EOC Week 2:Stand your Ground Law

Florida was the first state to have the Stand Your Ground Law. The stand your ground law means Justifiable use of Force can be used if you feel your life is in danger. If you feel your life is in danger you have the right to protect yourself at all cost even if it means deadly force. This Law has been under speculation because of the George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin case that took place in Sanford, Florida where an unarmed 17 year Trayvon Martin was killed by the Neighborhood Watch Captain George Zimmerman.  George Zimmerman said that Trayvon Martin attacked him and he had to shot him because he was smashing his head on the concrete and he felt he was about to die. The media got involved in this case because George Zimmerman was not arrested until weeks later and was charged with second degree murder. He was proven not guilty of 2^nd Degree Murder. Hugh Duvall a Criminal Defense Attorney said “A verdict of "not guilty" can mean a verdict of "not proven.” The prosecution did not have enough evidence to prove George Zimmerman guilty. Now this law has brought people from different states to either defend it to disagree with it. There has been protest concerning the stand your ground law. Florida Governor Rick Scott met with protestors and said “There will not be a special session to change the stand your ground law in the state.” I can see how the Stand your Law could help someone in situations that you need to use force but when a Teen is killed and they don’t live to tell their story who really knows what happened besides the one who is still alive. Anyone can go out and pick a fight and then kill someone. What about the person who is killed there story is not told because their life was ended. George E. Curry wrote in an article “Trayvon Martin was just standing his Ground.”