Ypsilanti City Council to consider resolution asking for repeal of Michigan's 'stand your ground' law
The Ypsilanti City Council will consider a resolution calling for the repeal of Michigan’s “stand your ground” law and a strengthening of firearm regulations in the state.
If approved, the resolution would be sent to representatives statewide including Gov. Rick Snyder, Senate majority leader Randy Richardville and many others.
The resolution will be taken up at Tuesday’s regular city council meeting and specifically targets Michigan's Self Defense Act of 2006, which is similar to Florida's law that was at the middle of the controversial George Zimmerman trial.
In the resolution, the Ypsilanti City Council calls on the legislature and governor “to adopt common sense gun regulations such as improved background checks, strengthened gun-free zones, and limits on the sale of high-capacity magazines.”
Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber said the resolution was put on the agenda by ward 1 council members Ricky Jefferson and Lois Richardson.
Schreiber said he agrees that there is too much gun violence and noted that he was a part of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns campaign that helped lobby for strengthening gun control measures.
“I think the stand your ground law needs to be looked at and I would certainly like the (state) legislature to do so,” Schreiber said.
The resolution states that stand your ground laws “threaten to lead to unnecessary use of deadly force by eliminating the common law duty to retreat and break off a confrontation where that can be accomplished with reasonable safety.”
It also highlights a Tampa Bay Times review that found that of the 192 times there was a death and the stand your ground law was used to free the killer in Florida, the victim was unarmed 70 percent of the time.
The resolution further states that a Texas A&M study of states with stand your ground laws “saw no drop in robberies, burglaries and aggravated assaults, and an increase in murders." It also cited a study that found white-on-black shootings were more likely to be justified than black-on-white shootings.
Jefferson said he is concerned about the increase of documented cases that show that the law has been used against African-Americans and he said he there is too much room for abuse as it is written now.
"There is room for misinterpretation and a lack of clarity, so they need to look at the law again and see if they can find a way to protect citizens a little better," he said.
The city of Ann Arbor recently approved a similar resolution.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Doc03911
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
{The resolution further states that a Texas A&M study of states with stand your ground laws "saw no drop in robberies, burglaries and aggravated assaults, and an increase in murders."} This is misleading and false. According to the FBI, DOJ and the CDC; crime, assualts and murder has been on the decline for the last 30 years nation wide. Currently it is at an all time low and is still dropping despite the MSM misleading the facts. Of the 26 states that have the SYG law, how the A&M study be "fact"? Truth is, it isn't.
Megan Turf
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:40 p.m.
As long as the law is clear that you cannot use this law as a defense if you are the aggressor or reason for the confrontation in the first place, i think it's ok to keep it. But you can't go poking at someone and then shoot them when you start losing in a fist fight you started.
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:35 a.m.
POOR POOR reporting Tom. SYG had NOTHING to do with the Zimmerman case...get your facts correct and stop trying to influence via reporting. Oh yes, let's make more criminal empowerment zones! That'll teach em! More like give them more places to massacre defenseless people. I LOVE how they cherry pick "data" and "studies" to meet their agenda. They point to FL as the reason to repeal this law, and cite how SYG is unfair to blacks, in TX... Well, let's compare apples to apples, how about study how SYG works for blacks MORE SO in FL??? Hmmmm???
Doc03911
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 10:22 a.m.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a organization made up of self entitled elitests who are more criminal that those that roam Ypsi's streets. Fraud, sexual harassment, extortion, attempted rape at gun point, obstruction. Yes, let's do what they know is best for us. -smh
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:31 a.m.
dont forget that a lot of them have security...
Steven Taylor
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 4:51 a.m.
While I'm not surprised with the actions of the city council and mayor tonight, I'm glad I got to speak my peace, I'm glad Councilman Robb voted against such a measure. Because of the councils actions I have vowed to myself to be more politically active in my hometown. I will be part of an effort to remove those that have voted against my right to self defense, and would welcome communication with individuals who would make efforts to protect/defend that right.
Faygo
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:19 p.m.
Steven, This is great. Though, please make sure you understand the even bigger issue: if they are willing to take away this right, what else are they also willing to take? Your money certainly, but we find more and more, your security and freedom fly out the window when they put liberal politics in front of sound public policy.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:52 a.m.
I"d be in favor of repealing "stand your ground" if it were replaced with "stop and frisk". The latter is proactive. The former is reactive.
beardown
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 3:29 a.m.
Stop and Frisk requires enough law enforcement officers to actually stop and frisk people. Currently, we don't have this. So a stop and frisk law would be meaningless and just as useful as a city council denouncing a state law.
