Stand Your Ground

This blog post is about the tragic lose of Jordan Davis and his parents' campaign against the Florida “stand-your-ground” law.

Unfortunately, I cannot call support for the Davis' family campaign. I believe that their efforts would probably be best towards getting justice for their son, they should be preparing and be involved in the re-trial of Michael Dunn. They are wasting effort and time attacking a law that gives people a basic human right, the right to defend their right in a proper manner.

I do not all the facts of the case or know what happen that day. From the news it would seem Michael Dunn and Jordan Davis got in an argument, presumably over music, and Dunn opened fire on the car. The news article I have read leave a lot of necessary detail out, for example how Davis was acting in threatening manner, were their witnesses to his behavior, what was the behavior of the other people involved, was Dunn legally carrying a weapon, etc...

The new is actually very unhelpful in several ways. First they continue to compare the Zimmerman trial to this one and making mentions to the “stand your ground” law, however Zimmerman did not use that law as defense in his trial and we know that Dunn used a self-defense claim but we do not know if him or his lawyers cited the “stand your ground” defense. Further more, the “stand your ground” law commonly being cited as unreasonable because it has provision that someone can use deadly force when presented with something they reasonably believe to be a threat. However, that, by itself, is the definition of self-defense. The “stand your ground” law stipulates that in the event someone feels they need to defend themselves, they have no duty to retreat first. [Click Here for My Thoughts on Retreating ]

Mr. Dunn was convicted of three attempted murder charges but not convicted of the murder of Jordan Davis. Presumably because of the “stand your ground” law. I find this confusing because if he was guilty of attempted murder than the jury believed he acted unreasonably and therefore should of convicted him on the murder charge. He either acted reasonably given his situation or he did not.

Sources:

http://news.msn.com/us/parents-of-dead-teen-vow-to-fight-floridas-self-defense-law
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/justice/florida-loud-music-case/index.html
http://fcir.org/2014/02/21/dunn-case-puts-stand-your-ground-on-trial-again-zimmerman-gun-murder-florida/