"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." ~~Thomas Jefferson

"Who will protect us from those who protect us?"

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. ~ Thomas Jefferson

"None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free." ~~Goethe

08 May 2012

Trayvon Amendment...

From Jared

House to vote on Trayvon amendment

House Democrats said Tuesday they will offer an amendment to push to overturn stand-your-ground self-defense laws in states like Florida.

The amendment, which would withhold some grants from states that have such laws, will come as part of the House's debate on the Commerce Department spending bill.

"'Shoot-first' laws have already cost too many lives. In Florida alone, deaths due to self-defense have tripled since the law was enacted. Federal money shouldn't be spent supporting states with laws that endanger their own people," said Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the two Democrats who are offering the legislation. "This is no different than withholding transportation funds from states that don't enforce seat-belt laws."

Florida's law, which allows residents to use force in response to an attack without first having to retreat, has come under scrutiny after the nationally-polarizing death of teenager Trayvon Martin. George Zimmermann, a neighborhood watch volunteer, has been charged with murder in the case.

Source:   http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/may/8/house-vote-trayvon-amendment/

Shoot first laws?  Are you fucking kidding me?

All I can say is...  Seriously?

If y'all know how to write, start writing.  Your Congresscritter loves to hear from you.

Do it today.

Personally, I think one of the most important parts of a good Stand Your Ground law is the part that prevents you being sued in civil court if you've been adjudicated "not guilty" in a criminal court or if no charges are filed against you after a "justified" shooting.  Without this protection its a near 100% certainty that you will be sued by the perpetrator's family if you aren't charged or if you are found not guilty in criminal court.  Odds are that you will lose in civil court and that you will pay dearly, probably for the remainder of your life.  Look at it as another form of welfare.

The downside of Stand Your Ground laws is that the little bastards that commit the crimes are smart enough to tell the investigating officers that they feared for their lives and felt the need to shoot you.  They make you out to be the perp.  You're dead, so the thug can tell the cops that it went down anyway he wants to tell it and you aren't there to refute him (or her).  It works both ways.  Makes crimes much harder to prosecute.  That's why honest prosecutors and honest law enforcement don't like these laws.

Of course you will have situations like the Zimmerman/Martin affair where politics become much more important than justice.

On second thought, it looks like it's all politics.

Stay safe.

4 comments:

Brock Townsend said...

Fat chance on its passing.

Anonymous said...

Raul Grijalva of AZ is a flaming joke, complete liberal idiot. I agree with Brock, not likely to go anywhere. Nevertheless, worth the alert and watching it. More likely to go like this...get out and practice!:
http://raisedonhoecakes.com/ROH/2012/05/09/not-paying-a-ticket-may-result-in-ultilities-being-turned-off/#more-7428

Brock Townsend said...

http://raisedonhoecakes.com/ROH/2012/05/09/not-paying-a-ticket-may-result-in-ultilities-being-turned-off/#more-7428

:)

Blue said...

Oooooohhhhhhhhh! That's good!


I think I would challenge the law by calling the ticket a "special assessment" though. Get an injunction to prevent the city from turning my utilities off until the court case is settled and cause them much more expense than the revenue generated by my ticket.

Also, the constitutionality of traffic cameras is being challenged across the country.

Plus, you could also mount a citizens public relations campaign and "throw the bums out of office".

I can't believe that the law is very popular so this might have a chance of gaining support :)

Then I'd move.

:)