Florida's Stand Your Ground Law

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Desdemona

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Posted on Tuesday, 05.01.12

Florida task force seeks major overhaul to Stand Your Ground law

By Toluse Olorunnipa
The Miami Herald

The statewide task force to review Florida’s Stand Your Ground law will begin its work Tuesday, but a state senator who formed his own task force is recommending the law be rewritten to make it more difficult for defendants to claim self-defense.

Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said Monday the controversial law should be revised to allow law enforcement officers more leeway to investigate shootings of unarmed victims and make the self-defense protection less available to criminals looking for an out.

“We wanted to make sure that we put together an accurate report, to give the governor direction, to give the Legislature direction and to give the governor’s task force direction,” he said. “Every day this law is being used and misused in courtrooms throughout the state of Florida.”
<snip>

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/01/2777117/florida-task-force-seeks-major.html#storylink=cpy
 
All discussion of the SYG law in Florida belongs here.

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I keep hearing this thing about "Stand Your Ground". Now I lived in Texas and currently live in Mississippi. Both have SYG or "Castle" laws, which give, in my understanding, more leeway as to when you can and can't use deadly force.

But if I understand the dynamics of this case, I am not sure if I agree that SYG even applies. SYG allows deadly force without a person seeing if they can make a valid retreat. In other words, you are in your bedroom and a person breaks through your front door. Instead of going out your window, SYG allows you to just kill them.

But according to everything I have seen, Trayvon was ON TOP of Zimmerman when he was shot. Well, if there is NO avenue of escape, SYG has nothing to do with it, you have a right to defend yourself when there is NO avenue of escape.
 
May 1, 2012 6:03 PM

Florida's Stand Your Ground law faces task force scrutiny
By Lucy Madison

(CBS News) A little over two months after the death of Trayvon Martin, a Florida task force on Tuesday held its first meeting to examine the controversial "Stand Your Ground" law that has been at the center of the uproar surrounding the Florida teen's death.
<snip>
Florida is one of more than 20 states with a so-called Stand Your Ground law, which in that state allows a person to use deadly force against another if he or she "reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony." The Florida law also grants immunity from those who use deadly force in response to what they believe is a threat to their life.
<snip>
The 19-person task force, led by Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, aims to examine Florida Statute 776, which legalizes the so-called Stand Your Ground law, as well as "other laws, rules, regulations or programs that relate to public safety and citizen protection."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_...nd-your-ground-law-faces-task-force-scrutiny/
 
With Stand Your Ground in spotlight, NRA launches campaign to defend it

by Tolu Olorunnipa at 2:28 PM on Tuesday, May. 1

On the same day that a 19-member task force met to begin discussions surrounding Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground law, the National Rifle Association released a statement in support of such self-defense laws.

"The National Rifle Association will work to protect self-defense laws on the books and advocate for their passage in those states that do not fully respect this fundamental right," the statement says.

The NRA helped get the law on the books in Florida, and then pushed for it in more than two dozen other states. Now a 19-member task force is taking a look at whether or not the law--which came into play in the Trayvon Martin case--should be changed or scaled back.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nake...ches-campaign-to-defend-it.html#storylink=cpy
 
Fla. Stand Your Ground task force to examine public safety
By TaMaryn Waters, The Tallahassee Democrat
Updated 4h 6m ago

<snip>
Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who is chairwoman of the citizen safety task force, said the review of Florida's stand-your-ground law goes beyond the Martin case.

"This task force is not here to try the Zimmerman-Martin case," Carroll said. "This law has an impact on all Floridians."
<snip>
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-01/trayvon-martin-florida-zimmerman/54662130/1
 
Lawyers: 'Stand your ground' law becoming more common defense

By John Woodrow Cox, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, May 1, 2012

BROOKSVILLE — On a sticky summer night in 2010, William Siskos tucked a .22-caliber Ruger in his waistband and walked to a home on Ligonier Road in Spring Hill.

There, in the front yard, he met Joe Kasbach for the first time. In the nine months before that night, Siskos had been dating Kasbach's wife. An argument broke out almost immediately. Within minutes, authorities say, Siskos pulled his gun and fired a round into Kasbach's abdomen. The 46-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A witness, standing just feet away, told detectives Kasbach never threw a punch or pulled a weapon. Kasbach had spread his arms wide and taken just a half step toward Siskos before, the witness said, he was shot down in cold blood.

