Legally Pink Law is sure that you have heard a lot about Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground law over the past few months concerning the George Zimmerman trial. But what exactly is the stand-your-ground law and why has it been so controversial?
Stand-your-ground law states that a person may justifiably use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of an unlawful threat, without an obligation to retreat first. (Source: Wikipedia) Under this reasoning, it is acceptable and lawful to use deadly force in certain situations where you felt that you needed to defend yourself.
Wikipedia explains why this Florida law is so controversial, “The law’s critics argue that Florida’s law makes it very difficult to prosecute cases against people who shoot others and then claim self-defense. The shooter can argue that they felt threatened, and in most cases, the only witness who could have argued otherwise is the victim who was shot and killed.”
In Central Florida, we have seen first-hand how controversial this law actually is with the highly publicized Zimmerman trial. George Zimmerman is accused of killing unarmed teen, Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman has invoked the stand-your-ground law and said that he shot Martin in self-defense. Let us know what you think about Florida’s stand-your-ground law! If you need an Orlando Personal Injury Attorney then give Legally Pink Law a call today to schedule a consultation.