AG Eric Holder targets ‘Stand your ground’ laws in NAACP speech VIDEO

Saying that “it’s time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self-defense and sow dangerous conflict in our neighborhoods,” Attorney Gen. Eric Holder called for a reexamination of stand your ground laws.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

A key element in the George Zimmerman trial, Holder seems to take issue with the law which states that the citizen the “use of deadly force if someone believes he is being threatened by deadly force” and do not require that the person in peril retreat should that chance arise.”

“They try to fix something that was never broken. There has always been a legal defense for using deadly force if — and the ‘if’ is important — no safe retreat is available,” Holder stated.

“We must examine laws that take this further by eliminating the common sense and age-old requirement that people who feel threatened have a duty to retreat, outside their home, if they can do so safely. By allowing and perhaps encouraging violent situations to escalate in public, such laws undermine public safety. The list of resulting tragedies is long and — unfortunately — has victimized too many who are innocent.”

Holder’s remarks about stand your ground laws generated loud cheers and applause from the NAACP delegates

Holder was recently criticized after announcing the DOJ was setting up an email account to report “tips” of George Zimmerman racism

Video via Mediaite