A group of Democrats in the Michigan state senate have begun attempting to repeal the 2006 Self Defense Act, a state “Stand Your Ground” law that protects the right to self-defense with deadly force without a “duty to retreat” in the face of danger. “Emergency room physicians and folks are just honestly worried about the prevalence of gun violence in our communities, and frankly pretty nervous about the fact that there is no duty to retreat and substantial immunity from both criminal and civil liability under these statutes,” said state Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, who sponsored the proposal.
Re-establishing a “duty to retreat” could lead to prosecution for legitimate cases of self-defense, not to mention serious injury or death for retreating victims. “Whether they be black, white, Hispanic or Asian, they all have the right to defend themselves from death, rape and bodily harm,” said Sen. Rick Jones, an opponent of the legislation. “It’s un-American.”
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