The Arbitrary Application of the Stand Your Ground Law


Supporters of the Stand your Ground Law wonder why all of the fuss about this law and many have attributed to just a few race-baiters or troublemakers.  Sad for them that they have refused to look just a little below the surface of this debate because if they did, their concerns may have been answered.



The main disingenuous result of this law is how it makes work for some and not for others.  A law is supposed to be enforced equally throughout society but this one is not.  Take for example the differences between the Trayvon Martin case and Dana Hancock shooting.  When the Trayvon Martin case came to light, some immediately jumped on the side of George Zimmerman and preached how he was justified in shooting Trayvon but this same action did not happen when it came to Steve Sims Jr. in Atlanta Georgia.



According to an article written by Jennifer Mayerle of CBS Atlanta titled “Man claims Georgia 'stand your ground' law should apply to his case” it was reported that “A Georgia man thinks the current "Stand your Ground" law should apply to his case. He claims he was defending himself when he shot and killed a man on his property. Instead he's in jail, charged with malice murder.   "The alleged victim came by his home and threatened him about a previous relationship," said Gerald Griggs, who is the attorney for Stevie Sims Jr.  Griggs alleges Hancock assaulted Sims and refused to leave the property. Sims went inside and came back armed. "Went back outside and told him he needed to leave, at which point he assaulted him again. My client did have a weapon on him at that point and did shoot him three times," said Griggs.  Griggs filed a motion for immunity to have the charges against Sims dropped. He believes Georgia's "Stand your Ground" law applies in this case.  Sims is being held at the Stephens County jail without bond. He was indicted on the charge of malice murder at the end of March. Representatives for the GBI said this case does not fall under the Georgia ‘stand your ground' law.”



This raise a question of why would the Stand your Ground Law protect George Zimmerman but not Stevie Sims?  Is it because Stevie Sims was black and George Zimmerman was not?  Is it because Sims was not an unofficial member of that areas neighborhood watch?  What was the reason?  This is what makes this law so easy to dislike and why so many can demand its repeal.  If it is going to be a law then it needs to be applied evenly and not be based on where you live or who you are.

Comments

  1. Because he armed himself and then returned back to confront the victim after retreating to his home.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, okay. The law does not support him because he retreated and instead of barricading himself in the home, calling the police and letting them do their job, he returned with the weapon. I see their point. Thanks for reesponding.

    ReplyDelete

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