Independent senator and psychiatrist Varma Deyalsingh says he has been a victim of crime five times. He said he will strongly support any policy or legislation to enact stand your ground defence by citizens.
There has been comment and discussions ever since Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar promised to introduce legislation for stand your ground if the UNC wins the next general election.
While many support it, at least two attorneys have spoken out against it.
On Friday, attorney Martin George called on Persad-Bissessar to address concerns on her proposed stand your ground legislation and ensure it was not tainted by racial bias.
A Friday article quoted George as saying without proper understanding and careful consideration, the implementation of stand your ground laws could create more problems than solutions, exacerbating existing societal issues.
Contacted on Sunday, Deyalsingh said he too strongly supports its use and wonders if the Opposition and its leader actually got the idea from a column he wrote for a newspaper in 2021. He called for the use of the Castle Doctrine which states people have the right to use reasonable and even deadly force to protect themselves against intruders in their homes.
Stand your ground law goes beyond the common-law Castle Doctrine in that it gives someone, who believes their life is in danger, the right to use force, including deadly force, in self-defence and removes the duty to retreat in public spaces.
Government has rejected calls for stand your ground legislation to fight crimes especially home invasions, with the Prime Minister saying it could allow some people who hate others to use it for legal murder.
The law is controversial particularly in the US and was a major factor in the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case. In April, there was also debate about it in the US after two people who mistakenly approached homes, were shot.
[caption id="attachment_1029056" align="alignnone" width="183"] Attorney Martin George. -[/caption]
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“In my article, I strongly recommended Government consider stand your ground legislation. Also as a senator, I made the comments, based on our crime situation now; it is not to say it is a regular situation, we are up to sixth in crime, it is a situation where you have to have drastic measures to deal with what is happening,” Deyalsingh said.
In the senate, Deyalsingh said citizens should be given the chance to defend themselves in their home or property and Government should also re-examine death penalty legislation.
He said his past comments in the senate showed a support for citizens having the right to defend themselves with correct checks and balances.
Asked if he was concerned about people using the proposed law or policy to attack other groups based on race or sexual orientation, Deyalsingh said he was more concerned about people invading his property and putting his family and life at risk.
“There is a greater risk of us being damaged from criminals entering into our property,” he said.
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