By Madison Hartley
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – This March, Governor Asa Hutchinson signed Act 250, or the ‘Stand Your Ground’ bill into law. ‘Stand Your Ground’ bills take away the obligation to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense.
Arkansas isn’t the first state to pass such a bill. Florida takes the spot, passing theirs in 2005. Arkansas’ neighboring states have also passed similar bills. These types of laws can be controversial, however.
On one side, taking away the obligation to retreat could be life-saving, as firearms trainer Jazz Lee said.
“If I have the duty to run away, it might not actually work in my favor. You might get shot in the back or fall, and still be in trouble,” she explained.
Lee said some situations just don’t offer enough room to feel comfortable and safe enough to retreat.
On another hand, removing the duty to retreat might put people of color at a higher risk for hate crimes.
Lee said hate crimes laws are needed more than ‘duty to retreat’ laws.
“How about we take care of hate crimes,” Lee said, “that’s the real problem.”
After signing the bill, the governor said the law should not cause heightened threat concerning hate crimes, but that he hopes to see hate crime laws passed.
“Arkansas must pass meaningful legislation to address crimes against citizens solely for who they are and what they believe,” Hutchison said.