Ann Arbor calling on Michigan Legislature to repeal Stand Your Ground law
Last edited Sat Aug 10, 2013, 02:48 AM - Edit history (1)
In response to the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of the man who shot him, George Zimmerman, the Ann Arbor City Council took a stand Thursday night.
The council voted 10-1 to send a message urging state lawmakers to repeal Michigan's Self Defense Act of 2006, which has similarities to Florida's so-called Stand Your Ground law.
The resolution was sponsored by council members Chuck Warpehoski, Sumi Kailasapathy, Mike Anglin and Sabra Briere.
It notes gun violence is the leading cause of death for black teens and one of the leading causes of death for Latino and American Indian teens.
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Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, was the only one to vote against the resolution, arguing it wasn't an issue the council should be weighing in on as a body.
full: http://annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-calling-on-michigan-legislature-to-repeal-stand-your-ground-law/
Mozhgan Savabieasfahani holds up a sign reading "black life matters" at Thursday night's Ann Arbor City Council meeting. She and several other residents came out to support a resolution calling for the repeal of Michigan's Stand Your Ground law.
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Hmm, that law was passed in 2006? Back then although both houses of the Michigan legislature were Republican-controlled, the governor was Democrat Jennifer Granholm, who did sign all the six such bills. The NRA boasted about its achievement: NRA-Backed Castle Doctrine Bills Become Law in Michigan:
SB 1046, sponsored by Sen. Alan Cropsey, outlines rebuttal presumptions for justified use of self-defense. The bill makes it clear that there is no "duty to retreat" if a person is in a place where they have a legal right to be.
SB 1185, sponsored by Sen. Ron Jelinek, allows for the award of court and attorney fees in civil cases where it was determined a person acted in accordance with the Self Defense Act and where civil immunities apply.
HB 5548, sponsored by Rep. Tim Moore, gives civil immunities to persons acting in accordance with the Self Defense Act, preventing criminals and their families from suing law-abiding citizens.
HB 5153, sponsored by Rep. Leslie Mortimer, puts the burden of proof on the prosecutor to show that a person acted unlawfully in the application of force, rather than the person using the force having to prove they acted lawfully.
HB 5142, sponsored by Rep. Tom Casperson, expands the definition of "dwelling" to include a person’s garage, barn, backyard, etc.
HB 5143, sponsored by Rep. Rick Jones, creates the Self Defense Act and specifies that it is not a crime to use force or deadly force to defend oneself if that person is not breaking any laws when defensive force was used. The person must be facing imminent threat of death or great bodily harm.
In 2006, the Michigan House had a Republican, Democratic ratio 58:52; the Senate 22:16. HB 5143 got a 28-10 vote in the Senate and 90-17 in the House, meaning that even Michigan Democrats significantly supported the bill, assuming that all Republicans voted Yea.
This seems to me like empty political posturing, like the Baltimore City Council member who wants to boycott Florida over the Zimmerman verdict. Again considering the roll call vote on HB 5143: Michigan exists beyond the southeastern counties with Detroit and Ann Arbor where even the Democrats are more pro-gun.
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