The trouble with 'stand your ground' law

     Trayvon Martin, a seventeen- year-old from Miami Gardens with no criminal history, was visiting family when he was killed. He was walking back from a convenience store carrying nothing more than iced tea and Skittles when George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer armed with a 9mm gun, called police to report someone suspicious in the private community. Police warned Zimmerman not to follow the teenager — advice he ignored. What happened next was a confrontation, a fight, yells for help and a gunshot.

     Zimmerman is claiming self-defense after shooting and killing Martin. Zimmerman was not arrested or immediately investigated because of Florida’s "stand your ground" law. The Florida Legislature passed the law in 2005. The law allows a person to fight back (and kill) if they feel they are in danger, even if they can get away. The problem in this event and many others in Florida is that there were only two people who knew what really happened. One of them is dead and the other one says he had to shoot because his life was in danger. 20 states have passed similar “Stand your ground” laws. People who argue against the law call it a “Shoot first” law and say that it’s a defense lawyer’s dream.

What’s your opinion? Do you think “stand your ground” laws make the community a safer place or a more dangerous place?

-Tampa Bay Times Editorial