Florida Shooters Network

I know I have the right to use deadly force to defend my own safety and the safety of my family in Florida . . . against a human. However, is there any reason this would not also apply to a dangerous animal?

You mean like this? (ignore all the political nonsense edited into it)

If I believe my life or the life of a loved one is in danger I don't give a crap about the law.

I want us to survive.


AFS

The Stand Your Ground law is about protection from humans. You've always had the right to use deadly force if being attacked by an animal, except for a police dog. Animals are not people.

Gmountain wrote:The Stand Your Ground law is about protection from humans. You've always had the right to use deadly force if being attacked by an animal, except for a police dog. Animals are not people.

Animals aren't people? But the crazy hippies say that animal have as many or even more rights then you or I.

Also I'm glad animals aren't people. Animals taste good. Some people taste nasty.

With the current state of politics, laws, and society these days I wasn't sure if animals had more rights than us. I noticed you said "if you are being attacked". I hate splitting hairs, but I am curious, does this mean I have to wait for the animal to bite me before I can shoot it? What if it is biting my dog? My dog is not a human, so does this mean I don't have the right to protect it with deadly force? Or could I go with the assumption that if (a) the unleashed aggressive dog is attacking my dog, and (b) my dog is tethered by a leash only 6 feet from me, that (c) the unleashed aggressor does pose a danger to me and therefore (d) I am justified in shooting it to prevent bodily injury?



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Bryan wrote: I noticed you said "if you are being attacked". I hate splitting hairs, but I am curious, does this mean I have to wait for the animal to bite me before I can shoot it? What if it is biting my dog?

my dog is too old to be able to defend itself and now almost blind in both eyes , so he will not run off in retreat, I had an instance where a dog was off leash was running the neighborhood and I got my pistol at the ready outside, even though I'm an animal lover, I had no thoughts waiting to see what would happen if this pit-mix entered my yard , he was to become a target, Hell, I even tried to retreat and get me and my dog inside to avoid the situation, when I came back out the dog must have received some divine interpretative message to keep on truckin down the road.

Yes, the law says that it's perfectly legal to defend against aggressive animals.
But you have to try to reason with them first.
And make sure they understand their rights and the consequences of their actions.
And be given every opportunity to correct their behavior.
The poor, misunderstood critters.
This message is brought to you by PETA, the Coalition of Animal Rights and some folks from your local, affiliated psycho ward.

This thread has a GREAT title line. Each time I think of an armed Bambi protecting her Mom.
Bambi with her own 308 would give me a heck of a lot more respect for hunters.

Don't we have a leash law in our great state?

My co-worker's dog was attacked and pretty torn up by his neighbors pit-bull last year. When he heard the screams my friend came out and shot the neighbor’s dog dead. The police not only didn't have a problem with it, my friend took the neighbor to civil court and sued for all the medical bills to his dog and won. Now he receives a monthly check from said neighbor.

"except for a police dog"...hmmm..I'm walking along,.380 in pocket as always,and a Policemans dog attacks me,for whatever reason...police being wrong about me..or just the dog changing track and attacking the wrong person..(I'm sure someone will say that's not possible ) If I shoot the Police dog,out of self protection,i'm going to be charged,because it was a police dog?..just wondering,for real.I never thought of that before.(I've thought of shooting the police,during one of the mistaken entry incidents,but never a dog..hmmm.anyone know?)

Bryan wrote:Does Florida's Stand Your Ground law apply to animals?

It's kind of a moot point.

Animals can't legally own property so there's no way they could stand their ground in their own property.

supertones31 wrote:Don't we have a leash law in our great state?

Not a state law, that is something for each county or municipality.

Ours used to read that the dog had to be within 100 feet and in control.

NSFW but relevant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJymaLQV ... 9x-90D-Db7

It's kind of a moot point.

Animals can't legally own property so there's no way they could stand their ground in their own property.

I hope it does. I don't think the state would care if you defended yourself against an aggressive animal.

Toorop wrote:I hope it does. I don't think the state would care if you defended yourself against an aggressive animal.

I would tend to agree, but I wouldn't ever think to rely on common sense when it comes to laws. Laws are written by politicians. So common sense does not apply.

yes but only if the animal is actually aggressive, merely being in your yard or off leash does not make it so. It's not so much that the animal has rights, but the people in the neighborhood where errant rounds may end up do.

lady in my old neighborhood got hip deep in trouble over thinking that it was legal to shoot a Chow dog for mere trespass

bugman wrote:yes but only if the animal is actually aggressive, merely being in your yard or off leash does not make it so. It's not so much that the animal has rights, but the people in the neighborhood where errant rounds may end up do.

lady in my old neighborhood got hip deep in trouble over thinking that it was legal to shoot a Chow dog for mere trespass

This is kind of what I figured. It makes perfect sense, but the problem is you are left making a subjective judgement call. Does aggressive mean:

A. Running around in your yard?
B. Running free up and down the street?
C. Barking at you?
D. Growling/snarling at you?
E. Or do you have to wait for the dog to sink it's teeth into you before you can shoot it?