McCain Backs Obama on Stand-Your-Ground Laws

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 22, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                      

             Reacting like a pinball to the July 13 acquittal of 30-year-old George Zimmerman of second-degree murder, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) rubber-stamped President Barack Obama’s desire to review “stand-your-ground” laws.  So-called “stand-your-ground” laws give victims of crime a wider margin to use lethal force to repel would-be attackers, much like Zimmerman claimed in shooting unarmed 17-year-old teenager Trayvon Martin Feb. 26, 2012.  While a six-women white jury acquitted Zimmerman July 13, the Black community feels outraged over what looks like good-old Southern racism.  Since the Saturday-night verdict, largely nonviolent protests erupted around the country, pressuring 62-year-old Atty. Gen. Eric Holder to press civil rights charges against Zimmerman.  With the president agreeing with the verdict’s legality, civil rights charges are highly doubtful.

             Delivering a rambling televised address to the nation July 19, Obama shared his own views on race as it relates to Trayvon’s death and Zimmerman’s acquittal.  Raising issues about “stand-your-ground” laws doesn’t address the real legal and practical issues surrounding the case.  Obama admitted that the jury got it right acquitting Zimmerman of second-degree murder.  While Obama and McCain wish to review “stand-your-ground” laws, Zimmerman’s defense attorney Mark O’Mara deliberately avoided the law, trying the case as purely “self-defense.” Neither Obama nor McCain mention anything about Florida’s—or Arizona’s for that matter—liberal concealed weapons laws that allowed Zimmerman to pack heat while performing his duties as a neighborhood-watch captain for his Sanford, Fl. gated apartment complex.  Stand-your-ground laws have nothing to do with issuing concealed weapons’ permits.

             When Obama asked the Black community to accept the Zimmerman verdict, protests escalated around the country.  Most folks couldn’t get their head around the idea that it was OK for Zimmerman to use lethal force.  Facts presented to the jury showed that it was uncertain at best as to who provoked the Feb. 36, 2012 altercation, resulting in Zimmerman pulling the trigger.  Much of the testimony centered on who jumped whom or who was on top.  “The ‘stand-your-ground’ law may be something that may need to be reviewed by the Florida legislature that has passed such legislation,” said McCain, completely ignoring the problem with Florida’s concealed weapon law permitting Zimmerman to carry a loaded gun. “I’m confident that the members of the Arizona legislature will, because it is very controversial legislation,” said McCain, calling for a “stand-your-ground” review in Arizona.

             Walking a tightrope, Obama can’t decide where to come down on Trayvon Martin’s death.  It’s obvious that if Zimmerman were not carrying a handgun, Trayvon Martin would still be alive.  Neither Obama nor McCain want to be accused by the National Rifle Association or Second Amendment advocates as pro-gun-control.  Yet the crux of the Trayvon Martin case boils down to someone given the right to use lethal force by overly broad self-defense laws, permitting concealed weapons.  When the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass-murder occurred in Newtown, Conn. Dec. 14, 2012 killing 28 [including the killer Adam Lanza], the nation cried out for better gun-control.  NRA officials overreacted, calling for arming every schoolteacher in the country.  All reputable gun-violence studies show the No. 1 factor in gun violence involves access and availability of weapons.

             If you issue concealed weapons to everyone that asks, it’s easy to see why the Trayvon Martin case turned into lethal gun violence.  Whether Zimmerman was justified or not under Florida’s self-defense laws, it’s doubtful he would have killed Trayvon without a firearm.  “Traditionally, these are issues of state and local government, the criminal code, and law enforcement is traditionally done at the state and local-levels—not at the federal level,” said Barack, cautioning outraged citizens that the Justice Department is unlikely to prosecute Zimmerman on federal civil rights charges.  When the jury found Zimmerman “not guilty,” it was due to prosecutorial incompetence, over charging Zimmerman with second-degree murder.  Had they charged Zimmerman with involuntary or voluntary manslaughter, Seminole County prosecutors would have had a better shot at conviction.

             Calling for a review of “stand-your-ground” laws doesn’t address the egregious abuse of any sane gun-control legislation that permits every wacko in pro-Second Amendment states to indiscriminately get concealed weapons licenses.  Had Florida gun laws showed more common sense, they’d severely restrict concealed weapons’ permits.  Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Second Amendment, issuing concealed weapons permits to any ordinary Joe make no sense.  Instead of focusing on racial overtones, the Black community should put their energy to amending current gun-control laws that indiscriminately issue concealed weapons permits.  Whether “stand-your-ground” laws deserve a second look or not, Obama and McCain should stop playing games and address meaningful gun-control legislation, including setting practical rules for concealed weapons permits.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.