The New York Times sent its anthropologists deep into the South and Midwest to determine just what sort of things go on in these godforsaken places and report back to the entrenched liberal elite. Their findings: Gunplay!

In the last year, 15 states have enacted laws that expand the right of self-defense, allowing crime victims to use deadly force in situations that might formerly have subjected them to prosecution for murder.

If Mary Worth lived in Florida, she could just bust a cap in this dude's ass right here

The article covers some high-profile cases in which the law prevented charges from being pressed, including one dispute where Kenneth Allen shot Jason Rosenbloom as they argued over whether Rosenbloom had put more garbage bags out at the curb than he was allowed to. The article includes some choice pics of the bullet wounds in Rosenbloom's pasty, pasty hide.

In the least shocking development ever, the NRA talked up these laws:

"If they make a decision to save their lives in the split second they are being attacked, the law is on their side," [Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the N.R.A.] said. "Good people make good decisions. That's why they're good people."

Others are questioning good people's good-decision-making abilities, however. In the wake of a particularly bizarre incident in which a man dressed in camouflage and a mask was shot in his own backyard, even some of the sponsors of Florida's law were asking questions about its application.

[State Rep. Jeff] Kottkamp, one of 78 co-sponsors for the original state House legislation, said the Legislature did not intend to protect from prosecution people who charge at others with deadly weapons.

LaPierre immediately made the good decision to shoot Kottkamp before he could take that line of thought any further.

15 States Expand Right to Shoot in Self-Defense [NYT]

Shooting raises doubts on law [The News-Press]