BLACKSTONIAN EDITOR’S NOTE:
This proposed act is similar to the Stand Your Ground Law now central to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida by “Neighborhood Patrol Captain” George Zimmerman
Stand-your-ground law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law
Trayvon Martin Case: ‘Stand Your Ground Law’ At Center Of Shooting
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/trayvon-martin-case-stand_n_1372105.html
Opponents of ‘Stand Your Ground’ law predicted ‘racially motivated killings’
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/22/opponents-of-stand-your-ground-law-predicted-racially-motivated-killings/
Legislation Watch: An Act relative to the common defense Bill S.661
Bill S.661
An Act relative to the common defense.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S00661
By Mr. Brewer, petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 661) of Beaton, Frost, Golden and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the common defense [Joint Committee on the Judiciary].
Sponsors: Stephen M. Brewer
Status: Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary
SECTION 1. Chapter 278: Section 8A. Killing or injuring a person defense of self or others;
Section 8A. It shall be an act of lawful defense if a person, who is an occupant of a dwelling or in any place that they have a right to be, used deadly force, or less than deadly force, if he or she acted in the reasonable belief that an assailant was about to inflict great bodily injury or death upon themselves or upon another person who also had a right to be in the location. There shall be no duty on a person to retreat from any place that they have a right to be. An act of lawful defense as outlined in this section shall not be cause for arrest or prosecution. Further, an act of lawful defense under this section shall not be cause for the revocation of a license issued under sections, 122, 123, 129B or 131 of Chapter 140.
SECTION 2. Chapter 231: Section 85U. Death or injury to assailants; liability of defender
Section 85U. No person who has committed an act of lawful defense as outlined in section 8A of chapter 278 shall be held liable in an action for damages for death or injuries to an assailant.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S00661
Also the companion Bill in the House
Rep. George N. Peterson, Jr Assistant Minority Leader (R) Grafton
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H01568
Mass had a “must retreat” law that required a person to do everything possible to get away from an attacker. It even sent at least one woman to jail because she retreated to the cellar but not out of the house. This was a terrible law. It was scrapped in favor of regular judicial review of the “self defense” defense. This has worked well ever since.
To now swing the pendulum the other way is irresponsible, and unnecessary.
Those supporting the SYG bills are creating a problem where none exists.
I don’t have any stats to prove this, but It is my belief that those that have used the SYG as a defense are mostly White on Black.
While this might just be because the Black Man is such a criminal that we whites must shoot first because after all, we are afraid.
It is more likely just a license to kill Black Men. Does anyone have any stats to show how many cases, and the racial makeup of each?
Please contact me on how I can help this racist bill that looks to keep slavery in tact