Op-Ed: State Rep. Rosita Youngblood on Trayvon Martin

Youngblood writes about Pennsylvania's Castle Doctrine.

March 29, 2012

State Rep. Rosita Youngblood represents
the 198th Legislative District.

The news surrounding the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin has consumed the national and local headlines. It has erupted into a national conversation regarding race and bias, and the treatment of young black men by their fellow citizens, and by members of law enforcement. It has reignited the debate about the state of racism and discrimination in America. And it has shed a light on the dangers of laws that allow one's own perceptions as justification for murder.

Regardless of whether or not you believe race played a part in the handling of this tragic event, either by the shooter himself, or the local authorities, one thing is absolutely clear—the perceptions about Trayvon Martin by the shooter led to his death. The preconceived, predetermined views of George Zimmerman about a young black male wearing a hooded sweatshirt led to the altercation, and thanks to laws that encourage individuals to engage in violence, rather than prevent it, he had a license to kill an unarmed, innocent teenager.

This tragedy highlights the dangers and shortsightedness of laws that allow perceptions to outweigh fact. Florida's "stand your ground" law, which is similar to Pennsylvania's Castle Doctrine, allows an individual to shoot first and ask questions later. It permits aggressive, often ill-informed, citizens to rely on "gut feeling" rather than factual evidence to determine life or death. The shooter, perceiving Trayvon Martin to be up to no good, followed the young man, starting a chain of events borne solely on untrue, unsubstantiated bias. And he has yet to be held accountable for his actions, hiding behind a law that encourages citizens to be vigilantes and use deadly force based only on perceptions.

Pennsylvania's Castle Doctrine, which became law last year, makes it optional for someone to seek retreat before using deadly force. This law, along with Florida's "stand your ground" law, does not offer any real additional protections to potential victims of crime, but rather creates a "Wild West" mentality that permits individuals to use deadly force when it is unwarranted. The Castle Doctrine will allow anyone, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation, to become a victim of violence for simply approaching a homeowner's porch, front door or walkway. It shifts the burden of proof from the shooter to the person who was shot, who now has to prove that he or she was not an imminent threat to the person wielding the firearm.

Simply, these laws allow people to use perception as licenses to kill. Unfortunately, a young black man, coming home from the store after buying candy and an ice tea, is dead because of who he was perceived to be.

Pennsylvania must revisit and repeal its Castle Doctrine law, and take into consideration the tragedy surrounding the death of Trayvon Martin.

State Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood represents the 198th Legislative District and is the Democratic chairwoman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee.