TX Representative wants to repeal Stand Your Ground Law

A state representative wants to repeal the stand your ground law. The law expanded the castle doctrine to allow you to use deadly force in other locations if threatened. The representative says it's created open season since its passage in 2007.

Representative Garnet Coleman, Thursday, announced his filing of House Bill 1627.

"We can't have citizens being the judge, jury and executioner," he said.

HB 1627 would repeal the stand your ground law and therefore, restore your duty to retreat from a threat.

"If you can get away from the dangerous situation, that's what you should do. If you can't, you can use deadly force against that person," said Coleman.

Coleman first filed the legislation in 2013 in response to the Trayvon Martin shooting.

In that incident George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer shot and killed seventeen-year-old martin in what he claimed was an act of self-defense.

Zimmerman was cleared. Coleman says unarmed martin was a victim of perception.

"It's about inherent bias based on the style, images and messages that branded young men of color as criminals first, dangerous and then a criminal second and so people act upon pre-emptive act and they've done nothing," Coleman said.

Coleman says by forcing people to attempt to get away will reduce shootings based on bias.

He still supports using lethal force if one cannot possibly leave the situation and he did a demonstration.

"If somebody backs me up against this wall with a gun and I have a gun, I can't get away. So I can use deadly force," he said.

Coleman would still allow using deadly force to prevent aggravated kidnapping, murder, sex assault or aggravated assault.

FOX 7 asked Michael Cargill, owner Central Texas Gun Works, to weigh in.

"I wish that people would not bring race into it. It's not about race," said Micheal Cargill, owner of Central Texas Gun Works. "It's about treating people the way we'd want to be treated. You need to teach your kids how to respect other people and you know, other people's property, don't break into other peoples' homes, don't steal from other people and they shouldn't have that issue at all."

Cargill says the stand your ground law works in Texas and getting rid of it would be a mistake.

"I shouldn't have to run. I should be able to stand my ground because I have a right to be there," said Cargill. "Then what if that person goes and does someone else harm then I've not done anything. I haven't done anything to stop that. I think if the opportunity arises to stop that individual, that person should be stopped."

According to DPS data, in 2006 before the law was passed, there were 34 justifiable homicides involving felons killed by private citizens. Then in 2013, there were 62 justifiable homicides.