Repeal Of Georgia’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law Appears Unlikely in 2014
Chances appear slim for legislative efforts to repeal Georgia’s “stand your ground” law during the 2014 legislative session. On Wednesday, a state Senate committee held a hearing on a bill seeking to do away with the law, but no vote was taken and another hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Georgia’s “stand your ground” law says a person has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand their ground and use force if they believe they’re under physical threat.
Democratic state Senator Vincent Fort, the sponsor of the bill, urged committee members to take the 2006 law off the books.
“Stand your ground laws in Georgia and throughout the rest of the country have made us less safe.”
Fort was one of only two speakers to testify during the hearing. He gave examples of cases where he doesn’t think the law should apply, including a north Georgia man with Alzheimer’s who was shot dead by a neighbor last November after wandering into his backyard and knocking on his door.
Meanwhile, Republican committee members raised questions such as whether the right to self-defense extends beyond the home. And Republican Senator Josh McKoon raised this issue:
“I think simply repealing the provision is not sufficient, because I think we would have to define what an appropriate retreat would be.”
After the hearing was over, committee chairman Senator Jesse Stone said he will work with Senator Fort to hold further hearings on the matter, but he was noncommittal about whether the hearing will take place this legislative session. Stone went on to say, he doesn’t think the bill is currently ready for passage and likely would not have been approved by the committee if a vote would have been taken Wednesday.
“We’re on day 17. Realistically, it would be very difficult for this, even if there was a consensus, to pass…so I’m thinking a study committee might be justified, but we’ll see.”
That was not welcome news to Senator Fort.
“It cannot wait until next session. I’m disappointed, and we’re going to make our disappointment known.”
The hearing was packed with those hoping for repeal of the law. Committee members say they have heard from hundreds of others who want to keep the law in place.
Georgia’s “stand your ground” law is also being challenged in a federal lawsuit filed by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and several others.
Stand your ground laws received national attention after the Florida shooting death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.
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