that the defendant provoked the incident, or was the initialaggressor, or was engaged in an unlawful activity, the Defendant lost his or her right to claim
justifiable use of force and the ability to receive immunity from prosecution.
Every homicide case must be investigated and the Stand Your Ground Law created a provision
that after an investigation and law enforcement determined that the suspect did have right to
justifiable force, they could decide not to pursue an arrest. However, it had to be thoroughly
investigated to reach that determination that it was extremely evident that the individual
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reasonably believed that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent "imminent death or
great bodily harm.
Since 2005, there have been 130 cases that have used Stand Your Ground and 91 of those
cases involved a fatality. In the same time period there were 8,378 homicides throughout the1 2
state. This means only 1% of all fatalities, at the hand of another, have used the provisions inStand Your Ground.
Out of those cases that used Stand Your Ground, 50 people were never subjected to a lengthy
and expensive trial, 9 others were granted immunity by a judge and 9 cases were dismissed by
the prosecution.3
In 10 cases the person pleaded guilty to a lesser crime (took a plea deal), 28 cases made it to a
full trial and 19 of those cases the defendant was found guilty. Again, this law affects only 1% of4
all cases involving homicide and out of those only 52% received any immunity.
The anti-gun crowd would like to you to believe that a suspect could claim justifiable force and
just go free without any investigation or much of one. This is simply not true, all homicides musthave a thorough investigation and Stand Your Ground does not restrict or impede that procedure.
The truth is they want all suspects to be arrested and charged and have to go before a judge and
jury in a long drawn out trial. It is expensive not only for the suspect but also the taxpayers and is
unnecessary if it is clear and evident that the suspect had a reasonable fear of imminent harm to
himself or others.
Short of a full repeal, the lefts strategy is to make changes over time by:
Revoking immunity from Criminal prosecution or at least
Redefine criminal prosecution
Change the definition of Unlawful Activity
Mandate longer Investigation time
1Tally of 'stand your ground' cases rises as legislators rethink law, Tampa Bay Times, March 22, 2012
2Florida Statistical Analysis Center: FDLE (1991-2012). Crime in Florida, Florida uniform crime report [Computer program]. Tallahassee, FL.
3Tally of 'stand your ground' cases rises as legislators rethink law, Tampa Bay Times, March 22, 2012
4 Tally of 'stand your ground' cases rises as legislators rethink law, Tampa Bay Times, March 22, 2012
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Marion Hammer Point 1:
"The bill establishes guidelines and regulations for Neighborhood
Watch programs."
LFN Response
While this is true, our contention is that no person or group should have to get permission from
their government to protect themselves or others. A group of neighbors who have decided to look
out for each other should be encouraged not regulated. It is your inalienable right to protect
yourself and to protect others that come into harms way. There are also unintended
consequences that are not being disclosed.
There has never been guidelines or standards set by law enforcement on neighborhood watches
but there has always been a voluntary program that neighborhood watch groups could invite
local law enforcement out to train the participants. Any neighborhood or group of neighbors couldestablish a neighborhood watch and did not have to notify law enforcement. This new provision
would now force neighborhood watches to be under the authority of the local sheriff. The sheriff's
office also has to define when you are allowed to use force and how to conduct yourself while
watching your neighborhood. This entire section is beingADDEDto the law that never previously
existed:
(2) The county sheriff or municipal police department shall issue reasonable
guidelines for the operation of such programs. The guidelines must include,
but are not limited to, prohibiting a neighborhood crime watch patrol
participant, while on patrol, from confrontingor attempting to apprehend a
person suspected of improper or unlawful activity, subject, however, to those
circumstances in which a reasonable person would be permitted, authorized,
or expected to assist another person.
Unintended Consequences
If you and your neighbors all decide to watch each other's homes as good neighbors and do not
register or get trained with the sheriff's office you will not be recognized within the law. You spot
something suspicious at your neighbor's home and go out to "pursue" a suspect to find out what
is going on and what he is doing around your neighbor's house. He starts to harm you in some
way and you use deadly force. You have now pursued someone that turned into an incident
without retreating, without calling for help and without being a trained neighborhood watch
participant. You can now be defined as the aggressor and would not be immune from legal
action under Stand Your Ground any longer. This is the unintended consequences of allowing
government to regulate "good neighbor" actions.
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Marion Hammer Point 2:
"The bill makes it clear that if you injure or kill an attacker, you cannot be
sued by the attacker, or his family or personal representative."
LFN response
The immunity from civil liability was already in the Stand Your Ground law, written in 2005. The
new language of the bill restricts this civil immunity only to the attacker or the attackers family.
