Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law could get even worse today, with state legislators expected to pass an expansion to “make the bar exceptionally high for prosecutors to prove that a person unlawfully killed in an alleged act of self-defense.” A recent study found that “Stand Your Ground” actually led to a huge jump in homicides in the state—and now legislators appear set on making it even easier to shoot someone and get away with it (emphasis added to article below from Mother Jones):

If the measure becomes law, the state would again be at the forefront of expanding self-defense laws. Florida would become the first state to apply a tougher standard to the law during the pretrial hearing. Under the measure, the burden of proof would be shifted to prosecutors and defendants would no longer have to present evidence, typically by taking the stand, to prove their claim of self-defense.

Instead, prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt — the highest legal standard — that the use of force was not justified. ...

Prosecutors have fiercely opposed the measure, saying it runs counter to the traditional workings of the criminal justice system. Typically, when defendants seek the dismissal of charges at a hearing — arguing entrapment, for example — it is up to them to present evidence and persuade the court, not the other way around.

The new standard would require prosecutors to essentially put on a nonjury mini-trial, requiring victims and witnesses to testify twice and delaying the actual trial, prosecutors said. And with defendants no longer required to offer evidence — which usually means taking the stand — there will be little, if any downside, for them to claim a Stand Your Ground defense.