WHILE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION in Washington, D.C., is trying to renew legislation that takes away Americans' freedom in order to keep Americans safe, the other Bush administration, in Florida, is working on legislation that makes it easier for Americans to kill each other. The law, SB 436, will allow Floridians to attack, and even kill, anyone they feel is threatening them. In any public place. The law will absolve them of any legal consequences for doing so. The legislation has been passed by Florida's House and Senate, and Gov. Jeb Bush has said he will sign it.

Add this to Tom DeLay's and John Cornyn's approving comments about violence against judges, and it beats me why the Bushies are so concerned about protecting us from terrorist violence. We've already got terrorist violence right here, and our leaders think it's so cool they are manufacturing more of it.

I do have one question, though. What about school shootings? Will they be covered under this new law? If a kid mows down his classmates and later says they were threatening him, I don't see how he could be charged with murder.