Korean Job Discussion Forums

[I'm With You]

It seems that the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin has raised intense discussion of the "stand your ground" laws inf florida. Stand Your Ground Law.

So if I am able convince a jury that I was "standing my ground" - e.g., imminent death or grievous injury - I am acting lawfully. NO problems with that! However, is there potential for this defense to be abused in court?

[ghostrider]

Under traditional legal principles, people in disputes generally have a duty to “de-escalate” in the interest of saving human life, but the Florida law dialed down the historic “duty to retreat.” Now, people would have the same kind of right to stand their ground in public — on the streets, in parking lots and in bars — that they historically had in their homes.After gaining a foothold in Florida, the “Stand your ground” movement spread quickly to other states. This legal revolution did not just happen. The National Rifle Association (NRA) and its allies lobbied for the changes heavily, arguing that “Stand your ground” is an important gun right. The lobbying effort paid off. Today, 25 states have passed “Stand your ground” laws.The argument for these laws is that they free people to defend themselves when they reasonably believe they are in danger. The NRA and other supporters argue that state laws that impose a duty to retreat put law-abiding citizens faced with a threat in an unfair position. If they reasonably act to protect themselves, “Stand your ground” supporters say, they will too often be second-guessed by the legal system — and charged with homicide.But critics have pointed out the obvious problem with “Stand your ground” laws. They encourage people who get caught up in dangerous encounters to up the ante and to shoot when gunfire could have been avoided. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, a pro-gun-control group, has dubbed “Stand your ground” laws “Shoot first” laws. And the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) has pointed out an oddity of “Stand your ground”: the “blanket immunity” that the Florida law gives to members of the public who fire their guns is actually broader than the leeway the law gives to police, whose job it is to defend public safety.
http://ideas.time.com/2012/04/16/the-growing-movement-to-repeal-stand-your-ground-laws/

I think in a lot of states Zimmerman could have been convicted of something such as imperfect self defense. If he had not chosen to escalate a tense situation a life could have been saved. He should have retreated and let the police handle the matter.

[young_clinton]

[geldedgoat]

Stand Your Ground has nothing to do with the Zimmerman case. His self-defense claim would have stood in every state in the US, even those without SYG laws, because he was being restrained at the time of the shooting. There is no option for retreat in that situation, and the duty to retreat is the only thing that SYG addresses.

Also, there's already a thread dedicated to the case over in Current Events.

[ghostrider]

[geldedgoat]

[Swampfox10mm]

As a gun owner with a legal CCW permit who carries on a regular basis when home, I have to say that there sure are a lot of ignorant people who believe everything the liberal media feeds them about gun laws and Zimmerman.

Pandering to stupidity and ignorance sure does create clicks.

[ghostrider]

[geldedgoat]

So by this...