TK2013
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:42 a.m.
Jefferson and Richardson disgrace themselves and the city yet again. The city is on a trajectory toward bankruptcy and all they care about is more failed attempts at social engineering. Stand your ground and retain your liberty!
beardown
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 3:32 a.m.
I don't think social engineering means what you think it means. That point aside, this is merely a grandstanding move by the city council. They are looking for people to say "yeah, we're anti stand your ground" while not noticing the taxes, I mean assessments, that they are putting on their constituents. It's basic politics 101. Throw the public a bone (this) so they won't notice when you are passing something that they despise (tax increases/assessments).
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:57 a.m.
budget is separate from social issues.
stihl1
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:47 p.m.
The Ypsi City Council has more pressing things to worry about. Do the job you were elected to do, quit playing politics.
Ric
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:05 p.m.
Repeal it for Ypsilanti!
Mike
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:40 p.m.
"The resolution further states that a Texas A&M study of states with stand your ground laws "saw no drop in robberies, burglaries and aggravated assaults, and an increase in murders." It also cited a study that found white-on-black shootings were more likely to be justified than black-on-white shootings." When there are so many more Black on white shooting you would expect these results. Ypsilanti has seen more than it's share of crime over the past several years. I have yet to even hear of a case with stand your ground defense. There was a recent rape in the city, if this victim had a weapon for self defense, it should have been used for her protection. To hear these arguments from our elected officials is to say that this woman should have no rights unless she has been beaten to the point that her life was over before she killed the rapist.
Mike
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
@ beardown First of all, with your logic crime should run ramped in the streets . You see, if the first crime did not happen then here would be no reason for the defense of the crime. I do not believe in killings of any kind, but, I do believe in protecting one's self and belongings. No one has even implied that every crime should be defended by a weapon, that is your imagination. Your last sentence... Well, even if there were no crimes, the people should still bare arms against what might be. I suppose that you believe that rape is a harmless crime that should not be defendable. The women here will love you.
beardown
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 3:35 a.m.
I love how every single crime committed against someone would have been nullified if the person had a gun. Based on your logic, we would be a crime-less society if we all had guns. But then, of course, we wouldn't need guns since there wasn't any crime.
Richard Smith
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
Oh that's great. Get rid of stand your ground laws while the city is plagued with break ins from the ever so high drug rate. You have a bigger chance of seeing someone over dosesthan seeing someone get shot. City Council get your priorities straight sometimes I wonder about you guys.
MGoYpsi
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:42 p.m.
Don't worry, even if this gets to a vote the council and mayor either won't show up to vote or they will abstain.
Laurie Barrett
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:37 p.m.
Notice who is going off half-cocked in the comments . . .
Jon Wax
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
absolutely do NOT repeal this law. if anything.. make it stronger. the folks trying to repeal this law need to brush up their resumes. you're gonna need em. Peace Wax
denniso800
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
"Stand your ground" law had absolutely NOTHING to do with the Zimmerman case. It is great to see that our elected officials have nothing better to do than this.
mickey ichesco
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:50 p.m.
so sad the city has so many issues t hat our council cant concentrate on real problems.............
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.
So jamie, we should look at a study from TX on how the law was applied in the FL example? riiiight...
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:28 a.m.
Woman, please cite, we'll be waiting. The actual study in FL said that SYG HELPED african americans MORE than whites... hmmm...
Jaime Magiera
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 1:56 a.m.
jjc155, simply look to the research study referenced in this article. It's available online.
jjc155
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
Women in Ypsi-Please post links and stats from creditible non-partisan sources ie: no NAACP, or SPLC ( or NRA for that matter) etc . Statements of your caliber (pun most certainly intended) are worthless with out corroboration. Also feel free to post the last time that an african american (or anyone for that matter) was shot and killed in Ypsi under the so called "stand your ground" or castle doctrine statues? OK how about in Washtenaw County?
Zhuk
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
Woman in Ypsi... why is it that African Americans are effected so much more than other groups? Its not all African Americans is it? When was the last time an African American Doctor was shot? When is the last time an African American nun was shot? African Americans clown? African Americans fire fighter? how about African Americans scientists? I think this is more of an occupational hazard rather than a race based hazard.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
A significant percentage of our city is African American. This law has been demonstrated to have serious bad effects on African American populations. I don't know about you but I consider an increased likelihood of African Americans being shot to be a real problem.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:20 p.m.