Now, if you use deadly force in the defense of yourself or others but in the process of that force
someone else is harmed, the other person harmed does have legal standing to take action
against you. This is a weakening of the immunity provisions in that existed in the Stand Your
Ground law. Lets look at the change Ms. Hammer is referring too:
In the case of civil prosecution, the Stand Your Ground law currently reads:
A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s.776.013, or s. 776.031
is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and
civil, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement
officer,
What it would be changed to is:
A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031
is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and
civil action by the person, personal representative, or heirs of the
person, against whom force was used for the use of such force, unless
the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer.
Unintended Consequence
This change is to limit the civil immunity to ONLY those that force was intended to be used on.
This would mean that if someone aside from the attacker was harmed unintentionally they
could now take legal action against you.
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Marion Hammer Point 3:
"The bill makes it clear that a person who has used self-defense cannot
be arrested and taken into custody prior to an investigation and makes it
clear that law enforcement has the authority and duty to fully investigate
the use of force."
LFN Response
Marion Hammer is referring to the addition of a sub-section to Immunity Section 776.032 created
by SB130.(2)This subsection does not restrict a law enforcement agencys authority and
duty to fully and completely investigate the use of force upon which an
immunity may be claimed or any event surrounding such use of force.
Marion Hammers point here is stating what already existed in the current Stand Your GroundLaw. Law enforcement has and will continue not to arrest a suspect until they have probable
cause which has always required a full and complete investigation. Prosecutors never want to
arrest and charge a suspect until they have what they consider a mountain of evidence.
Immunity cannot be claimed until an arrest and only a Judge in a Pretrial motion can grant
Immunity.
It has always existed that Law Enforcement could not arrest a person without probable cause.
The probable cause in this type of case must be that the person did not have justifiable use of
force. Probable Cause is contained in the 4thAmendment of the U.S. Constitution. The
investigation begins when law enforcement arrives at the scene. At any point during the
investigation, law enforcement cannot arrest somebody without probable cause. ProbableCause can be determined at any point during the investigation and law enforcement can detain
or take a person into custody for questioning at any point during the investigation without
arresting the person- however once in custody, 5th Amendment rights apply for any
interrogation. Law Enforcement typically will wait to arrest a suspect until such time as they can
investigate and determine what the criminal charge will be and if there is probable cause for an
arrest. In order to arrest a person, law enforcement has to notify the suspect at the time of the
arrest what the specific charge will be. The charges could range from Murder One, Murder two
and so on. Due to speedy trial concerns, prosecutors never encourage arrest until an
investigation is completed, that is just how the system works regardless of Stand Your Ground.
Unintended Consequences
There is no definition to the term "full and complete" in the law. So, who determines when an
investigation is deemed "full and complete" in a situation involving a charge of murder? There is
no statute of limitations on murder one, meaning the completeness of an investigation may never
actually occur. This new change comes from Senator Chris Smith, Democrat from Miami. This
was his language in his bill SB122 that eventually was incorporated in to SB130. This change
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Marion Hammer Point 4:
The bill corrects an abuse of the defendant's rights created by judges
and prosecutors -- without any legislative authority. Nothing in the
Stand Your Ground (SYG) law provides for a SYG hearing where the
person who acted in self-defense is presumed guilty until he/she provesto a judge that it was self-defense. Yet that is what some judges and
prosecutors have done. The bill REVERSES that. Under this language
the defendant is entitled to a Pretrial hearing if he/she chooses, but the
burden of proof is ON THE PROSECUTOR to prove it was not lawful
self-defense.
LFN Response
While this is true, it is misleading. Stand Your Ground hearings are very common in caseswhere law enforcement did not apply Stand Your Ground at the conclusion of the investigation.
The Stand Your Ground law gives law enforcement and prosecutors authority to decide a
person was clearly and blatantly was in defense of their life, their property or the life of another.
Actually, when you hear the term Stand Your Ground hearing, what they are referring to is the
standard motion for a Preliminary Hearing or Pretrial Hearing. In this Pretrial hearing the
defendant can file a Motion for Declaration of Immunity and Dismissal that always existed. After
the Stand Your Ground Law, defendants could use the Stand Your ground Law as a basis for a
Motion for Declaration of Immunity and Dismissal.
In Gray v. State, 13 So. 2d 114 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009), the Fifth District Court of Appeal adopted the
procedures, and concluded that the right to immunity from criminal prosecution afforded by
Section 776.032 (commonly known as the stand your ground law) is to be determined by the
trial court after an evidentiary proceeding in which the criminal defendant has the burden of proof
by a preponderance of the evidence.
