The majority of Americans are still in favor of Stand Your Ground laws, according to a newly released poll conducted by Quinnipiac University.
Stand Your Ground laws have been protested across the country in the wake of the George Zimmerman trial — despite the fact that Zimmerman’s defense did not invoke Stand Your Ground in the second-degree murder case.
Such laws allow individuals to use reasonable force to defend themselves without an obligation to retreat.
American voters support the laws by a 13 percent margin, with 53 percent in support and 40 percent against them.
White voters support the self-defense laws at a rate of 57 to 37 percent, with black voters opposed 57 to 37 percent.
Among Republicans, the laws are supported by a wide 75 to 19 percent margin, with Democrats in opposition, 31 to 61 percent.
Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the university’s polling institute, says that this data shows that it will be difficult for the government to change such laws.
“With these kinds of numbers, it’s unlikely the movement to repeal ‘Stand Your Ground’ will be successful in most of the country.”
Correction: Zimmerman’s defense team did not invoke Stand Your Ground