Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Could the Tulsa shooters claim immunity under Oklahoma's Castle Law? [View all]Straw Man
(6,623 posts)The Oklahoma statute says a person may use deadly force if he or she "reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony."
If someone tells you that "reasonably believes" can be subjectively determined by the whim of the shooter, that person is a fool or a shameless propagandist. The circumstances of the shooting will be examined by some or all of the following: the investigating officers, the DA, a grand jury, a judge, and a trial jury. You don't get to just say "I was scared so I shot him," and walk away. It isn't over for Zimmerman.
At any point in the process, the determination may be made that the shooting was justified or is impossible to successfully prosecute. That is the case even in states with "duty to retreat" laws. Sometimes the "he said/he said" knot is impossible to untie.