SB130 adds language that when the defense has a filed a Motion for Declaration of Immunity and
Dismissal based on Stand Your Ground, the Prosecution must show a preponderance of
evidence to have the Judge deny the defendants motion to dismiss.
The new change in SB130 goes on to say:
Section 4. Section 776.041 For purposes of the motion, the judge shall decide
all factual disputes relating to the defendants use of force, but any factual
findings are not established for the purposes of any subsequent trial. The
defendants testimony is not admissible in a subsequent hearing or trial except
for the purposes of impeachment. The denial of the defendants motion to
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dismiss or any factual findings at the hearing do not preclude the defendant
from raising any defense or presenting any evidence at trial.
LFN Response
Actually this could be seen as a good change, it is always expected that in our court system the
burden of proof is always on the state. While this could be a good change, it may not make that
much of a difference considering the other changes that are concerning in SB 130.
When the defense files a Motion for Declaration of Immunity and Dismissal in a preliminary
hearing, the Judge will decide if there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed
the crime? If the Judge should find that there is no probable cause, then typically the prosecution
will cease. If a judge determines that there is sufficient evidence to believe that the defendant
committed the crime, it is said that the defendant is "bound over". This new change really does
not change the way a preliminary hearing is decided.
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Marion Hammer Point 5:
The bill clarifies that the person who is the initial aggressor [attacker] is
not entitled to the law's protections.
LFN Response:
The Stand Your Ground law already had this provision. This was not a change made in SB 130.
The Stand Your Ground Law currently says:
776.041 Use of force by aggressor.The justification described in the
preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:
(2) Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:
(a) Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is
in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has
exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use
of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant or
(b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant
and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and
terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of
force.
Unnecessary Change
This section is unnecessary and does nothing to change the meaning of the law. There is just
added wording to an already existing provision in the law. The change to this section in SB 130
are slight and only in the first section.
776.041 Use of force by aggressor.The justifications described in the
preceding sections of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the immunity
provided for in s. 776.032, are not available to a person who:
The word "justification" was changed to "justifications" and the language of "including, but not
limited to, the immunity provided for in s. 776.032 are" has been added. This does not change
the meaning of the law. It has always stated that a person could not be involved in an unlawful
act or be the aggressor and claim Stand Your Ground immunity.
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Marion Hammer Point 6:
"The bill contains language that makes it clear that it is not the
Legislature's intent that the law be used for unlawful purposes."
LFN Response
Marion Hammer is referring to a new section of Stand Your Ground Law created by SB130:
Line 128-132 776.09 Justifiable use of force legislative intent.The use of
force authorized by this chapter is not intended to encourage vigilantism or
acts of revenge, authorize the initiation of a confrontation as a pretext to
respond with deadly force, or negate a duty to retreat for persons engaged in
unlawful mutual combat.
Unnecessary Change
This section is unnecessary, it just states what already existed, that a person engaged in an
unlawful activity cannot claim justifiable force. This should not be confusing, the definition of
unlawful activity is any activity that is against the law!
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LFN Summary
The Stand Your Ground law has been a strong protection of your right to defend your life and
property. In our opinion, the changes located in SB 130 will weaken those protections and lead
the way for a further erosion of those rights.
Good laws are never changed in large amounts at one time. It is done methodically and in small
increments until our liberties are gone.
We see this over and over again in Tallahassee and this is one law that we cannot afford to have
"chipped away" for political posturing and that is an INTENDED CONSEQUENCE.
In Liberty,
John Hallman and the Team at Liberty First Network
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Marion Hammers email analysis of SB 130:
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Justifiable Use of Force before the passing of Stand Your Ground - 2005
CHAPTER 776
JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE
776.012Use of force in defense of person.776.031Use of force in defense of others.776.041Use of force by aggressor.776.05Law enforcement officers use of force in making an arrest.776.051Use of force in resisting arrest or making an arrest or in the execution of a legal duty prohibition.776.06Deadly force.776.07Use of force to prevent escape.776.08Forcible felony.776.085Defense to civil action for damages party convicted of forcible or attempted forcible felony.
____________________________________________________________________________________
776.012Use of force in defense of person.A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another whenand to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another
against the others imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force if:
(1)He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harmto himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1188, ch. 97-102 s. 2, ch. 2005-27.
