Getting out of harm’s way is common sense. If a situation arises that could be dangerous, leaving is a sensible reaction. The “Stand your ground” law in Florida and 20 other states gives people the right to stay in a dangerous situation and defend themselves, despite reasonable retreats.
After a 17-year-old male was killed while walking to his father’s girlfriend’s home, this law is being challenged in Florida.
George Zimmerman, a crime watch volunteer, called the police on Trayvon Martin who he claimed looked suspicious. The recording of the conversation between Zimmerman and the police has been released, and shows that Zimmerman disregarded their advice to stop following Martin. As the tape continues, listeners can hear Zimmerman follow Martin, the police advising Zimmerman that it is not necessary, and a single gunshot.
Martin was unarmed, but Zimmerman claims self-defense. Despite clearly throwing himself into the situation, Zimmerman’s claim can be held as true because the “duty to retreat” law no longer requires people to vacate a situation if reasonable when claiming self-defense.
Although the case has made progress and new evidence has come forward that shows Zimmerman was not acting in self-defense, the “Stand your ground” law makes an arrest difficult.
The law is easy to take advantage of, despite its good intentions. Most people are not in the habit of following innocent teenagers and attacking them, but those who hold strong prejudices or have an urge to take it too far can easily manipulate the law to their advantage and essentially get away with murder.
William Eddins, president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said self-defense claims have increased with the new law, including the use in violence and murder cases.
Willie Meggs, state attorney in Tallahassee, opposed the law when it was proposed and said it is increasingly used by gang members, drug dealers, road rage encounters and even in social situations in bars. These instances are sparse, especially in Idaho, but in areas with higher rates of violence the law has become an issue.
This unfortunate instance brings the flawed law to public awareness. It essentially allows anyone who desires to get away with murder, because criteria is based on if the killer felt deadly force was necessary, not if it actually was. There’s something wrong with this logic, and it needs to change.
Katy Sword can be reached at [email protected].