Jeff Smith: Should the Feds Probe the Florida Tragedy?

Absolutely.

It may be the only way to get state officials to act.

The Sanford police chief claims that he has no ability to prosecute based on the “Stand Your Ground” law.

Of course, he’s making huge assumptions without a full investigation of the facts.

Most importantly, “Stand Your Ground” is misapplied in the case of an assailant who has actually pursued a victim; pursuit directly contradicts the notion of self-defense.

And the assailant is caught – on tape, no less – determinedly pursuing the victim even against the specific and unambiguous direction of the police dispatcher.

(Cross-posted, with permission of the author, from Politico’s Arena)