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
776.031Use of force in defense of others.A person is justified in the use of force, except deadly force, against anotherwhen and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to prevent or terminate the others
trespass on, or other tortious or criminal interference with, either real property other than a dwelling or personal property,
lawfully in his or her possession or in the possession of another who is a member of his or her immediate family or household or
of a person whose property he or she has a legal duty to protect. However, the person is justified in the use of deadly
force only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent the imminent commission of
a forcible felony.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1189, ch. 97-102 s. 3, ch. 2005-27.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
776.041Use of force by aggressor.The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is notavailable to a person who:
(1)Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony or(2)Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:(a)Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death orgreat bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than
the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant or
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Justifiable Use of ForceAFTER passing of Stand Your Ground - 2005
CHAPTER 776
JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE
776.012Use of force in defense of person.(Amended by SYG)776.013Home protection use of deadly force presumption of fear of death or great bodily harm.776.031Use of force in defense of others. (Amended by SYG)776.032Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.776.041Use of force by aggressor.776.05Law enforcement officers use of force in making an arrest.776.051Use of force in resisting arrest or making an arrest or in the execution of a legal duty prohibition.776.06Deadly force.776.07Use of force to prevent escape.776.08Forcible felony.776.085Defense to civil action for damages party convicted of forcible or attempted forcible felony.
____________________________________________________________________________________
776.012Use of force in defense of person.A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, againstanother when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself
or another against the others imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and
does not have a duty to retreatif:
(1)He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself orherself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony or
(2)Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1188, ch. 97-102 s. 2, ch. 2005-27.
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776.013Home protection use of deadly force presumption of fear of death or greatbodily harm.(1)A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm tohimself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily
harm to another if:
(a)The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefullyentering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, or if that person had
removed or was attempting to remove another against that persons will from the dwelling, residence, or
occupied vehicle and
(b)The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry orunlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.
(2)The presumption set forth in subsection (1) does not apply if:
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(a)The person against whom the defensive force is used has the right to be in or is a lawful resident of thedwelling, residence, or vehicle, such as an owner, lessee, or titleholder, and there is not an injunction for
protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order of no contact against that person or
(b)The person or persons sought to be removed is a child or grandchild, or is otherwise in the lawful custodyor under the lawful guardianship of, the person against whom the defensive force is used or
(c)The person who uses defensive force is engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the dwelling, residence,or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity or
(d)The person against whom the defensive force is used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s.943.10(14), who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her
official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person
using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person entering or attempting to enter was a law
enforcement officer.
(3)A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or shehas a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force withforce, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great
bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
(4)A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter a persons dwelling, residence, oroccupied vehicle is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or
violence.
(5)As used in this section, the term:(a)Dwelling means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the buildingor conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is
designed to be occupied by people lodging therein at night.
(b)Residence means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting asan invited guest.
(c)Vehicle means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, which is designed to transportpeople or property.
History.s. 1, ch. 2005-27.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
776.031Use of force in defense of others .A person is justified in the use of force, except deadly force, againstanother when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to prevent or terminate the
others trespass on, or other tortious or criminal interference with, either real property other than a dwelling or personal property,
lawfully in his or her possession or in the possession of another who is a member of his or her immediate family or household or
of a person whose property he or she has a legal duty to protect. However, the person is justified in the use of deadly force only
if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony. A person
does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1189, ch. 97-102 s. 3, ch. 2005-27.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
776.032Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.(1)A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such forceand is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against
whom force was used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who was acting in the
performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any
applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law
enforcement officer. As used in this subsection, the term criminal prosecution includes arresting, detaining in
custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.
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(2)A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force as described insubsection (1), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is
probable cause that the force that was used was unlawful.
(3)The court shall award reasonable attorneys fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and allexpenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the
defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).
History.s. 4, ch. 2005-27.
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776.041Use of force by aggressor.The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is notavailable to a person who:
(1)Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony or(2)Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:(a)Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harmand that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to
cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant or
(b)In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he orshe desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1190, ch. 97-102.
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776.05Law enforcement officers use of force in making an arrest .A law enforcement officer, or anyperson whom the officer has summoned or directed to assist him or her, need not retreat or desist from efforts to make a lawful
arrest because of resistance or threatened resistance to the arrest. The officer is justified in the use of any force:
(1)Which he or she reasonably believes to be necessary to defend himself or herself or another from bodily harm while makingthe arrest
(2)When necessarily committed in retaking felons who have escaped or(3)When necessarily committed in arresting felons fleeing from justice. However, this subsection shall not constitute a defensein any civil action for damages brought for the wrongful use of deadly force unless the use of deadly force was necessary toprevent the arrest from being defeated by such flight and, when feasible, some warning had been given, and:
(a)The officer reasonably believes that the fleeing felon poses a threat of death or serious physical harm to the officer orothers or
(b)The officer reasonably believes that the fleeing felon has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction ofserious physical harm to another person.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1, ch. 75-64 s. 1, ch. 87-147 s. 54, ch. 88-381 s. 1191, ch. 97-102.