I support this 100%. It is time for our state to repeal this law and resolutions like this will show those at the state level that people at the local level want this change.
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:27 a.m.
tell that to the 1 in 4 women who will be raped in their lifetime...
Davidian
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Be a victim on your own time.
Justin Altman
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 5:29 p.m.
"The resolution will be taken up at Tuesday's regular city council meeting and specifically targets Michigan's Self Defense Act of 2006, which is similar to Florida's law that was at the middle of the controversial George Zimmerman trial." The Zimmerman trial was about simple self defense. There was initial talk of "stand your ground" laws, but the actual arguments in court were just about whether Zimmerman had enough reason to use deadly force to defend himself in the fight with Martin, at least to give reasonable doubt to the motive requirements of the murder charge.
1982 Brew Crew
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 5:28 p.m.
Do these elected City leaders not understand that the way to prod the legislature is to prod the legislator for this district? Or that City business is the business of City Council, not issues of national social justice interest? if they don't understand this, then let's get new City leaders who want to lead the City rather than read their names in print/web.
beardown
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 3:41 a.m.
Jaime, you are missing the point. The city is broke due to Water St. and the loss in income due to various regimes purely relying on tax income to fill the city coffers, crime is on the rise due to cuts in first responders, and we are becoming more and more a renter city (i.e absentee landlords and property values decreasing). How about they try and solves these problems and then maybe sit down with Rep Rutledge (who loves a good photo op) on their own time and tell him to repeal this? No one is telling them that they cannot be against the idiotic law, they are stating that this is not something they should be pushing when they are supposed to be solving Ypsi's real problems. And please tell me if any of the defendants in the gun crimes in Ypsi have tried to use stand your ground as the basis of their defense. I cannot recall a single one.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:13 p.m.
And law-abiding citizens have every right to be present in public places. It's not democratic to allow violent criminals to force them into "retreating" from a street, sidewalk, or park that is paid for with their tax dollars.
Jaime Magiera
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:03 p.m.
Ypsilanti is a city in Michigan - a city that provides revenue, accepts services, etc. with the state. As such, they have every right to take positions and voice concerns with state legislation. More to the point, the state law has an effect on actions and perceptions of residents within the city's jurisdiction. They have every right to initiate this. It's Democracy - plain and simple.
jjc155
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
How about a resolution to avoid bankruptcy or to actually market the water st project in a money making way or not combining police and fire or hiring more police and fire or reducing public housing or...........a resolution to end pandering for vote and just running the city as best you can in a NON POLITICAL way. This place is becoming Detroit west and is in risk be becoming Flint south.
Martin Church
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
This recommendation needs to be killed. first why should we have to flee from the criminal and allow them to control the city. we need to be able to stand our ground and defend our properties and lives. I have been robbed three times for the sold reason I had less then 20 dollars and was unarmed and could not defend my self. I have been robbed by whites, blacks and Hispanics so this is not a race issue. this is an issue of an easy target. Lets start making the criminals think that the next person they attack will have the ability to defend themselves and the willingness to do so. STOP giving in to the criminal elements and taking us back to the 70's when they were able to run free without free of being caught and purchasing a long time as a resident of Jackson.
BenWoodruff
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:48 p.m.
Mr. Church, what made you an "easy target"? We're you in a bad neighborhood, did you give off a "victim" vibe? What do you think made you an easy target?
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
Pssst, Ypsi; Try not to emulate the crazy stuff your neighbor does.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
"It also highlights a Tampa Bay Times review that found that of the 192 times there was a death and the stand your ground law was used to free the killer in Florida, the victim was unarmed 70 percent of the time." This doesn't even make sense. In a self-defense case, the killer is the victim...he was defending himself against a criminal. The deceased was the attacker...that's why his death was justified. And who cares if the criminal was unarmed? You think an unarmed person (or gang of thugs) can't seriously hurt or kill you without a weapon? It happens all the time.
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:24 a.m.
Who wants a fair fight when your life is on the line? the police are allowed to "one-up" bad guys with force, so why cant the rest of us? @ Laurie, you dont really know anything about this case do you? your post clearly states so. Z did at first follow T, then stopped and left. T had 4 min to go 100-200m HOME, but CHOSE to go find and STALK Z and then attack him. duh... Im sure you would also be calling him a "child" if you met him in a dark alley... LOL
Laurie Barrett
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:12 p.m.
I can stalk a child and provoke them into a fight then shoot them in the heart dead because I have a right to under the second amendment.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 5:50 p.m.
"The way the law is written, someone can claim it after the event, on a whim." Duh--when else would you claim self defense, except after the event?
