Spring Break
Now you too can be Dirty Harry
Luci Storelli-Castro
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Opinion
Do you know what would make my day? Well, winning the lottery would certainly be a major plus, but more to the point: It would make my day if the Colorado legislature would put an end to drafting meaningless and superfluous legislation.
Lawmakers bogged down with debates about whether 18-year-olds should be allowed to enter tanning salons make Colorado out to be a utopia. Let's be honest, what other state can afford to regulate teenagers' ugly fake neo-orange tans with all the other pressing social and economic issues that confront ordinary citizens? I am referring to those pesky issues such as health care, social security pensions, education, unemployment, and the list goes on.
More recently, House Bill 1011 was passed in the House by a 34-30 margin, with eight Democrats breaking ranks and joining Republicans in extending the 1985 "Make My Day" law. The newer, more insane version of the 1985 legislation has been pegged the "Make My Day Better" law.
Whereas the "Make My Day" law permits Colorado homeowners, without the fear of persecution, to fatally injure an intruder who has entered their property with the intent of causing them harm, the "Make My Day Better" bill has the added provision that business owners should also be allowed to exercise no restraint in defending their businesses.
Pursuant with the language used in the bill, if "any occupant" of a place of business has a "reasonable belief" that he or she is in imminent danger, the person is at free will to legally use force - no matter how deadly.
So, got a problem? Shoot it. That's how we do things here in the old Wild West.
Is anybody else disturbed by the fact that our state's legislation is catering to the motto of Dirty Harry, the National Rifle Association's chief spokesman and superhero?
As reported by the Denver Post, Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, a chief architect of the "Make My Day Better" bill, contends that "(w)e have to stop treating the victim like the criminal." Other supporters of the bill suggest that it will cut down crime rates and question why it is wrong to empower citizens to defend themselves in the face of acute danger.
Lawmakers bogged down with debates about whether 18-year-olds should be allowed to enter tanning salons make Colorado out to be a utopia. Let's be honest, what other state can afford to regulate teenagers' ugly fake neo-orange tans with all the other pressing social and economic issues that confront ordinary citizens? I am referring to those pesky issues such as health care, social security pensions, education, unemployment, and the list goes on.
More recently, House Bill 1011 was passed in the House by a 34-30 margin, with eight Democrats breaking ranks and joining Republicans in extending the 1985 "Make My Day" law. The newer, more insane version of the 1985 legislation has been pegged the "Make My Day Better" law.
Whereas the "Make My Day" law permits Colorado homeowners, without the fear of persecution, to fatally injure an intruder who has entered their property with the intent of causing them harm, the "Make My Day Better" bill has the added provision that business owners should also be allowed to exercise no restraint in defending their businesses.
Pursuant with the language used in the bill, if "any occupant" of a place of business has a "reasonable belief" that he or she is in imminent danger, the person is at free will to legally use force - no matter how deadly.
So, got a problem? Shoot it. That's how we do things here in the old Wild West.
Is anybody else disturbed by the fact that our state's legislation is catering to the motto of Dirty Harry, the National Rifle Association's chief spokesman and superhero?
As reported by the Denver Post, Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, a chief architect of the "Make My Day Better" bill, contends that "(w)e have to stop treating the victim like the criminal." Other supporters of the bill suggest that it will cut down crime rates and question why it is wrong to empower citizens to defend themselves in the face of acute danger.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Justin Fox
posted 2/22/07 @ 1:11 PM MST
The police department is a reactive force. They cannot stop an assualt on you (unless it goes on for a REALLY long time). You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. (Continued…)
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