The facts show the stand-your-ground laws are a common way for black Americans to die. From “self-defense” to “fearing for my life” accusations and more, all of these things have been placed under the umbrella of probable cause to “take action.”

A stand-your-ground law states that a person can use deadly force in self-defense without the duty to retreat when faced with a reasonably perceived threat. The law is incapable of considering a person’s perception of an individual before taking action. If the perception were to be factored in, one could say the excessive force of action could be defined as premeditated.

People are now actively given a license to kill and openly able to feed their desire of pursuing a minority. The race card is continuously drawn, not because of slavery, civil rights or any “woe-as-me” reasons, but due to the facts. Black individuals are taken victim by a ranked authority (such as a police officer) and, in some unfortunate cases, people who use stand-your-ground laws as a get-out-of-jail-free card. The loaded question black Americans want to know is how is this at all acceptable?

Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin were victims of the stand-your-ground law. Do you hear me clearly? A law that was put in place in the state of Florida, years prior to their attacks, covered the bases of two men of no authority to feel as if them murdering was self-defense — until proven guilty.

This law gives individuals an unlawful authority to take matters into their own hands, instead of reaching out to seek assistance. Yet again, case by case, death by death, the pattern of each victim being BLACK has not changed. How can blacks NOT think we are the target?

“I wanted to cater to my fiancée and deal with law enforcement later.” — Michael Dunn (Shot Jordan Davis)

During the trial of Jordan Davis, Michael Dunn spoke of his reasons for not reporting the incident after leaving the scene. He believed, at the time, his first priority was to calm down his shaken fiancée who wanted answers on why this incident escalated. Examining his thought process, Dunn saw no immediate call to action; thus confirming the mindset of being well within his rights. There was no sense of urgency or remorse for what had taken place at the scene.

I feared for my life. I feared for my life. But I feared for my life! Can you count on both hands how many times this phrase has been used and documented as the reason why? It’s senseless and utterly offensive for someone to accept a law that clears a killer so easily. Furthermore, America has failed black people greatly and ill-feelings toward our justice system are undoubtedly justified.

So where do we go from here?

Is someone taking matters into their own hands as we speak because of a law that has continuously showed no justice? Are protests in Chicago and other places around the nation still occurring? I’m going to take a wild guess and say, “YES!” Why? Because nothing changes until something changes on all levels, including legislation.