Posted on 05/08/2012 4:57:40 AM PDT by marktwain
A new bill would re-write Louisiana criminal law in response to the February shooting in Florida of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The bill, HB1100, targets what's known as a "Stand Your Ground law." State lawmakers say as it reads right now, prosecutors would have a tough time pressing charges against the shooter if the Trayvon Martin case happened in Louisiana.
George Zimmerman faces a second degree murder charge for that shooting. A neighborhood watch activist, Zimmerman shot and killed Martin, Zimmerman says in self-defense, but according to some, "self-defense" isn't very clear in Louisiana.
"If the case were that Mr. Zimmerman actually pursued Trayvon Martin, then the judge and the jury should take that into consideration." Rep. Roy Burrell says, "to determine who was the actual aggressor."
A Representative from Shreveport, Burrell authors what's now dubbed the "Trayvon Bill."
If passed, it will re-write the "Stand Your Ground" law. SYG currently doesn't let a judge or jury consider pursuit to identify an aggressor; in this case, George Zimmerman pursued Trayvon Martin, even after contacting police.
"We have to know that guns kill," Rep. Terry Landry said. "We have to leave the policing to the authorities."
Acadiana Representative Terry Landry brings more than 30-years of law enforcement experience to the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. That committee gave this bill the thumbs up and has high hopes it will become law, allowing the courts to determine an aggressor with evidence of pursuit.
"If the threat is removed, say if the person is running away from you, then the threat is clearly removed," Rep. Burrell said. "You cannot use deadly force to take a person's life."
The bill also got the thumbs up from District Attorneys around the state and it will hit the house floor Tuesday.
Verdict first, trial after.
It should apply to all Police Officers also, if it really is such a worthwhile law.
I suspect this is less about "problems" with the Louisiana statute and more about another black democrat working the anti-gun agenda. At this point, it's a PR move to gain support in the black community.
It’s kinda funny. SYG does not even apply in the Martin/Zimmerman case.
Of course.
Many blacks know that there is a good chance someone they know or in the family will be involved with crime. SYG gives the victim ability to kill them. Many in the black community feel that when someone is stealing, property owners killing the thief is over reacting. Ironically, blacks will fight and kill each other if one of them steals a coat from the other.
There is absolutely no problem with arresting or charging someone for homicide under the stand-your-ground law.
All the police need to arrest your is probable cause.
All the prosecutor needs is evidence.
Of course, the Left wants Zimmerman killed without either.
Creating legislation according to false media reports is not a good idea. This bill should fail - there hasn't even been a trial yet.
In Lousiana people need to be able to defend themselves. It's just too dangerous there, and self-defense is rooted in Louisiana history.
The people pushing laws like this are an active danger to our lives.
Probably more so than your average crazy running people down with his car.
These people out themselves as Socialists deliberately undermining our Country.
“SYG does not even apply in the Martin/Zimmerman case.”
Huh? Why not?
Surprise! Doin' what he can to keep the bruthas safe.
So-—why didn’t Travon retreat? That was always my question—Why didn’t he simply run away when he knew Zimmerman was there? Or why didn’t he call out that he was going to visit a relative—or any of a hundred things he could have done?
That is what has always seemed strange to me...............was he drug addled? (Skittles, my left foot!)
Anyone with any sense would have let Zimmerman know what he was about.....if he had a right to be where he was.
“We have to know that guns kill,” Rep. Terry Landry said. “We have to leave the policing to the authorities.”
...what other witty little Marxist talking points can you fascinate us with?
But if the suspect comes back... You have to take our beating law.
SYG says you don’t have to run. But it only applies when you have that option. When you are on your back being beaten you do not have that option, so SYG does not apply. It is simple self defense. And that is what evidence and witness statements say happened in this case.
Funny thing about gun control...
Originally, it was the Klan (democrats) who wanted gun control to keep guns out of the hands of blacks to keep them from defending themselves from white Klan terrorism.
Now, it’s the black democrats (again) who want to keep guns out of the hands of white people to keep them from using them to defend themselves from black thuggery.
You’re absolutely right...But the prosecutor...who has absolutely no evidence of wrong doing on the part of Zimmerman wants you to believe that Z was stalking Tray which is totally stupid...because suppose Tray did have a gun?? or a knife??
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