Why are politicians ignoring our cries to repeal "Shoot First" laws?

The parents of Trayvon Martin have spoken out against Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Most politicians are ignoring them.

Al Sharpton and Benjamin Crump have called for political leaders to review the Stand Your Ground laws or even repeal them. Stevie Wonder has gone so far as to refuse to play in any State that has a Stand Your Ground law.

One must wonder why our political leaders have not moved to repeal these Stand Your Ground laws. In the wake of the Zimmerman acquittal these laws deserve some scrutiny.

Why we should be talking about Stand Your Ground laws

Eric Holder addressed the NAACP after George Zimmerman was acquitted of all criminal charges stemming from the death of Trayvon Martin. Eric Holder believes that "this tragedy provides yet another opportunity for our nation to speak honestly honestly and openly about the complicated and emotional charged issues that this case has raised.(sic)"

In short, the acquittal of George Zimmerman for second degree murder is the reason that we should be examining these laws. Holder implies that Zimmerman got away with murder and that the system is broken because nobody has been punished for the death of a black teenager.

The law allowed Zimmerman to defend himself instead of retreat.

Many cite George Zimmerman's decision to shoot Trayvon Martin in self-defense rather than to retreat as their reason for demanding the repeal of the laws. In Florida, the Stand Your Ground law allows a victim to defend himself or herself from a violent attacker and removes the "duty to retreat".

This part of the law was not invoked in Zimmerman's defense because Zimmerman, while pinned under Trayvon Martin, had no ability to retreat. Even though this part of the law was not involved in the Zimmerman case, it is still the main reason that the law is under such scrutiny in the wake of his acquittal.

Stand Your Ground laws cause violence?

Eric Holder's claim that Stand Your Ground laws cause violence is like claiming that sprinkler systems cause fires. Holder claims that these laws "sew dangerous conflict in our neighborhoods." It is not clear why he believes this in the face of a staggering 42% drop in violent crime in Florida since the State first passed its Stand Your Ground law in 2005.

Holder, Crump and Sharpton do not mention the 42% decline in violent crime, but instead site the single incident of Trayvon Martin being shot by Goerge Zimmerman as proof that the system is broken. Zimmerman's acquittal only provides more political ammunition even though his innocence has nothing to do with Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

Zimmerman had brief link to Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

In the months after Zimmerman was forced to shoot Trayvon Martin in self-defense, the police made no move to arrest him. The sheriff made no move to bring charges against Zimmerman. The district attorney made no move to indict George Zimmerman for murder.

In Florida, a victim who uses force in self-defense is granted immunity from prosecution by the Stand Your Ground law. For months Zimmerman walked around as a free man because the law forbids prosecuting the victim on criminal charges in cases of self-defense.

Sharpton seeks political gain, not justice.

Al Sharpton and Benjamin Crump were very vocal during the months before George Zimmerman was arrested. They were desperate to politicize this case as a hate crime based on the misconception that Zimmerman had racially profiled Trayvon Martin. That misconception was based on a doctored audiotape from NBC.

Al Sharpton's purpose for pushing for a trail was the same predetermined outcome as the Tawana Brawley case in which he perverted justice for political gain. Al Sharpton and Benjamin Crump deliberately manipulated political leaders in order to put an innocent Florida man on trial for the sole purpose of furthering a demented political agenda. They knew perfectly well that this Trayon Martin was shot in self-defense and that George Zimmerman is not a racist.

So why are politicians ignoring cries to repeal "Shoot First" laws?

The cries for the repeal of this law are simply too weak. The public outcry that appears to dominate so much media coverage since the acquittal of George Zimmerman is actually coming from a small minority who are convinced that the Stand Your Ground laws are responsible for the death of Trayvon Martin.

For many, this case must be about race. For Al Sharpton, this convenient conclusion furthers his political agenda far more than agreeing with the jury in the Zimmerman murder trial and admitting that Trayvon Martin is responsible for his own death. For Benjamin Crump this deliberate misconception, if only somebody would validate it, would enable him to bring civil action against Zimmerman on behalf of his clients, the parents of Trayvon Martin.

Most Americans understand that the Stand Your Ground laws did not cause the death of Trayvon Martin and that the laws had nothing to do with Zimmerman's acquittal on the charge second degree murder; Zimmerman's innocence is to blame for that. Without a legitimate reason to repeal laws that have protected thousands of Americans from violence, our politicians have no choice but to ignore the small minority foolishly calling for repeal.