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Breaking News Headlines: Sep 8th, 2pm - Video
A Florida gun law thats backed by the National Rifle Association the stand your ground right to self-defense heads to the states Supreme Court for a case-related review on Tuesday.
The outcome of the case which pits Jared Bretherick against Derek Dunning in a 2011 road rage case involving a gun but no shots fired could flip the burden of proof aspect of the law.
Currently, those citing stand your ground to justify their use of firearms for self-defense have to prove they needed to defend themselves.
If the Supreme Court sides with Mr. Bretherick, though, permitted gun owners could be relieved from that burden of proof standard, Reuters reported. Instead, prosecutors in cases involving stand your ground would have to prove the party brandishing the gun in cited self defense did not actually need to act in self defense, or was not truly acting in self defense.
Stand your ground took root in 2005 in Florida to allow victims to use deadly force when they fear their lives, or the lives of their loved ones or others, are in danger.
Mr. Bretherick reportedly felt that way in 2011 when he was traveling in an SUV near Orlando with his family and was nearly sideswiped by Mr. Dunning. Mr. Dunning then pulled in front of them and stopped, Reuters reported. He reportedly jumped out of his vehicle and approached the Bretherick vehicle.
Mr. Bretherick then dialed 911 and brandished his holstered weapon at Mr. Dunning to scare him away. Mr. Dunning went back to his own SUV, but started backing it up into the Brethericks SUV, Reuters reported.
Thats when Mr. Bretherick grabbed his fathers gun and stood next to his SUV, pointing it at Mr. Dunnings vehicle, previous court testimony said. Deputies found Mr. Bretherick with the pointed gun when they responded to the scene, Reuters reported.
No shots were fired. But Mr. Bretherick told deputies he heard Mr. Dunning warn that he had a gun, too, and that he was worried about the safety of his father, a disabled veteran. Still, police charged Mr. Bretherick with aggravated assault.
Mr. Bretherick was not allowed to claim stand your ground immunity at a June 2012 hearing because the judge ruled that Mr. Dunning did not commit any violent crime and had actually gone back into his own vehicle.
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NRA-backed 'stand your ground' gun law gets Florida Supreme Court scrutiny
Social media companies must simplify the conditions of using their services because they are so impenetrable that "no reasonable person" can be expected to understand them.
That's the feeling of MPs who sit on Britain's parliamentary science and technology committee.
Complicated terms and conditions that allow firms like Facebook access to a wealth of personal information and even control a user's phone are drafted for use in American court rooms, according to the committee.
It wants to see new guidelines that commit websites and apps to explaining clearly how they use personal data, saying that laws will be needed if companies fail to comply.
The committee has pointed to terms for Facebook Messenger's mobile app, which is used by more than 200,000 million people a month.
It says that, under the current terms, Facebook can gain direct access to a user's mobile or tablet, including to take pictures or make videos, at any time without explicit confirmation from the owner.
MPs also pointed to criticism of the company earlier this year after it carried out a psychological experiment that recorded users' moods as news feeds on the social network were manipulated.
"Let's face it, most people click yes to terms and conditions contracts without reading them, because they are often laughably long and written in the kind of legalese you need a law degree from the USA to understand," Committee chair Andrew Miller said.
Miller says he's sure most social media developers will be happy to sign up to new guidelines on "clear communication and informed consent" that the committee is asking the British government to draw up.
"The advertising budget of government agencies may affect press freedom, so we should ban it," said Boonlert Kachayudhadej, spokesman of the committee on media and information technology reform.
He was speaking yesterday after attending a meeting of the committee.
Boonlert said press freedom must be protected to ensure the mass media including new media fulfilled its public duty.
"The government and mass-media owners must not restrict freedom, as long as the media works in line with professional and ethnical standards," he said.
Boonlert said the committee also determined that the definition of mass media must be updated in response to changing circumstances.
"The mass media is no longer just about television stations, radio stations or newspapers anymore. We need to cover new media too," he said.
He said that if self-regulatory bodies were in place and effective in ensuring mass media members complied with ethics, a legal response would not be needed.
"But if these bodies can't efficiently control their members, legal measures will become necessary," he said.
Boonlert said his committee would submit its recommendations to the Constitution Drafting Assembly on December 10.
"The National Reform Council will also convene its sessions between December 15 and 17 so that all its 18 committees can deliberate on their ideas, principles and recommendations," he added.
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Reformers want ban on govt buying advertising
25 November 2014
Inquiry Shows New Media PR Here to Stay
Facilitate Communications welcomes the Prime Ministers release of the Inquiry report into allegations regarding the Honourable Judith Collins and a former Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley.
The Inquiry by former High Court Judge Justice Chisholm has exonerated our client Mark Hotchin from any attempt to undermine the then head of the Serious Fraud Office Mr Adam Feeley, said Carrick Graham, Managing Director of Facilitate Communications.
Reputation management today involves utilising all sources of media, especially social media platforms that allow enhanced control over the message delivery, said Mr Graham.
Facilitate Communications worked to address numerous incorrect, defamatory and outright misleading commentary about our client that had appeared in mainstream media. A core role of PR professionals is to achieve a more balanced media and public commentary on issues of interest to clients.
Recent claims about some conspiracy by people that were not involved in strategy discussions or the execution of the public relations strategies, have been proved by the Inquiry to be demonstrably wrong.
Now that the Inquiry is complete the time has come to set the record straight. There was never any intention to undermine the regulators, including Mr Feeley. The public attention Mr Feeley gained was as a result of his own actions and that of his staff.
Furthermore in a democracy, which preserves freedom of expression, criticism of public servants is not a crime, particularly when there is an uneven playing field in terms of media commentary.
To get cut-through in todays 24/7 media landscape, public relations has had to evolve. It is no longer enough sending out media releases hoping for coverage or pick up. To deliver results in a highly specialised area involves innovative thinking and execution, and that is exactly what we do, said Mr Graham.
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Carrick Graham: Inquiry Shows New Media PR Here to Stay