Man shoots, kills elderly man with Alzheimer’s at Walker County, Ga., home

[Major Nikon]

35. Not much different than any of the other demonstratably stupid shoot first laws

Removing the duty to retreat means we have to have this debate in the first place. It places an almost impossible burden of proof on the prosecution to demonstrate state of mind before any charges can even be considered. Cases where people just like this man walk free with no accountability exist and will continue to exist. Do I really need to bring up right wing poster boy of the 2nd amendment, George Zimmerman? Had their not been tremendous outcry from the public, he never would have been so much as considered for indictment and the end game speaks for itself. Other cases aren't hard to find.

And what is the benefit to these laws? Far right wing groups like ALEC, the NRA and their allies promised us these laws were required, yet never demonstrated any evidence for it. The idea that our justice system operates in a vacuum of common sense is demonstrably ignorant. The 6th amendment and all sorts of other legal protections were already in place to insure these things don't happen. District Attorneys are accountable to the voting public for stupidity, a grand jury system means the people have a say in who gets indicted, and the accused have the right to a jury of their peers. All sorts of legal protections exist to capture these things, yet ALEC and the NRA assured us these laws were necessary because good people with guns were going to jail. Do you agree?