In addition to raising the issue of underlying, systemic biases in our criminal justice system, the killing of Trayvon Martin and the trial of George Zimmerman have shown a bright spotlight on a law that may have played a significant role in the “not guilty” verdict and paved the way for this senseless tragedy in the first place: the infamous “Stand Your Ground” law. Jury instructions in the Zimmerman trial emphasized that Zimmerman had “no duty to retreat” because of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. That same law, along with other laws like “conceal and carry,” encourages vigilantism and helped to create the climate in which an overzealous armed neighborhood watchman felt free to stalk and confront Trayvon Martin for no other reason than his appearance. The Stand Your Ground law was not only instrumental in the ultimate “not guilty” verdict once the case got to trial, but it also seriously hampered the initial investigation and almost prevented the prosecution of Zimmerman altogether. Stand Your Ground laws make us all less safe. They encourage a reckless cowboy mentality and are a barrier to accountability -- and to justice for victims like Trayvon Martin and his family.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 06:49:24 +0000
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