"Self-defense law won't stir trigger-mania"

Here is a well-written rebuttal to the hysterical (hysterical as in insane, not as in funny) Brady brochures on the new Florida law from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Our last foray into the ethos of the Wild West was in 1987, when we made concealed weapons available to the masses. But a funny thing happened.

Doomsday predictions about gun violence never materialized.

Since 1987, Florida has issued more than 1 million concealed-weapons permits. Fewer than 200 have been revoked because the licensee used a gun in a crime.

In 1996, felons used firearms in 37,533 Florida crimes. Last year that number dropped to 25,771. That reduction is even more remarkable when you consider the state's booming population.

The simple fact is that most gun owners are responsible people, and laws don't change their behavior. There are almost 15,000 people in Orange County with concealed-weapons permits. When's the last time one of them pulled a gun on you?