Florida’s "Stand Your Ground" policy — allowing someone to shoot first simply because they feel threatened — led to the tragic death of Trayvon Martin. More than 200 citizens have stood their ground in Florida alone; a 300% increase in justifiable homicides since passing the law in 2005.
Although George Zimmerman didn't use "Stand Your Ground" in court, the law let him walk free after killing Trayvon Martin until the case received national attention almost two months later. President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain and others have called these laws into question, but many of the 26 states with "Shoot First" policies claim that it's a state's decision.
It's time for Congress to step in: stand with Color Of Change and repeal "Stand Your Ground" across America.
Photo Credit: Andrew Innerarity/Reuters
To: U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate
You need to repeal "Stand Your Ground" legislation throughout the country.
These laws put citizens at the mercy of racial profiling and unfair terms for “self-defense”. George Zimmerman and many others stood their ground against unarmed suspects in twenty-six states with similar "Shoot First" policies.
President Obama and Senator John McCain have championed a review of "Stand Your Ground". We need to take these harmful policies out of states’ hands before we have more unnecessary deaths.
I support Color of Change and ask you to prohibit all "Stand Your Ground" laws.
[Your name here]