Stand Your Ground and Richard Combs

As the nation is still reeling from a number of highly publicized police shootings that resulted in, what many consider, the unjust deaths of black civilians, (now) former Orangeburg, SC officer Richard Combs was indicted in the shooting and killing of Bernard Bailey during an interaction over a traffic ticket.

Bailey
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Combs
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Media outlets have exploded recently over events involving the deaths of a number of black citizens. In August, unarmed teenager Michael Brown was shot and killed at the hands of a white officer. Despite controversy over whether the shooting was justified, a grand jury failed to indict him. Recently, NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo was not indicted for using an illegal chokehold on unarmed black citizen Eric Garner, resulting in Garner’s death. Despite video evidence, a grand jury also failed to indict Pantaleo. There have been a number of highly publicized shootings of black civilians in the news, including 12 year old Tamir Rice.

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Unfortunately, the death of Combs took place in May of 2011. Many such incidents were not as highly publicized. Many still aren’t. However, recent events combined with, what one may hope, is a growing awareness of injustice and racial disparity in the US Justice System have lead to greater and greater public attention of such incidences. That being said, despite public pressure, the failure to indict Pantaleo left many pessimistic.

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As such, the indictment of Combs stand in contrast to recent trends in such cases.

Combs, apparently, had gone to city hall to contest his daughter’s traffic ticket. The Associated Press writes that:

When he showed up, the chief tried to arrest Bailey, a 6-foot-6 former prison guard.

Prosecutors said Bailey marched back to his truck, and Combs tried to get inside to turn off the ignition. The two briefly fought, and Combs shot Bailey, 54, twice in the chest.

Combs tried to claim a “stand your ground” defense, saying he got tangled in the steering wheel and was scared for his life should Bailey drive away. 

Apparently, Combs’ indictment is one of three this year alone wherein white officers shot unarmed black men in SC. The state has a past of civil rights violence, and racial issues that have carried over very blatantly into the present.

Comb’s attempt to enact the “stand your ground” defense is a prime example of why many feel the laws are dangerous and possible contributors to racial injustice. The ability to shoot somebody based on “fear” is subjective, the idea that a person’s first reaction to being scared is to shoot a terrifying one. Combined with racial stereotypes that provoke discomfort and nervousness, or general dislike, this could easily lead to a number of racially fueled deaths, such as in the case of George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin.

One resident of the small town stated that people may develop a more aggressive attitude about the case, should Combs not be found guilty of murder.

Sources:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/allegations-of-police-misconduct-rarely-result-in-charges/

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/sc-cop-charged-murder-unarmed-man-shooting-27362718?page=2

http://thetandd.com/news/judge-no-stand-your-ground-defense-in-shooting-ex-eutawville/article_8e06fc66-7b60-11e4-b9a8-1ba299f9a3f8.html