Judge orders guns returned to blind FL man who ‘stood his ground’ against drinking buddy

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/23/judge-orders-guns-returned-to-blind-fl-man-who-stood-his-ground-against-drinking-buddy/



Judge orders guns returned to blind FL man who ‘stood his ground’ against drinking buddy
By Scott Kaufman
Sunday, February 23, 2014 11:01 EST

John Wayne Rogers, a blind man acquitted of killing his friend James Dewitt under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” statute, successfully sued the state to have his guns returned to him.

Prosecutors had charged Rogers with first-degree murder in the 2012 shooting death of his house guest and drinking companion, James DeWitt. Rogers’s attorneys contended that he was a blind man defending himself from a drunken guest, but the prosecution had witnesses willing to testify that Rogers can see.

Rogers claimed that he asked Dewitt and DeWitt’s girlfriend, Christina Ann Robertson, to leave after the trio returned from a 10 a.m. beer run. DeWitt refused, Rogers testified, so Rogers went into his bedroom and retrieved his rifle. When he returned to the living room, DeWitt charged him, and Rogers shot him in the chest.

~snip~

Rogers, who was blinded in a work-related accident in 2001, has an extensive history of violence. In 2010, following another night of drinking, Rogers shot at his cousin and roommate, Michael Rogers, 15 times with a handgun. Michael Rogers was not shot, and John Rogers eventually plead no contest to one count of unlawfully displaying a firearm, for which he was placed on probation.

[In_The_Wind]

1. I cannot believe that Florida is doing something this stupid.

[RebeccaBeasley]

2. fLA-LA land, the land of my birth

in a generation, it because a huge cesspool. I left in 1980 and go back as little as I can, leaving family members who used to be reasonable, but now who are so far gone with Fox News I can't even speak with them.

The gun culture there has exploded, no pun intended. I grew up with a healthy respect for and understanding of guns. In a small rural town that was just named one of the most dangerous counties in Florida. And the people there refuse to believe that they are more dangerous than the cities but the statistics taken from the FDLE don't lie.

Today half my family worships the damn things. They own their own arsenals and will hear of no talk to restrict any of them in any way. Family member suddenly commits suicide with gun 4 years ago. Untold numbers of friends and other family members dead from guns either by suicide or murder. The list makes me nauseous when I try and compile it, I can't finish it. Family member recently left 5 year old in vehicle with two loaded handguns. Thankfully the only victim was the brand new truck with a hole through the floorboard. And this family member is a Corrections Officer whoM I thought really WAS one of those responsible gun owners you hear about. All of this in one of the smallest and poorest counties in the state. When is this going to end? WHERE is this going to end.

I'm not really new here - been here since 2004. Wow 10 years. I've had a couple of other identities over the past, but due to this, that, or the other (primarily life getting in the way), I've lost all the info so I'm starting fresh. DU has taught me a lot along the way. Thanks for that!

[uppityperson]

3. Welcome back!

[gopiscrap]

4. Welcome to DU