In Illinois, George Zimmerman would have already been charged with a crime.

We’ve all been watching the news lately and hearing about the “Stand Your Ground” laws on the books in Florida and in approximately 30 other states.  Under the Stand your Ground laws, a civilian may use deadly force anywhere they feel the need to defend themselves.  Thus, George Zimmerman can claim that he felt threatened by Trayvon Martin who allegedly was beating Zimmerman at the time Zimmerman pulled his weapon and fatally shot Martin.

As was stated by recently by Matthew P. Jones, associate director for administration at the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, in Illinois, You cannot bring a gun to a fist fight.  “You can’t use deadly force when there is no deadly force being used against you.”

In Illinois, for a person to claim self defense, it becomes their burden to prove the deadly force they used was justified.  In Florida, it is nearly an case of immunity once a person claims that he was defending himself.