Posts Tagged ‘stand your ground’

On June 8, 2012, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law a measure requiring a full investigation of any death that results from violence or under suspicious circumstances when a claim of self-defense is raised. A law enacted in Alabama on May 22, 2012 modifies the existing law that provides property owners with immunity from civil liability for injuring or killing a trespasser in self-defense, so that immunity is provided only if the property owner reacted reasonably to the circumstances.  Several other states considered amending or repealing “shoot first” laws this year (including Michigan, North Carolina, Mississippi and South Carolina). In addition, the conservative, corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that developed the model shoot first law recently announced that it was disbanding the task force responsible for its creation.

See our Shoot First Resources for a more detailed discussion of this issue.

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On February 26th, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking down the street in Sanford, Florida, when he was confronted by 28-year-old George Zimmerman. Trayvon Martin was carrying a can of iced tea and a bag of candy; George Zimmerman had a license to carry a concealed weapon and a 9 millimeter handgun.

Florida’s weak concealed handgun licensing law enabled Zimmerman, who had been previously arrested for battering a police officer, and whose neighbors had complained about his aggressive behavior, to legally carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public.

Zimmerman had been following Martin in his car, telling the police in a 911 call that Trayvon looked “real suspicious” because he was “just walking around looking about.” Zimmerman cornered the unarmed teenager, shot, and killed him. Afterward, the shooter claimed to be acting in self-defense; to date, he has not been charged with any crime.

Florida’s extreme “Stand Your Ground” law, which establishes a low threshold to justify the use of deadly force, may now protect his implausible claim of self-defense. These laws create a poisonous recipe for tragedy: an innocent young man is now dead and his killer may be shielded from justice.

Florida’s weak laws are not unique. Too many states allow virtually anyone who meets low minimum requirements to carry a concealed handgun in public, regardless of whether the person has any real need to carry a deadly weapon. Too many states also safeguard shooters from accountability for the terrible acts of violence they commit in the name of self-defense. READ MORE »