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776.051Use of force in resisting arrest or making an arrest or in the execution of a legal dutyprohibition.(1)A person is not justified in the use of force to resist an arrest by a law enforcement officer, or to resist a law enforcementofficer who is engaged in the execution of a legal duty, if the law enforcement officer was acting in good faith and he or she isknown, or reasonably appears, to be a law enforcement officer.
(2)A law enforcement officer, or any person whom the officer has summoned or directed to assist him or her, is not justified inthe use of force if the arrest or execution of a legal duty is unlawful and known by him or her to be unlawful.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1192, ch. 97-102 s. 1, ch. 2008-67.
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776.06Deadly force.(1)The term deadly force means force that is likely to cause death or great bodily harm and includes, but is not limited to:(a)The firing of a firearm in the direction of the person to be arrested, even though no intent exists to kill or inflict great bodilyharm and
(b)The firing of a firearm at a vehicle in which the person to be arrested is riding.
(2)(a)The term deadly force does not include the discharge of a firearm by a law enforcement officer or correctional officerduring and within the scope of his or her official duties which is loaded with a less-lethal munition. As used in this subsection, the
term less-lethal munition means a projectile that is designed to stun, temporarily incapacitate, or cause temporary discomfort to a
person without penetrating the persons body.
(b)A law enforcement officer or a correctional officer is not liable in any civil or criminal action arising out of the use of anyless-lethal munition in good faith during and within the scope of his or her official duties.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 1, ch. 99-272.
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776.07
Use of force to prevent escape.(1)A law enforcement officer or other person who has an arrested person in his or her custody is justified in the use of anyforce which he or she reasonably believes to be necessary to prevent the escape of the arrested person from custody.
(2)A correctional officer or other law enforcement officer is justified in the use of force, including deadly force, which he orshe reasonably believes to be necessary to prevent the escape from a penal institution of a person whom the officer reasonably
believes to be lawfully detained in such institution under sentence for an offense or awaiting trial or commitment for an offense.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 7, ch. 95-283 s. 1193, ch. 97-102.
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776.08Forcible felony.Forcible felony means treason murder manslaughter sexual battery carjackinghome-invasion robbery robbery burglary arson kidnapping aggravated assault aggravated battery aggravated stalking
aircraft piracy unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb and any other felony which involves
the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual.
History.s. 13, ch. 74-383 s. 4, ch. 75-298 s. 289, ch. 79-400 s. 5, ch. 93-212 s. 10, ch. 95-195.
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776.085Defense to civil action for damages party convicted of forcible or attempted forciblefelony.(1)It shall be a defense to any action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death, or for injury to property, that suchaction arose from injury sustained by a participant during the commission or attempted commission of a forcible felony. The
defense authorized by this section shall be established by evidence that the participant has been convicted of such forcible
felony or attempted forcible felony, or by proof of the commission of such crime or attempted crime by a preponderance of the
evidence.
(2)For the purposes of this section, the term forcible felony shall have the same meaning as in s. 776.08.(3)Any civil action in which the defense recognized by this section is raised shall be stayed by the court on the motion of thecivil defendant during the pendency of any criminal action which forms the basis for the defense, unless the court finds that a
conviction in the criminal action would not form a valid defense under this section.
(4)In any civil action where a party prevails based on the defense created by this section:(a)The losing party, if convicted of and incarcerated for the crime or attempted crime, shall, as determined by the court, loseany privileges provided by the correctional facility, including, but not limited to:
1.Canteen purchases2.Telephone access
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3.Outdoor exercise4.Use of the library and5.Visitation.(b)The court shall award a reasonable attorneys fee to be paid to the prevailing party in equal amounts by the losing party andthe losing partys attorney however, the losing partys attorney is not personally responsible if he or she has acted in good faith,
based on the representations of his or her client. If the losing party is incarcerated for the crime or attempted crime and has
insufficient assets to cover payment of the costs of the action and the award of fees pursuant to this paragraph, the party shall,
as determined by the court, be required to pay by deduction from any payments the prisoner receives while incarcerated.
(c)If the losing party is incarcerated for the crime or attempted crime, the court shall issue a written order containing its findingsand ruling pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) and shall direct that a certified copy be forwarded to the appropriate correctional
institution or facility.
History.s. 1, ch. 87-187 s. 72, ch. 96-388.
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