Standing Your Ground

The "Stand Your Ground" law. Loomings.

It is hard to imagine that a state legislature can pass a law like this one. This statute attacks the very Rule of Law: the idea there is that people are acquitted or punished according to the rule of impartial juries and judges. Here, the most severe judgment imaginable is applied by a single man. He thought he was in danger. No. He "thought” he was in danger.

Think about it. If you think you are in danger (and of what, a gun or a bag of candy?) does that give you the right to take some one's life? I happen to think I am in danger every time I get on the wrong side of my superhumanly strong step-daughter.

Some people are paranoid. They see everything as danger. There is the perfect formula for serial killings without punishment.

It would all be legal.

Worse yet. All anyone has to do now to kill someone he doesn't like is to get him mad enough to be threatening.

Just what were these legislators thinking?

I am only talking about the law, not this particular case. The poor kid. His parents. That total nutcase playing cops and robbers, armed, and still free. Don’t get me started.

I am going out to buy another hoody.