More at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts...ound-law-becoming-more-common-defense/1227798
 
Updated: 7:08 PM Mar 31, 2012
Judge Grants Woman Immunity Under 'Stand Your Ground'
Charges dismissed for Tallahassee woman accused of murder
UPDATE 3.30.2012 6:45pm by Julie Montanaro

A Tallahassee woman accused of murder has walked out of court a free woman.

A judge today ruled that Ernestine Broxsie was immune from prosecution under Florida's Stand Your Ground Law.

"I was scared he'd hurt me so bad," Broxsie testified.

<snip>

http://www.wctv.tv/courtcases/headlines/80750267.html
 
I keep hearing this thing about "Stand Your Ground". Now I lived in Texas and currently live in Mississippi. Both have SYG or "Castle" laws, which give, in my understanding, more leeway as to when you can and can't use deadly force.

But if I understand the dynamics of this case, I am not sure if I agree that SYG even applies. SYG allows deadly force without a person seeing if they can make a valid retreat. In other words, you are in your bedroom and a person breaks through your front door. Instead of going out your window, SYG allows you to just kill them.

But according to everything I have seen, Trayvon was ON TOP of Zimmerman when he was shot. Well, if there is NO avenue of escape, SYG has nothing to do with it, you have a right to defend yourself when there is NO avenue of escape.

You make a salient point. Let's say Trayvon was on top. Was Trayvon going to kill George with his fists? I hear the story of head bashed against concrete to the point that any more would make George a vegetable. Indeed, that's the rationale for George using his gun, I realise. But George's injuries don't look that dire. So, I am going to dismiss that and wonder. George feared for his life because Trayvon was so strong and was going to kill him with his fists? Doesn't carry much weight, does it? George has to prove he was in fear for his life. Trayvon was unarmed, and I can't imagine his fists were a deadly weapon. George could have kept fighting back. He had an avenue of escape. Something doesn't compute, IMO.

ETA: Oops, I just read the post above this one. So the woman got off because she was "scared he would hurt me so bad". Not kill, not maim, just hurt badly. So killing someone is justified if there is the potential for bodily harm. Nevermind.
 
I find this an interesting informative link since it lists all the states with SYG laws and their regional differences. I wish , it had identified how the immunity is applied though.
It has been insinuated that the Fl SYG statute is more liberal than in any other states. Some other States look identical to me as Florida, wonder if the difference is in the immunity provision which is not really addressed in the list.
But quite some restrict the locale where SYG can be invoked and is not "at large"

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/04/us/table.selfdefense.laws/
 
You make a salient point. Let's say Trayvon was on top. Was Trayvon going to kill George with his fists? I hear the story of head bashed against concrete to the point that any more would make George a vegetable. Indeed, that's the rationale for George using his gun, I realise. But George's injuries don't look that dire. So, I am going to dismiss that and wonder. George feared for his life because Trayvon was so strong and was going to kill him with his fists? Doesn't carry much weight, does it? George has to prove he was in fear for his life. Trayvon was unarmed, and I can't imagine his fists were a deadly weapon. George could have kept fighting back. He had an avenue of escape. Something doesn't compute, IMO.

ETA: Oops, I just read the post above this one. So the woman got off because she was "scared he would hurt me so bad". Not kill, not maim, just hurt badly. So killing someone is justified if there is the potential for bodily harm. Nevermind.

The way I read the statute is that you can invoke the SYG and really do not need to have a scratch on you. Just reasonable fear (very subjective depending on the individual) will suffice. A Halloween prank can easily get you killed IMO. In other words a "Boo" can technically get you blasted to the other side depending on the threshold of reasonable fear by the recipient.
Also warning and/or non lethal shots can get you in jail, better shoot to kill. Dead men/women tell no tales.
 
I haven't researched the SYG laws in every state and I live in Texas, which has a version of this law on the books as well. So I'm familiar with the Texas law and now the Florida statute.

