Courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel:
A Jacksonville man is facing a 120-year sentence for firing two shots that caused no injuries, The Florida Times-Union reported on Sunday.
The trial of Army Veteran Randal Ratledge, 58, is scheduled to start with jury selection on Monday. Defense attorneys have asked the judge to waive the mandatory guidelines, but court officials said Judge Jack Schemer is bound by the state law.
Ratledge, 58, was charged with six counts of aggravated assault after a 2012 incident involving his neighbors. Authorities said Rutledge fired shots in the air and screamed profanities at the six neighbors. He was charged with one count of aggravated assault on each of the neighbors.
Florida has a 10-20-Life when it comes to convictions for firing a gun and apparently the judge thought this guy deserves life. Though at 58 even a 20 year sentence would probably keep him in prison for the rest of his life.
I have to say that I think stricter penalties like this one might just make all of these open carry assholes think twice about pulling out their shiny metal penises whenever they feel their manhood is threatened, or maybe simply leave them at home altogether in order to avoid the temptation, and ultimately that would make ALL of us a hell of a lot safer.
Update: Okay so after a few people left comments and sent me e-mails I reread the article more closely, and it appears that the headline in the Orlando Sentinel is incorrect and should read "Florida man faces 20-year sentence for firing 2 shots." Not 120 year sentence.
I have no idea how the story managed to get published with such a glaring error, or why it has not yet been corrected. After all THEY have editors.
Sorry for the misleading information.
Uh...Er...Hold on a minute! Are you telling me that you can possibly get a life sentence for shooting into the air but get off scott free for murdering a hoodie wearing child? Oh, that's right, it's Florida were talking about. At least they're trying to take a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteToo bad for him, he didn't shoot a black person. Then he would have been home free.
ReplyDeleteOh, and with a lot of praise and donations, as well.
I came here to say this but you beat me to it -_-
DeleteI agree!
ReplyDeleteWhen crime of any type gets out of control, it's time for a crack down.
You can get 10 to 20 years for shooting a firearm into the air, but shooting and murdering an unarmed child who was minding his on business walking home from the store, is OK with the Florida Justice System.
ReplyDeleteWow. Glad I don't live in the stand your ground dementia state.
ReplyDeleteGZ gets off scott free on murder because his father is a judge, and this guys get serious jail time for firing into the air?
Firing into the air is known as recreation an Alaska. Not that I approve of what he did to intimidate. just sayin'...