TX Representative wants to repeal Stand Your Ground Law
A state representative wants to repeal the stand your ground law. The law expanded the castle doctrine to allow you to use deadly force in other locations if threatened. The representative says it's created open season since its passage in 2007.
Representative Garnet Coleman, Thursday, announced his filing of House Bill 1627.
"We can't have citizens being the judge, jury and executioner," he said.
HB 1627 would repeal the stand your ground law and therefore, restore your duty to retreat from a threat.
"If you can get away from the dangerous situation, that's what you should do. If you can't, you can use deadly force against that person," said Coleman.
Coleman first filed the legislation in 2013 in response to the Trayvon Martin shooting.
In that incident George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer shot and killed seventeen-year-old martin in what he claimed was an act of self-defense.
Zimmerman was cleared. Coleman says unarmed martin was a victim of perception.
"It's about inherent bias based on the style, images and messages that branded young men of color as criminals first, dangerous and then a criminal second and so people act upon pre-emptive act and they've done nothing," Coleman said.
Coleman says by forcing people to attempt to get away will reduce shootings based on bias.
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TX Representative wants to repeal Stand Your Ground Law