\nJoe Waldron, Legislative Director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, testified today at a commission hearing in Florida that was examining their stand-your-ground law. The commission was established by Gov. Rick Scott to make recommendations about the law in response to the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman shooting incident.<\/p>\n
From CCRKBA:<\/p>\n
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\nBELLEVUE, WA \u2013 The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today defended the legal concept of Stand-Your-Ground, which is the law in 24 states, during a public hearing in Florida, where a movement is underway to change that state\u2019s statute.<\/p>\nCCRKBA Legislative Director Joe Waldron told the committee examining Florida\u2019s law that the state should not change a law that has been working for seven years. Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed a commission to examine the law earlier this year following public outcry over the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.<\/p>\n
The incident provided a launch pad for attacks on similar self-defense statutes across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after that single incident nine months ago,\u201d Waldron observed, \u201cwe\u2019re told Florida\u2019s stand-you-ground law is terribly flawed, and should be repealed or at least restricted severely. The law has been in place for seven years. Laws should not be made \u2013 or repealed \u2013 based on a single, anecdotal incident.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that in some states, the stand-your-ground concept has been adopted via \u201cblack letter law,\u201d that is, by judicial rulings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stand-your-ground concept has been through the courts all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court,\u201d Waldron said. \u201cThe legal concept governs federal case law regarding self-defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn all 50 states,\u201d he added, \u201cif you are subjected to a potentially lethal attack or one that poses the risk of serious bodily injury, you have the right of self-defense, up to and including the use of lethal force.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLaws that protect millions of citizens should not be changed because of public reaction to a single case,\u201d said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. \u201cWe are hopeful that Florida lawmakers use common sense and back away from any attempt to change or repeal this statute.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n