We don't want to wait for another innocent life to be lost before we repeal "stand your ground", we want these laws repealed from all 24 states including Florida, now. At least 402 victims have been killed in 32 states since 2007, in deaths involving private citizens that are legally permitted to carry concealed weapons. So we must also oppose the brand new NRA-backed bills, to carry concealed weapons over state lines regardless of their differences in gun laws.
S. 2188 and S. 2213, which were proposed very shortly after Trayvon Martin's death, these laws will endanger and affect the entire nation if passed.
Why we need to repeal “stand your ground” laws:
The recent tragic death of innocent teenager Trayvon Martin has brought to light not only the serious issue of racial profiling, but has proven how dangerous a false sense of authority can be when exercised under the provision of a ‘license to kill’ law like “stand your ground”. This innocent boy's death and the lack of either investigation or arrest of shooter George Zimmerman, has caused a national uproar among those who refuse to let this gross injustice go unpunished.
Sanford Police say what held them back from arresting or further investigating known killer, Zimmerman, was the "stand your ground" law. In a document released by the Sanford City Manager, the Chief of Police’s response to frequently asked questions regarding the Martin case stated that “when the Sanford Police Department arrived at the scene of the incident, Mr. Zimmerman provided a statement claiming he acted in self defense which at the time was supported by physical evidence and testimony. By Florida Statute, law enforcement was PROHIBITED from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time.” We concede from this experience and others that have used “stand your ground” in their defense, that the facts prove “Stand Your Ground” to be detrimental to the judicial process in addition to even serving as motivation for individuals to resort to using deadly force, not as a last resort, but because they feel they have the “right” to. The "stand your ground" law is an NRA-backed law that takes the "Castle Doctrine" to new levels, basically making your home, and almost any public place, your castle. As the Tampa Bay Times writes “The old law gave you the right to protect yourself with deadly force inside your home. The 2005 law gives you the right to protect yourself in a park, outside a Chili's, on a highway — just about anywhere. You need only to "reasonably believe" that pulling the trigger or plunging the knife or swinging the bat is necessary to stop the other person from hurting you.” In court, proving that a person didn’t “reasonably believe” that they were in danger is difficult when the only real witness to the situation is dead. So often, the judge will dismiss the case before it even goes to trial. The Tampa Bay Times continued, “Reports of justifiable homicides tripled after the law went into effect, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Last year, twice a week, on average, someone's killing was considered warranted. The self-defense law — known as "stand your ground" — has been invoked in at least 93 cases with 65 deaths, a St. Petersburg Times review found.” There is no doubt that if the NRA had it their way, "stand your ground" laws would be adopted in all 50 states.
Why S. 2188 and S. 2213 are so bad and MUST NOT BE PASSED:
Under the provision of these newly proposed bills to loosen gun regulations even more, an individual like Zimmerman who is legally carrying a gun and has a concealed weapons license, would be able to take his gun along with his concealed weapons license from Florida to any state in America other than D.C. and Illinois where concealed weapons are prohibited..
The passage of these bills, as the Huffington Post writes, "would allow the tens of thousands of concealed carry permit holders… to take their guns and their "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality into Times Square, downtown Los Angeles, Main Street in Des Moines, Iowa, or to your community. If your state has tougher, more sensible laws that might prevent someone like George Zimmerman -- who had an arrest record -- from getting a concealed carry permit, tough luck. This new bill would force your state to honor concealed carry permits of other states, even states like Florida, with abhorrently low standards.” The NRA believes that an American's right to use deadly force against their perceived aggressors, whether wielding a deadly weapon or skittles, is more valuable than an innocent American's right to life. How are such laws not endangering Americans in general more than protecting them, when it has proven to be increasing homicide rates?
The gun rights advocates are indifferent to the Martin case, in fact they blame Trayvon Martin:
What’s most disheartening is how gun-rights advocates are addressing the Martin case so coldly. The Gun Owners of America’s Executive Director Larry Pratt came out on Current TV’s “The Young Turks” stated that Martin had given up his rights and was rightfully shot because once he had knocked Zimmerman to the ground, saying that rather than fight Zimmerman, he should have tried again to run away.
And the NRA’s interpretation of the Martin case is similarly indifferent to the fact that the case has moved so much of the nation. Our outrage against the provision of such a law will not be hindered although the NRA, the Gun Owners of America and other political voices who support radical gun rights will undoubtedly try to minimize the application of this law on the Trayvon Martin case and paint “stand your ground” as a constitutional American ideology that we should buy into. But we know that at least 402 victims have been killed in 32 states since 2007 in deaths involving private citizens that are legally permitted to carry concealed weapons, according to the Legal Community Against Violence.
Who are we asking for help from, and what do we want them to do?
We ask that the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House, and the Vice President choose not to sign the new S.2188 and S.2213 bills if they are passed by Senate. We want the appropriate State Attorney Generals, Governors, and Legislators to take the initiative in working to repeal “stand your ground” in their states where the law is active to address the questionable ethics of the way "stand your ground" laws enables criminals to get away with murder. We want our Senators to know that we oppose S.2188 and S. 2213 (as well as H.R.822 which passed the House in November of 2011) and do not wish to extend the opportunity for killers like Zimmerman to bring their concealed weapon into states with different gun laws, defeating the purpose of any state’s stricter gun regulation laws.
The right to bear arms needs to be considered in a rational context where the sacrifice of innocent human life is not up for discussion. Please join us in fighting to repeal these active laws and stop the passage of bills which deny states their ability to enforce safer gun regulation.
*states with "stand your ground" laws
Washington, Oregon, Nevada, S. Dakota, Illinois, N. Carolina, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Michigan, Kentucky, S. Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Indiana, W. Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee
Hi I would like to know how many signatures are needed on this petition before this law is repealed.
ReplyDeletethanks
Unfortunately, no number of signatures can guarantee a win in repealing such egregious laws or opposing the new concealed carry laws in congress. All we can do is try and share it as far and wide as possible, hoping to empower and motivate our representatives to stand up for what's right.
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