Question of the week: Do you support ‘stand your ground’ laws like the one in Florida that has so far prevented police from arresting the admitted killer of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin?
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Karen Anderson: “There was abuse of the law in the case of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was told to leave the boy alone and Trayvon’s only offense was being black in a white gated community. Zimmerman was not in danger. To the extent that the law is followed, I support it. A lot of fine lines, though.”
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Dave Appling: “No. This law doesn’t require any attempt to defuse the situation. No justification needed except your unsupported word. This 17-year-old kid was unarmed, minding his own business, and outweighed by his armed killer by 100 pounds. Self-defense? Appears more like execution for WWB (walking while black).”
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Bert Berson: “No. I listened to the call in to the police. The police told Zimmerman not to follow. He agreed instead to meet the police near the entrance to the complex. Zimmerman continued following in his car. Then he got out of the car. When did stand your ground come into the picture? As to the law itself, prosecutors hate it and so do I.”
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Chris Bryant: “Yes, there are times when defending yourself is necessary and when retreating is not a safe option. However, this does not appear to be applicable to this killing as the killer chased after the teen and confronted him, definitely not a matter of self defense when the killer was the aggressor.”
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Dennis Kennedy: “No! This is, in essence, ‘Shoot first, ask questions later.’ That is not justice or fairness or protection of the rights of the innocent.”
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Julian Mancias: “No. The Trayvon Martin murder is a direct reason why this Florida law is wrong and which promotes ‘vigilantism.’”
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Henry Miller: “Basically, yes. However, even the author of the bill that resulted in the law states that he believes the law requires “tweeking.” Once properly done, it is up to the judicial to interpret the law and to determine its constitutionality.”
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Jeff Nunes: “Yes. First, the law is not preventing the police from arresting anyone as they are still completing their investigation into this man’s claims of self defense. If the evidence comes out that this admitted killer was pursuing an unarmed kid, which he clearly was, and looking to cause a confrontation, then the law will not protect him and he will be tried for murder. Second, as long as the law is properly applied there is nothing wrong with a law that allows you to defend yourself at anytime.”
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Lisa Pampuch: “No. These laws set aside centuries of common law precedent that you have a duty to retreat first when threatened and can use deadly force only as a last resort. This 2005 law, supported by the NRA and signed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, has led to the tripling of the justifiable homicide rate in Florida, according to the St. Petersburg Times, which noted that ‘twice a week, on average, someone’s killing was considered warranted.’”
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Jeff Smith: “Yes, I support the stand your ground law, but I don’t think it applies in this case. From what I’ve read, the person who killed Trayvon was not ‘standing his ground,’ but was actively pursuing the teen.”
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Steve Staloch: “No. It is not only vague and far too broad in its interpretation, but Florida’s law also provides the assailant immunity from civil liability, the last legal avenue for retribution.”
