Posted on 03/28/2012 5:17:01 PM PDT by marktwain
Emerging details about dead Florida teen Trayvon Martin, whose cousin is a Tacoma resident and participated in a vigil for Martin Monday evening, may not be relevant to the incident that cost Martin his life, same as it is still questionable whether the state’s Stand-Your-Ground law is really applicable.
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As this column reported, the attorney for shooter George Zimmerman first suggested the law wasn’t relevant and then reportedly changed his mind in two different interviews with different news agencies. But it is clear from coverage of the Martin killing that anti-self-defense activists, including SYG opponents in the press, are exploiting the case to attack the statute.
The Miami Herald had an unscientific poll in progress as this column was filed. This was the result when we updated Tuesday afternoon:
Should the Florida Legislature repeal the Stand Your Ground law?
Yes: 1,013 / 35%
No: 1,903 / 65%
Total Votes: 2,916
The public wants to keep the law by a consistent 65-35 margin. So does State Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and sponsor of the law. He is insisting that the police are “misconstruing” Stand Your Ground. The Miami Herald quote Baxley thusly:
“There’s nothing in the law that says you can pursue and confront people,” said Baxley, R-Ocala. “There’s nothing to clarify.”
This raises a question: Why would police and prosecutors, who largely opposed the law, “misconstrue” its meaning?
Newspapers across the country are talking about SYG laws in their own regions. Washington has no such statute, as this column noted, because in the Evergreen State, the right to stand one’s ground against criminal attack is well-established in court precedent dating back almost a century.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
The Professional Community Organizer-in-Chief intended to create the perfect storm of anti-gun hysteria.
They're still trying to pretend they didn't get caught red-handed.
The Stand Your Ground law is about whether you have to retreat from a serious threat or not. How do you affect a retreat when someone is on top of you smashing your head on a concrete sidewalk? SYG doesn’t apply if you can’t retreat. Retreat is a moot point when you’re trapped.
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