Letter: 'Deadly force' law was near thing

To the Editor:

During the past month anyone with a television across the country or in Red Wing is now familiar with the tragic killing of a 17-year-old black teenager in Florida. A grand jury or federal justice department investigation will ultimately decide whether the shooting was defensible or intentional murder and whether it was a “hate” crime.

This is the latest incident relating to a “stand your ground/deadly force” law enacted in Florida and a dozen other states around the country. Essentially the law no longer requires that if you can avoid any danger by giving ground you were required to do so and avoid an unnecessary death or injury.

One might say that we are fortunate not to have the same language and intent here in Minnesota in our “deadly force” law. You may not realize how close we were to having the same law passed here in the present legislative session.

The radical Republican majority drafted the law for passage and when it came up for a vote, secured just about every Republican vote for passage, but although passed was vetoed by Governor Dayton, based in part on compelling objections from all of Minnesota’s law enforcement as well as prosecutors.

Now, you would think that with law enforcement almost unanimously against the bill that the Republicans would have seen the error in their ways. They didn’t and it demonstrates another example that they are lacking in adult supervision, to the harm of the people.

However, the Republicans have threatened to bring it up again in the next session. If only they were as persistent in creating jobs.

Richard W. Johnson

Wacouta

Tags: opinion, letters