NFC North

Florida House Passes Bill To Allow Self-Defense Bear Killings

The Florida House on Thursday passed a controversial proposal aimed at allowing people to kill bears in self-defense. Sponsor Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, said the bill (HB 87) is needed because of an increase in bears venturing into residential areas of his sprawling North Florida district. Also, he said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hasn’t changed its approach to human-bear interactions. Read: Florida House Backs Bill On Shooting Bears On Private Property “We have to have a way for people to defend themselves,” Shoaf said. “And, yes, the common law says that if you th…