The New York Times has a very thorough article about the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman that was published yesterday. Trayvon Martin Shooting Prompts a Review of Ideals: Race, Tragedy and Outrage Collide After a Shot in California. As good journalists should, Dan Barry, Serge Kovaleski, Campbell Robertson and Lizette Alvarez have pointed out inconsistencies between different accounts of the events of February 26 in Sanford FL.
Reading those accounts, I understand why there's so much outrage about this tragic shooting, and so many calls for the arrest of George Zimmerman.
What I didn't understand, before reading this article, is how the Stand Your Ground law in Florida affected the actions of the police. This law needs to be repealed or amended, and Kossacks in other states have work to do as well (notably, Alaska, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and New York) because their legislatures are currently considering passage of similar laws.
Follow me below the Itzl to learn more.
From the New York Times article:
The Sanford police have said that once Mr. Zimmerman declared that he had shot Trayvon in the chest in self-defense, they were barred from arresting him by the state’s now-famous Stand Your Ground law, the broadest protection of self-defense in the country. It immediately requires law enforcement officials to prove that a suspect did not act in self-defense, and sets the case on a slow track.
Angela B. Corey, the state attorney for the Jacksonville area who has been appointed special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, said that the controversial 2005 law has changed the rules for prosecutors. Making arrests, filing charges and securing convictions are more difficult and time consuming. Now, she said, “there is a different standard.”
I understand the principle that an individual is innocent until proven guilty. However, I do not believe that an individual should be protected from investigation after discharging a weapon, simply because that individual claims that the shot was fired in self defense. The double standard that Ms. Corey describes is wrong.
Given the opinion of the state attorney for the Jacksonville area, I believe it is time for the Florida legislature to re-examine this law.
Ms. Corey said her office has handled hundreds of these self-defense cases — at least three or four every month. The law constantly challenges the authorities, with people citing it for conflicts like bar fights and road rage. “We’ve lost Stand Your Ground motions that in my experience showed the shooter should not have shot,” she said. “Stand Your Ground needs a second look.”
So, Floridians -- who are the members of the state legislature who would be most willing to get the ball rolling on the repeal or substantial amendment of this law? I want to write them letters telling them that I will not be visiting their state until this law is repealed. I hope that Florida Kossacks will visit the offices of their state legislators to insist on action. If you're not sure who your state senator and state representative are, use these two links. Just plug in your zip code.
I understand that similar laws has been passed in other states, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. Kossacks -- it's time to do research on those laws. If they impose additional burdens on police or defense attorneys that would inhibit investigation of shootings like Trayvon's, then we need to repeal or amend those laws.
In addition, five state legislatures are considering similar laws now (Alaska, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and New York). Kossacks -- let's make sure those laws do not pass!