To: MA Joint Committee on the Judiciary, The Massachusetts State House, and The Massachusetts State Senate
Reject MA Bill 661 "Stand Your Ground"
Dear Members of the Massachusetts Legislature and Joint Committee on the Judiciary,
We are writing to express our strong opinion as citizens of Massachusetts that Bill 661, introduced by Senator Stephen Brewer (D), does not become law in our state.
In light of the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida and the controversy surrounding the rights of George Zimmerman to have used the force that he did in the situation he created, we should not be moving towards expanding such laws in our state. Instead we should be finding ways to protect and make safer our communities and all the people who live here.
Please reject Bill 661. We Stand Our Ground to move towards caring for humanity, not creating an environment that divides and frightens.
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Why is this important?
Massachusetts Bill 661 is currently being held in the Joint Committee for the Judiciary and should never be released. (http://malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S00661)
Bill 661 allows Massachusetts to become a Stand Your Ground state that protects citizens like George Zimmerman who killed Trayvon Martin in Florida.
Massachusetts Law Ch 278, 8A (http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleII/Chapter278/Section8A) already allows for broad protection within the home. Bill 661 expands this to "any place that one has the right to be" and has no obligation to retreat from or de-escalate violence in a dangerous situation.
This is a Shoot First mentality that has no place in our State and it endangers us all.
Please educate yourself on the implications of passage of this Bill. Research has shown that states that have adopted similar legislation have seen an increase in justifiable homicides. It is well-known that local and national guns-rights organizations are putting pressure on its members and lawmakers to consider and pass Stand Your Ground laws. (www.iwatchnews.org)
Stand Your Ground to keep this legislation from becoming law.
Please contact members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to urge non-passage through the process that proceeds towards legislation.
Senate and House Members include: Cynthia Creem, Gale Candaras, Patricia Jehlen, John Keenan, Thomas McGee, Richard Ross, Gene O'Flaherty, John Fernandes, Colleen Garry, Sean Curran, Carlos Henriquez, Russell Holmes, Sheila Harrington, Kevin Murphy, Angelo Puppolo, Christopher Markey, Daniel Winslow
This issue will not come to the voting booth. Your VOTE against Bill 661 is your voice being heard by your Representative. Whether or not your Representative is listed below, please contact him or her personally and voice your opinion. Should this Bill come out of Committee it will be considered for legislation.
Sponsors of this Bill include: Stephen M. Brewer, Shaunna N. O'Connell, Angelo J. Puppolo, Cleon H. Turner, Elizabeth A. Poirier, Susan W. Gifford,Nicholas A. Boldyga, Thomas A. Golden, Paul K. Frost, Matthew A. Beaton, Demetrius J. Atsalis, Daniel B. Winslow, Bradley H. Jones, Dennis A. Rosa, Viriato M. deMacedo, George T. Ross, Michael O. Moore, Bruce E. Tarr, George N. Peterson, Todd M. Smola, Marc T. Lombardo, Anne M. Gobi, Randy Hunt, Christine E. Canavan, John J. Binienda, Donald F. Humason, Richard Bastien