Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) announced this week the introduction of the “Stand Your Ground Act of 2021.”
Per the language of the bill, it would allow one to use deadly force if one reasonably believes it’s “necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.”
Forcible felonies are generally crimes involving rape, murder, arson, kidnapping, robbery among others.
Moreover, the legislation would remove one’s “duty to retreat” so long as the individual was not “engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be.”
Gaetz referenced the Kyle Rittenhouse case as part of the impetus for the Act.
“Like Kyle Rittenhouse, every American has the right to defend their life from an attacker,” Congressman Gaetz said in a press release.
“If someone tries to kill you, you should have the right to return fire and preserve your life. Let’s reaffirm in law what exists in our Constitution and in the hearts of our fellow Americans,” he continued. “Abolish the legal duty of retreat everywhere.”
At least 12 states impose a duty to retreat when an individual can do so with complete safety, according to Wikipedia.
Those states include Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
Reps. Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Randy Weber (TX-14) are co-sponsoring the bill.
With Democrat majorities in both chambers, it’s unlikely that the “Stand Your Ground Act of 2021″ will gain serious traction. That said, if things change, we’ll be sure to report back.
is the News Editor of GunsAmerica.