- Target:
- Facebook Friends, Family, Associates and Humanitarians
- Region:
- United States of America
In 2005, Governor Jeb Bush signed into law a Florida statute which stated that a person "has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground" if that person deduces that deadly force is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm or commission of a forcible felony such as robbery, rape, etc.
Prior to 2005, in the state of Florida, one could not use deadly force if it was possible to retreat from imminent danger.
Since 2005, there have been literally hundreds of cases (large and small) that have invoked "Stand Your Ground". Independent studies have found that:
1) Nearly 70% of defendants invoking SYG are found innocent.
2) Defendants invoking SYG are more likely to go free if the victim is black.
3) A number of SYG cases involve the shooting or killing of unarmed victims.
4) The SYG defense has been successful in cases where the defendant initiated the altercation or pursued their victim.
Since the inception of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, the law has been cited and invoked with alarming frequency, freeing murderers and those prone to initiate violence while claiming self-defense. Conversely, the law has also failed those who have legitimate claims of self defense.
We, a multitude of concerned citizens and humanitarians of these United States of America, are united in our call for the repealing of the "Stand Your Ground" law(s) in the state of Florida.
Ours is a collective voice made up of human beings of diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds united in our resolve. THIS is a movement. It is our belief that the state of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law(s) is too subjective in its interpretation, and inequitable in its administering of justice.
We call for the immediate repeal of "Stand Your Ground" in the state of Florida in an effort to protect ALL its citizens from false imprisonment, bodily harm, or in the case of the late Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, death.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Repeal the State of Florida's Stand Your Ground Law petition to Facebook Friends, Family, Associates and Humanitarians was written by Carlton J. Charles III and is in the category Law Reform at GoPetition.