Georgia's "shoot first" law, others take effect this weekend

<p>Georgians will be free to use deadly force to defend themselves in public areas, under a new state law that takes effect Saturday.</p><p>Backed by the National Rifle Association, the law essentially extends the "castle doctrine" to sidewalks, parking lots and other public places. It makes it clear that a person can shoot first if they believe they are in imminent danger.</p><p>Critics contend it's an invitation to violence and has echoes of the wild West.</p><p>The law is one of hundreds that will take effect in Georgia on Saturday, including one that cracks down on sex offenders. That law prohibits them from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of just about anywhere children gather _ schools, churches, parks, gyms and swimming pools. However, a federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked one provision that barred them from living near one of the state's 150,000 bus stops, which would evict sex offenders from virtually all residential neighborhoods.</p><p>Under some other new state laws, Ten Commandments displays will be permitted in courthouses, children under age 16 will no longer be able to get married, and anyone who kills a pregnant woman could be found guilty of two murders.</p><p>The new laws were passed during this year's legislative session, which wrapped up in March. It is the second straight year that the state has been under Republican control, with the party leading both chambers of the Legislature and Sonny Perdue in the governor's mansion.</p><p>Perdue vetoed only 19 of the hundreds of bills sent to him by lawmakers this year.</p><p>A sweeping immigration law _ one of the most talked-about measures that state lawmakers took up during the session _ does not take effect until next year. Some other new high-profile laws have already taken effect, including one restricting the ability of government to seize private land in the state for public use.</p><p>The self-defense law has come to be known in Georgia as the "stand your ground" law. It spells out that a victim "has no duty to retreat" if threatened with attack, a matter on which the law had been silent. It also provides a shooter who defends himself with deadly force immunity from civil liability.</p><p>A similar law first passed in Florida last year. Georgia is now one of eight to 12 other states to follow through with a law of their own this year. Advocates differ in their opinions of which state laws actually qualify as "stand your ground" bills.</p><p>Zach Ragbourn, spokesman for the Brady Campaign, a Washington D.C.-based gun control advocacy group, said supporters of the measures have been unable to point to an instance where someone defending themselves in public was prosecuted. Therefore, opponents argue the law is unnecessary.</p><p>"This law tells people you shouldn't hesitate to shoot if you are afraid and that is phenomenally dangerous," Ragbourn said.</p><p>Chris Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist, said the laws are needed to protect would-be victims.</p><p>"We believe the law should be very clear that you don't have a legal duty to flee from a violent criminal," Cox said. "If you feel that your best chance for survival is to fight back than you should be able to."</p><p>_____</p><p>On The Net:</p><p>HASH(0x1cdd2d8)</p>

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