As reported by WBRC, NAACP Tuscaloosa chapter president Jerry Carter wants to do away with Alabama’s “Stand Your Ground” law that generally justifies the use of force – even lethal force – for self defense.
The NAACP chapter in Tuscaloosa County held a packed forum at Beulah Baptist Church on Monday night about the law and others governing open and concealed carry of weapons.
When it comes to “Stand Your Ground,” WBRC wrote, “Carter said he’s strongly against the law.”
“This is a topic that needs to be discussed,” Carter outlined. “It’s kind of the big pink elephant in the room. Everyone wants to act like it’s not there. But it’s there. And we need to talk about.”He added, “With stand your ground it just seems like you can think that someone is going to do something to you, and that’s just, you’re talking about a life. That’s not enough.”
Lawmakers, law enforcement officials and Bama Carry board member Paul Arnold were at the forum to try and clarify what the law actually entails.
“I believe anywhere you go that you have the right to defend yourself. Me being a husband, a father, a grandfather, I’m making it home tonight,” Arnold emphasized.
Even a prominent Democrat seemed to pump the breaks on the outcry against the law.
“If somebody just walks up and slaps you, you don’t have the right to go into your pocket, and just turn around with your gun, and shoot him in the head, and kill him. I don’t think we could use that as a defense at that time,” state Senator Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) explained.
State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), state Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), state Rep. A.J. McCampbell (D-Linden), Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson and Northport Police Chief Gerald Burton were also reportedly in attendance.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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