'Stand Your Ground' laws: The facts don't support fears of armed citizens

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) ^ | March 7, 2017 | John R Lott Jr

[richardb72]

Gun-control advocate Michael Bloomberg says that “Stand Your Ground” laws amount to “shoot first, ask questions later.”

In fact, as the Minnesota House Committee on Public Safety and Security Policy will hear in testimony today, Stand Your Ground laws do not allow the initiation of force. Since the response must be proportionate to the threat, a defendant cannot shoot unless he is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. Or, at least, a reasonable person must have cause to perceive such a grave threat. Prior to Stand Your Ground, citizens have had to retreat as far as possible and then warn the criminal of their intention to shoot. The concept of “appropriate retreat” is vague and potentially confusing to a defendant who needs to take immediate, decisive action. Delay can sometimes be fatal. Overzealous prosecutors have sometimes argued that the defendant should have retreated even farther. These trials, even if they end in acquittal, are very costly and destroy defendants’ lives.

It stands to reason that the most likely victims of violent crime will benefit the most from Stand Your Ground laws. And who are the most likely victims? Poor blacks in high-crime, urban areas who definitely cannot count on the police to come to their rescue in time.

Thirty-three states have laws that remove the requirement to retreat. Some states have had these laws since their founding. Support for them had been overwhelmingly bipartisan until the last few years. In 2004, even state Sen. Barack Obama co-sponsored and voted for a bill expanding Illinois’ Stand Your Ground law. . . .

[Carthego delenda est]

I HAVE to pray for Bloomberg, such is my contempt for this pathetic, puny man and all his money.

[saintgermaine]

Hiss possession of money doesn’t necessarily equate with being very bright, he appears to be a sad and pathetic sack of humanity.

[JudgemAll]

Bloomberg: you all guilty until
proven innocent...

Someone remind this fck face that it is the police which must use measured approaches, not the private citizen in his privacy!

If we start thinking the property owner is a custodian in care of criminals on his property, then we are wrong. This is why Stand Your Grounds is important. There is no question to ask, he simple
fact of being an intruder should be message enough

[WKUHilltopper]

It is the tradition that a Kentuckian never runs. He does not have to...he is not obligated to retreat, nor to consider whether he can safely retreat, but is entitled to stand his ground, and meet any (life-threatening) attack made upon him with a deadly weapon... Kentucky Court of Appeals. Gibson v. Commonwealth, 34 SW 936 (Ky. 1931)

[Clutch Martin]

The wealthy have protective services to do the shooting for them. Hence, they don’t understand squat, yet feel the need to denude the general public their self protection rights... from martial arts weapons to knives to firearms.

[themidnightskulker]

If it saves only one life....

[The Antiyuppie]

“The wealthy have protective services to do the shooting for them. Hence, they don’t understand squat, yet feel the need to denude the general public their self protection rights... from martial arts weapons to knives to firearms.”

The above, exactly.
He is completely disconnected from the realities of life.

[trebb]

Prior to Stand Your Ground, citizens have had to retreat as far as possible and then warn the criminal of their intention to shoot.

And then the perp could back off, call the cops and have the intended victim arrested for brandishing a weapon or making death threats.....

[marktwain]

John does a good job with this article.

[2111USMC]

Iowa Gun Owners has done a great job in getting this instituted here in Iowa:

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a sweeping gun bill that includes a stand-your-ground provision and allows citizens to sue local governments that impose weapons restrictions.

The Republican-controlled chamber voted 58-39 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 along mostly party lines. The bill now heads to the GOP-majority Senate, where it has support.

-snip-

http://wqad.com/2017/03/08/iowa-house-oks-gun-bill-with-stand-your-ground-provision/

[2111USMC]

http://wqad.com/2017/03/08/iowa-house-oks-gun-bill-with-stand-your-ground-provision/

[Vlad The Inhaler]

NRA: Bloomberg ‘Ultimate Hypocrite’ For Employing Armed Security

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times - Thursday, October 2, 2014

The National Rifle Association has struck back at former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, dinging him as the “ultimate hypocrite” for lobbying against Second Amendment rights for average Americans while maintaining his own personal armed security force.

Mr. Bloomberg reportedly vowed to spend a total of $50 million via the Everytown for Gun Safety, a coalition of several groups including Mr. Bloomberg’s own Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

But the NRA, which has ponied up $10 million of its own for political spending this election cycle, is retaliating with an ad campaign against Mr. Bloomberg. One ad features a survivor of violent crime telling the former mayor, “You do not have the right to tell me how to defend myself,” The Hill reported.

The NRA is hoping such ads will prove a successful counter to Mr. Bloomberg’s anti-gun efforts.

“We look at it as an opportunity to expose the real Mike Bloomberg to the American people,” NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanadam said, The Hill reported. “The American people will see he is the ultimate hypocrite who tries to ensure people who don’t have the right to defend themselves, while he surrounds himself with armed security 24 hours a day.”

[Terry L Smith]

Since it either 4 yards to my single chair in the living room, or 8 yards to my bedside, from the visible entrance of my abode, I will stand my ground, and here is why.

The 911 office is in the town at the other end of the bridge across the river. THEY then call the cops on that side, who call the cops on this side, who then responds, as they can ( think Paradise police size). The last time i had a medical emergency, it was 25 minutes to a response.

[Feckless]

While stationed at Ft Lewis, WA in the mid 80's, living off post, I responded to 3 junkies breaking into my Jeep with Mr Mossberg. I didn't get a shot off, they disappeared just as the Police rolled in. They told me I had to retreat upstairs as far as I could, lock myself and wife in the bathroom and wait for perp to break the door in before I could shoot and even then would probably be prosecuted.

God Bless Texas!

[Carl Vehse]

"I HAVE to pray for Bloomberg, such is my contempt for this pathetic, puny man and all his money.

Definitely, but those who give aid and comfort to the enemy still need to be brought to justice in court.

[Georgia Girl 2]

In GA we have stand your ground and castle doctrine.

[Feckless]

In Texas you can use deadly force during the hours of darkness for basically Criminal Mischief. One of the few states you can use deadly force to protect property.

Regardless of the law, 911 won't be called until perp(s) are dead then it's my statement that will be taken.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Here you can shoot em in your driveway as long as you feel threatened. We have our property posted front and back so there’s no excuse to be on our property.