Stand Your Ground Law to be Debated in Iowa

Remember all the fuss about the 'Stand Your Ground' law in Florida? Well that type of situation may be coming to Iowa as the House Judiciary Committee just passed a bill for just that, and now it's going to the House for debate.

What is the 'Stand Your Ground Law'? It minimizes a person's reasoning for using deadly force. Currently Iowa law states, you can use deadly force in your home or business if you feel your life is in jeopardy. Outside of those places, you're required to attempt to diffuse the situation through other means, before deadly force can be used. If the 'Stand Your Ground' law goes into effect in Iowa, you could use deadly force anywhere, if you feel you're life is in danger, without attempting to use every other potential way to diffuse the situation.

The Bill still has a long way to go before becoming a law, but we're one step closer. Does this mean Iowa will be he wild west? No. It certainly feels like that already in some areas of the Cedar Valley, but this law is envisioned to protect the innocent and make criminals think twice before committing a crime.

Will it increase homicides? Depending on the language in the specific bill, it may. According to Time Magazine, homicide rates have increased in Florida. That's just one of the states where 'Stand Your Ground' is law.

So, what do you think? Should Iowa adopt this bill? Leave your comment below and we'll read them on the air.

(Source: KWWL)