Obama explicitly called upon the states to rethink so-called Stand Your Ground laws. Obama asked his audience to consider “[i]f Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk?” And noted that if they are uncomfortable with a world where Martin “would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman who had followed him in a car” because Martin felt threatened,” then perhaps it would make sense to rethink Stand Your Ground Laws.
The President concluded on a high note — “I don’t want us to lose sight that things are getting better.” But his statement suggests an increased federal role in preventing incidents such as the one that claimed Martin’s life, and it likely represents his most personal remarks on the subject of race since the “More Perfect Union” address he delivered as a presidential candidate.