If I understand the Florida statute correctly, it limits a police officer's ability to arrest someone who shoots and claims SYG. The officer(s) must be able to decide, basically on the spot, that the evidence does not support the claim. That is very difficult to do without an investigation. But if it's not abundantly clear then the officer cannot arrest because the statute provides immunity against not only civil liability but also arrest. IMO this severely limits a police officer's ability to do his job in these types of situations.

The Texas statute:

In 2007 Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 378 which extends a person&#8217;s right to stand their ground beyond the home to vehicles and workplaces, allowing the reasonable use of deadly force when an intruder is:

Committing certain violent crimes, such as murder or sexual assault, or is attempting to commit such crimes;
Unlawfully trying to enter a protected place; or
Unlawfully trying to remove a person from a protected place.[14]
Senate Bill 378, made effective September 1, 2007, also "abolishes the duty to retreat if the defendant can show he: (1) had a right to be present at the location where deadly force was used; (2) did not provoke the person against whom deadly force was used; and (3) was not engaged in criminal activity at the time deadly force was used."[35]

It would seem that the Florida statute is much broader and limits police authority. The Texas statute provides the bolded portion above, which IMHO would have applied in this case. Also in Texas, claiming self defense is an affirmative defense, to be presented at trial, it doesn't make you immune to arrest.
 
Updated: 7:08 PM Mar 31, 2012
Judge Grants Woman Immunity Under 'Stand Your Ground'
Charges dismissed for Tallahassee woman accused of murder
UPDATE 3.30.2012 6:45pm by Julie Montanaro

A Tallahassee woman accused of murder has walked out of court a free woman.

A judge today ruled that Ernestine Broxsie was immune from prosecution under Florida's Stand Your Ground Law.

"I was scared he'd hurt me so bad," Broxsie testified.

<snip>

http://www.wctv.tv/courtcases/headlines/80750267.html

If the story in your post was true, then she had every right to pull the trigger. No one should be prosecuted for saving their own life. She's 65 and says he was choking her and they both went for the gun. So what if she pulled the trigger twice. The gun was a .22 that doesn't have much stopping action.
 
You make a salient point. Let's say Trayvon was on top. Was Trayvon going to kill George with his fists? I hear the story of head bashed against concrete to the point that any more would make George a vegetable. Indeed, that's the rationale for George using his gun, I realise. But George's injuries don't look that dire. So, I am going to dismiss that and wonder. George feared for his life because Trayvon was so strong and was going to kill him with his fists? Doesn't carry much weight, does it? George has to prove he was in fear for his life. Trayvon was unarmed, and I can't imagine his fists were a deadly weapon. George could have kept fighting back. He had an avenue of escape. Something doesn't compute, IMO.

ETA: Oops, I just read the post above this one. So the woman got off because she was "scared he would hurt me so bad". Not kill, not maim, just hurt badly. So killing someone is justified if there is the potential for bodily harm. Nevermind.

From the FL statutes:

"presumption of fear of death or great bodily harm"
 
I haven't researched the SYG laws in every state and I live in Texas, which has a version of this law on the books as well. So I'm familiar with the Texas law and now the Florida statute.

If I understand the Florida statute correctly, it limits a police officer's ability to arrest someone who shoots and claims SYG. The officer(s) must be able to decide, basically on the spot, that the evidence does not support the claim. That is very difficult to do without an investigation. But if it's not abundantly clear then the officer cannot arrest because the statute provides immunity against not only civil liability but also arrest. IMO this severely limits a police officer's ability to do his job in these types of situations.

The Texas statute:

In 2007 Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 378 which extends a person&#8217;s right to stand their ground beyond the home to vehicles and workplaces, allowing the reasonable use of deadly force when an intruder is:

Committing certain violent crimes, such as murder or sexual assault, or is attempting to commit such crimes;
Unlawfully trying to enter a protected place; or
Unlawfully trying to remove a person from a protected place.[14]
Senate Bill 378, made effective September 1, 2007, also "abolishes the duty to retreat if the defendant can show he: (1) had a right to be present at the location where deadly force was used; (2) did not provoke the person against whom deadly force was used; and (3) was not engaged in criminal activity at the time deadly force was used."[35]

It would seem that the Florida statute is much broader and limits police authority. The Texas statute provides the bolded portion above, which IMHO would have applied in this case. Also in Texas, claiming self defense is an affirmative defense, to be presented at trial, it doesn't make you immune to arrest.

From the FLA SYG statute:
Snipped
(3)&#8195;The court shall award reasonable attorney&#8217;s fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).

Is that the same in Texas? With all the tight budgets many towns are experiencing, that provision would certainly be in the back of any (elected) D.A.'s mind when a perpetrator commits a homicide that might fall under SYG. It could become quite pricey if SYG is determined as a valid defense.
Kind of ties their hands behind their back because of the fairly easy burden to meet the liability issue and get bucks back from the State..
 
Updated: 7:08 PM Mar 31, 2012
Judge Grants Woman Immunity Under 'Stand Your Ground'
Charges dismissed for Tallahassee woman accused of murder
UPDATE 3.30.2012 6:45pm by Julie Montanaro

A Tallahassee woman accused of murder has walked out of court a free woman.

A judge today ruled that Ernestine Broxsie was immune from prosecution under Florida's Stand Your Ground Law.

"I was scared he'd hurt me so bad," Broxsie testified.

<snip>

http://www.wctv.tv/courtcases/headlines/80750267.html

And all over a stupid leather jacket. How incredible sad.
 
If the story in your post was true, then she had every right to pull the trigger. No one should be prosecuted for saving their own life. She's 65 and says he was choking her and they both went for the gun. So what if she pulled the trigger twice. The gun was a .22 that doesn't have much stopping action.

It is kind of bothersome though that he died on her back steps. Was he trying to get away? And how much time was between the two shots. You are right though, a .22 is not much of any stopping action unless you are a sharp shooter, even when two shots. However, depending on the bullet like if hollow point and/or dum dum bullet, it could still be very deadly.
 
I'm curious to know what part of Florida's SYG statute is most bothersome to people. Is it the part that allows deadly force to prevent great bodily harm or the part that says no duty to retreat if in a place were he or she has the right to be?
(3)&#8195;A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ng=&URL=0700-0799/0776/Sections/0776.013.html
 
It is kind of bothersome though that he died on her back steps. Was he trying to get away? And how much time was between the two shots. You are right though, a .22 is not much of any stopping action unless you are a sharp shooter, even when two shots. However, depending on the bullet like if hollow point and/or dum dum bullet, it could still be very deadly.

Rotterdam, here's the scoop from the above link: http://www.wctv.tv/courtcases/headlines/80750267.html

March 30, 2012 by Julie Montanaro

64 year old Ernestine Broxsie is asking a judge to drop murder charges against her under Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

Broxsie was arrested at her Leon County home back in November 2008. She was charged with second degree murder in the death of her friend Elbert Johnson.

Johnson was found shot to death on the back steps.

Broxsie took the stand this morning and told the judge she had tried to help Johnson when he got out of jail. When she moved to Central Florida she allowed him to live in her mobile home rent free for a while.

Broxsie says Johnson called her abruptly in November and said he was moving.out. When she came to Tallahassee to retrieve the key, she asked Johnson about a missing leather jacket.

Broxsie says Johnson yelled real loud and it scared her. "It didn't seem right," she said. Broxsie claims Johnson pushed her to the floor and started yelling "I'm going to kill you."

Broxsie says Johnson reached for a gun on the kitchen counter and she did too. She says the two struggled over the gun. Broxsie says she didn't realize she had shot Johnson until she saw him at the bottom of the back steps.

She called 911 and was arrested."

We need to give the upper hand to the victim in all instances, IMO, and I think, when applied properly, SYG does just that. I'm really tired of the victims of crime also being victims of the court system. This woman tried to help someone when he got out of jail. She got attacked by the guy she tried to help and defended herself. I have not one reservation that she was in the right in this situation.

Even with a hollow point, the .22 is not considered a self defense weapon. It's scaled for small game or "varmints". I shoot and carry a .22 magnum. Even with .40 grain JHP (jacketed hollow point) ammo it would most definitely take more than one shot to bring down a decent sized guy.
 
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