Efforts to repeal Stand Your Ground in South Carolina underway

A South Carolina lawmaker introduced a bill to repeal the states Stand Your Ground law. Backed by ministers, former law enforcement officials and activists, Rep. Harold Mitchell, D-Spartanburg announced the legislations at a Thursday press conference.

“Stand your ground is last man standing. What we want to do is go back and protect people in their homes, their vehicles and their place of business,” said Rep. Mitchell who is also chairman of the state Legislative Black Caucus. The bill has an additional 17 co-sponsors

Sen. Karl Allen, D-Greenville who supports the new bill stated that “As a piggyback to this legislation, there is a catch-all … that if you fail to exercise due care in acting with the weapon, you will not be able to avail yourself of the ‘Stand your ground’ law,”

A state judge last gave immunity to a man who shot and killed a 17-year-old high-school basketball player who was an innocent bystander who was witnessing a confrontation between the man and some young women who had followed the shooters teenage daughter home from a nightclub.

The bill faces a tough up hill climb as the South Carolina state legislature just passed a bill that allows people to carry firearms into bars and restaurants. Republican Governor Nikki Haley would be likely to veto the bill if by chance it reached her desk although she has yet to comment on it. The bill now sits in a House judiciary sub-committee.