No More Deaths -- Demand an End to Georgia's Stand Your Ground Law
- al: Care2.com
- destinatario: Georgia Legislators
In Lilburn, Georgia, 22-year-old Rodrigo Diaz was shot in the head and left to die in front of his girlfriend and two other friends. His crime? Turning into the wrong driveway.
Diaz's killer, Phillip Sailors, claims that he feared Diaz was a robber come to threaten his life. Diaz, who had planned to go ice skating with his friends, was in the process of reversing the car when Diaz burst from his home, allegedly screaming 'Get off my property!'
According to the other passengers, Diaz was in the process of rolling down the window to apologize for the misunderstanding when Sailors fatally shot him.
Though Sailors has been charged with murder, his lawyers may plan to use Georgia's "Stand Your Ground" law in his defense. This outdated, malicious law must not be used to shield any more murderers. Tell Georgia to drop "Stand Your Ground" immediately.
In light of the recent killing of 22-year-old Rodrigo Diaz, I am writing to ask you to drop Georgia's "Stand Your Ground" law.
All over America, "Stand Your Ground" laws have been used as justification for killers to react with horribly disproportionate violence to "crimes" like reaching into a pocket for Skittles or, as in the case of Rodrigo Diaz, accidentally turning into the wrong driveway. In states with "Stand Your Ground" laws, homicide rates have noticeably increased.
Something is clearly going wrong.
Please prevent any more murderers from attempting to claim "self-defense" as a reason for killing someone with little to no provocation. Dump "Stand Your Ground" today.
