McCain Joins Obama In Push To Encourage states to review stand your ground laws

In light of Zimmerman’s acquittal, countless protests have been held across America. While some of those participating in the protests might not be quite aware of how a trial process takes place, most are definetely unaware that stand your ground laws had nothing to do with the shooting that took the life of Trayvon Martin on February 26th, 2012.

While it’s easy to see why most Americans prefer to keep from distancing themselves in order to arrive at a more logical and less passional conclusion, and fail to avoid politicizing the event and holding on to arguments that promote the type of change that restricts an individual’s right to self-defense, it’s hard to comprehend how a Republican senator and former GOP Presidential contender would act in a similar fashion.

According to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), states must review their stand your ground laws amid the racial profiling debate the Zimmerman case has stirred over the past couple of weeks. During CNN’s “State of the Union”, McCain claimed he’s “confident that the members of the Arizona legislature will [review] this very controversial legislation.” While the Senator representing Arizona reported he trusts the jury’s judgment, he also said that stand your ground rules must be evaluated.

This statement follows President Barack Obama’s announcement concerning the same rules. According to the President, stand your ground laws could “encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case” and should be examined.

While both President Obama and Senator McCain have their hearts in the right place, reality doesn’t seem to validate their claims. It is a fact that “stand your ground” laws had absolutely nothing to do with the terrible events that led to the death of Martin or Zimmerman’s acquittal. These laws have been passed in many states as a way to clear up any confusion regarding the right to self-defense. While in their own home, individuals have the right to use deadly force to defend their lives, which means that the individual may decide to overlook his or her “duty to retreat” and act in self-defense. If one fears for one’s life in another situation, however, the law says that there is a duty to retreat, and the individual who feels threatened must attempt to get away safely and reject the use of deadly force.

What stand your ground rules presumably do is to simply ensure that law-abiding citizens understand they can use deadly force if incapable of retreating. According to Sheldon Richman, these rules were seemingly put in place in an attempt to keep violence from escalating and ensuring individuals wouldn’t use deadly force arbitrarily while claiming self-defense.

While the anti-gun lobby is working hard to promote the Martin/Zimmerman case as reasonable justification to promote a review and reform of local “stand your ground laws” and potentially push a pro-gun control agenda, Senator McCain and President Obama should know better and avoid alienating those who have once supported them.