As weve seen especially since the infamous George Zimmerman court ruling court cases concerning the Stand Your Ground law tend to draw a considerable amount of media attention. One Florida lawmaker is determined to change that.
According to the Huffington Post, earlier this month, state Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, filed an amendment that would, as Tampa Bay Times writer Michael van Sickler wrote, severely limit access to court records in the self-defense cases. Those found innocent in self-defense cases in which Stand Your Ground was employed would be able to apply for a certificate of eligibility to expunge the associated criminal history record.
While Gaetz purports the amendment to be a measure that would protect those found innocent from being placed under media scrutiny, the implication that reporters would lose access to public records has ignited anger among journalists.
Many believe the amendment has been brought to the table as a result of an extensive Tampa Bay Times review in 2012 of 200 self-defense cases that involved Stand Your Ground. The investigation found that the law was being interpreted in different ways and applied inconsistently. In an ideal world, the report would spark policy change regarding how the law can be used in self-defense cases not as the inspiration for an amendment that would limit access from court and arrest records.
Gaetz told The Associated Press the amendment was unrelated to the Times investigation.
While its true the mainstream American media has the ability to and occasionally do unfairly scrutinize citizens in controversial court cases, prohibiting journalists from acquiring public records is not something a democratic government should consider. The medias watchdog function would be severely infringed upon; and not to speculate, but the passage of an amendment limiting journalists rights in this particular case could lead to legislation that limits their rights in other cases.
Stand Your Ground, weve seen, has been an open can of worms from the start. Newspapers have rightfully called attention to the laws unintended consequences as a go-to tactic in self-defense cases.
And its no surprise that Gaetz is championing the amendment. Hes a well-known proponent of the Stand Your Ground law. Last year, he told the Tampa Bay Times, after being appointed chair of a hearing on the laws unintended consequences, I dont support changing one damn comma.
Changes, however, are crucial.
The Orlando Sentinel editorial board wrote last year that the law has let scores of people escape punishment who started fights and then shot their unarmed opponents, because the shooters said they felt their lives were in danger.
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Standing Our Ground: Media needs access