Lawmaker submits bill to modify Stand Your Ground Law

Updated: Friday, February 20 2015, 10:33 PM CST SOUTHEAST TEXAS - by Jessica Crawford

Democratic State Representative Garnet Coleman recently submitted a bill to modify the Castle Doctrine.

The current law allows Texans to use lethal force if they reasonably believe they are under the threat of imminent harm. Texas don't have to retreat if they believe the threat is real.

Coleman says the law could be dangerous.

"People now think that they are the police, they are the court, and they have a right to kill someone who wasn't using deadly force against them," says Coleman.

Attorney Scott Renick says Coleman's bill would only modify the law slightly.

"If you're in your own home, it doesn't really change but if you're away from your home, you're only allowed to use lethal force if there is no other option," says Renick. "What it's trying to change is you can't use lethal force in an event where there is what is a perceived threat, an example of that is the Trayvon Martin case."

In a telephone interview today, Coleman said "young men of color" become targets based on what he calls the "prejudice that society has."

Montra Scott, a Lamar University student, says he hopes Coleman's bill becomes law.

"I definitely believe it's wrong to shoot first ask questions later," he says. "It's wrong, it's wrong. I don't think it really depends on the situation I mean because in that case, it's like you're not thinking before you doing it, you're just doing it."

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Lawmaker submits bill to modify Stand Your Ground Law

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