LANSING (AP) — There were 117 justifiable homicides committed by civilians in Michigan in a decade, according to official numbers, and dozens more aren’t in FBI statistics covering such cases, a news organization recently reported following a statewide investigation. Just over half of justifiable homicides in the state involved strangers and those killed were almost all men, MLive.com reported.
The FBI statistics covered 2000 to 2010, the most recent year available. The review, being published over five days this week, also found most cases involved guns.
Many of those interviewed for the news organization’s series describe feelings of isolation, of being alone in their experience and their emotions.
“But for those of us who have had, ‘It’s probably nothing,’ turn out to be, ‘It’s something really, really bad, and it’s going to try and kill you,’ well, when those memories run through your mind
it’s a little hard to get back to sleep,” said Jeff Dykehouse, a Grand Rapids photographer who shot a brick-wielding burglar in 2007.
Michigan is among several states with “stand your ground” self-defense laws similar to Florida’s.
The laws have been targeted by civil rights and anti-gun violence groups following the Feb. 28 fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer.
Backers say such laws protect innocent lives. Opponents say they can become a license to kill and are prone to misuse.
Other findings from MLive.com included that those killed ranged from 14 to 68. It also found that civilians killed more people in self-defense than police, who killed 95 people. Detroit had
the most justifiable killings, but that was partly amplified by poor record keeping in other communities.
Two of those killed had plastic guns; one was used in an assault, the other a holdup.
“It’s black, it looks like a gun and it’s pointed toward you trembling,” said Edmund Joubran, a store owner on Flint’s east side when he shot a 19-year-old. “What do you do?”
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