Jaime Magiera
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
The killer isn't necessarily the victim. The person killed isn't necessarily a criminal. That's the problem. The way the law is written, someone can claim it after the event, on a whim.
TheDiagSquirrel
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:38 p.m.
Concentrate on Ypsilanti crime, so that a homeowner doesnt have to stand their ground to begin with.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:59 a.m.
Stop and Frisk!
Davidian
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:30 p.m.
Let's take a second and stop pretending and be honest with ourselves. This has nothing to do with helping a community, because anyone with a foggy idea of murder rates among minorities would deduce that such an effort (eliminating laws that support self-defense) flies in the face of logic. II know many of us read the Freep and I can point to article after article where a black man has defended himself against a violent thug, was not charged, was not imprisoned. This is about one thing: pandering to a constituency. This is about Trayvon Martin. race, and re-elections. Federal statistics show that violent crime is near an all-time low in the US. This is political grandstanding, nothing more, nothing less. If they want to do something productive, then they should try to address the issues of violence that are endemic to the black community, and propose solutions that don't stop the rest of us from defending our families.
Jon Wax
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:20 p.m.
those issues are being addressed: The D is bringing in "stop and frisk" once that works well there, it will spread to places like Ypsi. all in good time. thug life is over. Peace Wax
Ricebrnr
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
"he didn't use stand your ground in the case because his lawyer knew he would have to take the stand himself and prove they would have to prove Martin was a threat." SOOOOOO much fail!
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:11 p.m.
The event that started the trial had nothing whatsoever to do with Stand Your Ground. There is no state in the country where you aren't allowed to do what the defendant claims to have done (and the jury apparently believed).
Jaime Magiera
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 5:59 p.m.
No. The City Council is, if passed, speaking out against bad legislation that allows such situations to arise in the first place. You're focusing on the trial for some reason, when the point of concern is the event that initiated the trial.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 5:49 p.m.
So basically, the City Council is mad that he exercised his Constitutional right, protected by the 5th amendment, to not testify?
Jaime Magiera
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
Angry Moderate, he didn't use stand your ground in the case because his lawyer knew he would have to take the stand himself and prove they would have to prove Martin was a threat. The laws *existence* makes such situations possible.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:43 p.m.
What's bizarre is that these people think that Zimmerman was acquitted because of the stand your ground law. He did not even make any arguments based on that law--it was never mentioned at the trial, and the jury was not given any instructions about it. If someone is cracking your head against cement repeatedly, you are welcome to shoot him in all 50 states.
Goober
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:22 p.m.
Don't the leaders of this city have more important things to do? Maybe they should meet and denounce the war in Iraq. Oh - the AA city council already did this. Go figure!
Faygo
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:15 p.m.
"We weren't going to repeal the law, until we got a letter from the people who run Ypsilanti. Their sound advice and reputation for fostering safe, and thriving streets has really made a big impression on us. They pointed out things we hadn't even thought of like; why should we allow people the right bear arms and protect themselves, when there are still people using non-led lighting? And do you know that there are muggers out their who's domestic partners still do not receive health benefits? They even suggested we raise our income tax by 1% and give the money to would be attackers, to discourage "crime" and boost the local economy at the same time!"
beardown
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 3:25 a.m.
Jaime, I salute your optimism. But it isn't based in an ounce of reality. Do you honestly think that Lansing and the rest of the state are going to make a complete 180% on this legislation because a small town with a violence problem passes a meaningless resolution asking them to? I am not a fan of the law by any stretch, but this is a merely grandstanding by small city officials who are hoping that this keeps them in office in spite of the assessments and other charges they are ramming through.
Jaime Magiera
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
City-by-City. Step-by-step.
Jaime Magiera
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:10 p.m.
Excellent. I hope this passes. The research shows that the current laws do not work as intended. Equipped with that knowledge, and the voices of cities across the state, the State Legislature can enact sound gun policies that prevent unnecessary violence while still ensuring a citizen's right to protect themselves.
Bcar
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:18 a.m.
Please cite said research showing that SYG does NOT work in MI as intended... we'll be waiting a LOOONG time...
stihl1
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:45 p.m.
Lol
Dog Guy
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
Mayor Paul Schreiber should concentrate on Ypsilanti's pressing local needs and Bloomberg the size of Ypsi soft drinks.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.
"There is room for misinterpretation and a lack of clarity, so they need to look at the law again and see if they can find a way to protect citizens a little better," More like look at ways to prosecute victims and dissuade others from protecting themselves.