Although George Zimmerman's defense team never cited Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, the highly publicized murder trial and verdict evoked national debate and discussion over the controversial legislation, which allows people who feel threatened to respond with deadly force. According to a new poll, the majority of Americans support it, the Washington Post reports.
The new poll from Quinnipiac University reveals that 53 percent of Americans favor "Stand Your Ground" laws, which exist in some form across 30 U.S. states, allowing citizens to fight back instead of retreating from a perceived threat of death or bodily harm. What counts as a perceived threat and when it is merited is up for debate, and some feel the law is too vague or outright unethical, as 1 in 10 (40 percent) of Americans disapprove of such laws.
American opinions about "Stand Your Ground" laws split political and racial lines, though the majority of supporters appear to be men (62 percent), white (57 percent), and/or Republicans (57 percent), while those who disapprove are more likely to be African-Americans (37 percent agree), women (44 percent agree) and Democrats (only 32 percent). Hispanics are evenly split with 44 percent in favor and 43 against.
"'Stand Your Ground' splits the country sharply along political, gender and racial lines," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "With these kinds of numbers, it's unlikely the movement to repeal 'Stand Your Ground' will be successful in most of the country,"
The problem of racial profiling has become a hot button issue as the media and public dissect the case of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman's acquittal enraged thousands, causing angered citizens of all races to take to the streets in protest, write scathing opinion pieces and demand a civil suit be brought against George Zimmerman.
Although Zimmerman's defense team did not use the law during the trial, they did give information about it to the jury, who all voted to acquitt Zimmerman. Some of the jurors came forward anonymously and referred to the law as a means of justifying their decision.
According to the Los Angeles Times, it is worth noting that if Zimmerman had shot Martin before 2005, the jury would have been instructed that the shooter "cannot justify his use of force likely to cause death or great bodily harm if by retreating he could have avoided the need to use that force."
It is also worth noting that the National Rifle Association lobbied hard for such legislation in '05, as they are the main backers of the laws, citing the 2004 case of James Workman, a man asleep in an RV who was shot by and intruder and had to wait months before prosecutors allowed him to defend himself. The NRA backed the laws in '05 even though at the time, Miami's police chief and other such officials were opposed to it. Nonetheless, the law was passed and remains a source of political, ethical and moral controversy in America.
Do you agree or disagree with "Stand Your Ground" laws and similar legislation? Tell us your opinion!