It is important to note that in the case of Marissa Alexander, Stand Your Ground was not allowed because of 2 factors.
1) Alexander - after fighting with her husband, went and retrieved the firearm from her garage, then returned to the fight. She didn't "stand her ground" - she retreated, armed herself and purposefully re-engaged offensively. Thus "stand your ground" did not apply.
(The fact she claimed she fired at the ceiling and the bullet hole was at the level of an adult's head - didn't help her much.)
2) In the case of Alexander - as well as the cases of many others who tried to use the law as a shield after discharging a weapon - lethal, or potentially lethal force is allowable ONLY if you are in fear of great bodily injury or death. If your in that kind of fear - your not going to shoot at the ceiling, the wall, etc. People who fire their guns hoping to "scare" and stop an altercation - are not doing so within the confines of SYG.
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Good Hunting!
Captain Haplo
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