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How do Arizona Republicans think the border crisis should be solved? By giving people the legal right to shoot and kill undocumented immigrants via legislation that critics say will give the \u201cgreen light to more extrajudicial killings.\u201d<\/p>\n
House Republicans in the border state are advancing HB2843, which declares: \u201cA person may use deadly physical force\u201d if they \u201cbelieve it immediately necessary\u201d to stop someone from trespassing or attempting to trespass on their property. While the bill does not include the words \u201cimmigrants\u201d\u00a0or \u201cmigrants,\u201d as Axios notes<\/a>, Representative Justin Heap,<\/strong> who sponsored the legislation, said in February that its intended purpose is to close a loophole that he contends has led to \u201cincreasingly larger numbers of migrants or human traffickers moving across farm and ranch land.\u201d Current state law\u2014the Castle Doctrine\u2014allows deadly force to be used against home intruders for self-defense. Criminal defense attorney\u00a0Jack Litwak<\/strong> told<\/a> the Arizona Mirror<\/em> the new law would give people much more cover, as it would allow the use of deadly force merely for appearing on one\u2019s property. \u201cThe idea with the Castle Doctrine is that you are supposed to be able to defend house and home,\u201d he said. \u201cThis seems to broaden it to say you can shoot someone that\u2019s just on your actual property.\u201d<\/p>\n Arguing against HB2843 last month, Democratic representative Analise Ortiz<\/strong> said the legislation \u201cexpands the (Castle Doctrine) law in a way that I think is very dangerous, as guns continue to wreak havoc upon our communities. I do not think there is any sense in giving a green light to more extrajudicial killings.\u201d The bill was approved in the state House by a 31-28 vote. Next, it heads to the Senate. If passed there, it is expected to be vetoed by Democratic governor Katie Hobbs.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly<\/strong> is currently on trial on charges of second-degree murder (and aggravated assault) for allegedly killing Gabriel Cuen-Butimea after shooting at a group of unarmed migrants crossing his ranch. As the AZ Mirror<\/em> notes, under the proposed law, \u201cKelly could have been justified for allegedly killing any of the migrants.\u201d The outlet also notes that \u201ca 2022 JAMA Network study showed that \u2018Stand Your Ground\u2019 laws were linked to an\u00a08-11% increase in monthly rates of homicide and firearm homicide, leading researchers to conclude that the enactment of similar legislation across the country was directly related to an increase in violent and avoidable deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida Supreme Court allows near-total ban on abortion to go into effect<\/strong><\/p>\n