Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley fully approves the recommendations on Florida’s “stand your ground” compiled by the Task Force on Citizens Safety and Protection.
Ashley, who sat on the task force, said defining unlawful activity and defining criminal prosecution are key recommendations he hopes will move forward in the Legislature.
Defining unlawful activity would create more consistency in how the law is applied, Ashley said. Removing misdemeanor crimes from the definition would keep it from being misapplied, he added.
Ashley also wanted the definition of criminal prosecution to be more aligned with what law enforcement considers criminal prosecution. As it stands, it may hamper officers’ ability to proceed with a case.
The recommendation to increase education on the law is an unfunded mandate, Ashley said. The Sheriff’s Office provides free firearms training, but not every organization can provide the service.
“We want citizens to defend themselves and do it with confidence that they’re not violating the law,” Ashley said.