Another tragic (Jeb) Bush legacy: Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Essentially, if you subjectively feel you are in danger, you can use deadly force. You don't have to be in your house. You don't have to try to retreat from the percieved threat. Just shoot away. Feel free to ask questions later.

Apply this to the horrific Treyvon Martin homicide in Sanford, Florida, where a 17 year old African American boy was killed by a "self appointed neighborhood watchman" because he thought he was a threat. What was Martin doing? Walking in a gated neighborhood at night, wearing a hooded sweatshirt. That's it.

The shooter has yet to be charged. His statement to police? He thought Martin was a threat and was acting in "self defense".

Florida's Stand Your Ground law:

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/13/cnn-legal-contributor-on-fl-shooting-of-trayvon-martin-stand-your-ground-law-moves-castle-doctrine-to-the-street/

Story on the killing:

http://gma.yahoo.com/orlando-watch-shooting-probe-reveals-questionable-police-conduct-032002155--abc-news.html

[zipplewrath]

1. Did more than that

He was told not to approach the kid, by the 911 operator. But he did anyway and the kid is now dead. The cops can't seem to build a case. I won't be surprised if the prosecuters office does.

[surfdog]

4. What case ?

The law says if you feel threatened you can kill the person

If the guy felt threatened he acted within the law

I can't see how they could build a case with current law , anybody can kill anybody they simply have to say they felt threatened

[hokuto199x]

10. You are wrong

You can not say that the feel threatened when you're the one following the other person and started the conflict. Now I know I can get started a fight in the street, shoot the other person if I start to lose and claim self-defense.

[zipplewrath]

13. Difference between stand your ground and pursue

The guy wasn't at home, had been told to hold back and yet "pursued" the victim. The guy has a record too.

[jpak]

2. Castle Law = legalized murder and/or excuse to shoot black kids

either way it sucks

yup

[cleanhippie]

5. Oh, the hyperbole!

[Hoyt]

3. I'll bet my rear the shooter had memorized that law, taken NRA courses that promoted the law, and

used the law as justification for shooting a young man whose only crime was likely being Black in a white neighborhood.

Every time I read about this incident I get really ticked.

[angstlessk]

9. He was a criminal justice student...

HE KNEW HE COULD KILL WITH IMPUNITY...

[Hoyt]

12. Lots of "regular" gun owners keep up with such laws for same reason.

So they know when they can shoot away. The support NRA and other groups that push these type laws through state legislatures.

[GopperStopper2680]

6. Well...that's taking it a little far.

I personally believe in self defense and I am an advocate of firearms rights. However, that's taking it a little far. A 'self appointed neighborhood watchman', walking around after dark armed with a gun. Anywhere else that would be called a 'vigilante'. I think this guy has watched a few too many Charles Bronson movies for his own good and sadly the good of others. Essentially what it will devolve into if it isn't addressed is a situation in which if you don't like some body you go and shoot then and then tell the cops you felt 'threatened'. Florida is going to be a war zone before long.

[FLAprogressive]

7. What's happening here is a complete injustice but I think that might be hyperbole.

[GopperStopper2680]

8. Sadly...

It may be a long time before we are able to repair all the grevious damage that Dictator Bush managed to do to our Democracy. I was very much afraid of the man and now I fear his legacy.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. Actually they are not related

Even in Washington DC, NYC, or Chicago, you can use deadly force to protect yourself on the streets and walk...if the circumstances support it.

The shooter is claiming he was attacked and was defending himself. That is not the same as Stand Your Ground. Unless forensics can show otherwise, it could hold up. It has nothing to do with Stand Your Ground, CNN's falsehoods not withstanding.

That said, the event in question looks very questionable and needs a serious review. If the local cops are not up to it, bring in the state. No Federal issues, but the Fed labs are allowed to help state and local cop shops.

There are multiple other threads on this here at DU3

[Enrique]

14. if theyre not careful someone is going to test that law

they way they are talking about that case, it makes it look like shooting people is legal in Florida.

[brandibaker0506]

16. My brother was also shot by a wanna be cop looking for trouble

A security guard in palm harbor toke the life of my brother on the 6th.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfoxtampabay.com%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fpinellas%2Fwas-shooting-self-defense-03072012&h=FAQGQyCxSAQGyykEP0vqzP7K7AMjKTN9z_mOY3FDMIbonAg&enc=AZPmtFPpyEbyl2xxvK0P_-7I4IO66K7nOMFISICO4HggLZidseSoXpW64pKe13tFJwgfkDv5-joN6FLbnJmqJXWMR111JXEEQwaOxXgjiP9H2g


If these guys get away with this your telling everyone its ok to follow someone and when they confront you its ok to shot them. Other parents will be losing there kids soon. Get it together florida.

[EOTE]

17. So sorry for your loss.

I truly hope you and your brother get the justice you deserve. Vigilantism is awful for society. If these cretins don't receive punishment for what they've done, it's going to happen more and more frequently.

May you heal in time.