SOUTH FLORIDA -- A law that some say lets people "shoot first and ask questions later" goes into effect Saturday.

The "stand your ground," or "deadly force," law, says that people who are in public in Florida who feel their lives are threatened can kill the person they feel is threatening their lives without fear of being prosecuted.

The law applies to people confronted by life-threatening danger anywhere in the state.

"I think people have the right to defend themselves on the streets, wherever they might be. Their life is just as important out there as it is at home," said Bill Brown, of American Range and Gun Shop.

The new law basically changes the old law, which said that if you are attacked in public, you first had to try to escape before meeting force with force. Now, if you feel your life is in danger, you can shoot first and ask questions later, NBC 6's Tom Llamas reported.

Gun control advocates like Dana Quist think the law will turn Florida into the Wild, Wild West.

"It's just creating a trigger-happy culture," Quist said.

Quist's organization, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, plans on handing out fliers about the new law to tourists at Florida airports.

"We're just warning them that they need to be aware that people are allowed here to shoot to kill if they feel threatened," Quist said.

By targeting tourists, the Brady campaign is aiming for Florida's jugular -- the lucrative tourism industry.

The image of a wild Florida grabbed international headlines in the 1980s with the "cocaine cowboys" killing each other in the streets and in the 1990s when some tourists lost their lives in smash-and-grab crimes on the interstates.

Many South Floridians agree there is less crime in the state now, but they have mixed feelings about the new law.

"If someone is threatening their life, I think they should take appropriate action," South Florida resident Rick Miller said.

"This is ridiculous of Florida. They've got a big old sign that says, 'Welcome to Florida, but beware,'" South Florida resident Bruce Williams said.

A representative of Gov. Jeb Bush called the Brady campaign's plans to hand out fliers at the airport "unacceptable."