Coke withdraws from group that backs Stand Your Ground law

[Ausm]

- Coca-Cola Co is dropping its membership in a conservative national advocacy group that supports "Stand Your Ground" laws such as the one being used as a defense in the Florida killing of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin.

The move by the world's biggest soft drink maker comes as corporate America faces increased scrutiny from consumers and shareholder activists over lobbying and political spending.
PepsiCo Inc ended its relationship with the group - the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) - in January.
In a statement on Thursday, Coca-Cola made no direct mention of the controversial self-defense law pushed by ALEC that provides shooters with wide latitude for claiming self defense when they perceive a threat.
"The Coca-Cola Company has elected to discontinue its membership with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)," the statement said.

Pepsi also dropped ALEC like a bad habit in January.

Looks like Coke couldn't stand the type of laws ALEC\Koch Bros is producing and pushing through out this Country. ALEC was also instrumental for pushing the Voter I.D. laws to benefit the party they serve.

Can't wait to get rid of the ALEC poster child in my State. I love how social media exposes these low life fucking scumbags for what they are worth.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/coke-withdraws-group-backs-stand-ground-law-230247092.html

 

[xBiffx]

Apparently, you didn't get the memo on Coca Cola this week from your DNC.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/polit...e-caves-face-democratic-boycott-threat/444346

Seems they will do anything for a sale these days. Whatever is trending, Coke is there!

 

[woolfe9999]

A lot of emphasis on ALEC's backing of "stand your ground" because it is topical due to the Martin case, but ALEC has been backing and writing conservative legislation on a wide array of topics for quite awhile now. Coke is probably trying to maintain a perception of general political neutrality.

Edit: I see from Biff's link above that there was a boycott threat. Makes sense.

 

[Ausm]

Apparently, you didn't get the memo on Coca Cola this week from your DNC.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/polit...e-caves-face-democratic-boycott-threat/444346

Seems they will do anything for a sale these days. Whatever is trending, Coke is there!

You expect me to take anything seriously from the Rightwing rag link you just posted? lmao

 

[Ausm]

A lot of emphasis on ALEC's backing of "stand your ground" because it is topical due to the Martin case, but ALEC has been backing and writing conservative legislation on a wide array of topics for quite awhile now. Coke is probably trying to maintain a perception of general political neutrality.

It's called brand damage control! I am hoping many other companies bailout and the list of Legislators backing this Rightwing think tank are exposed.

Checkout this link how they control Legislators it will make you puke.

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/04/05/alecs-secret-influence-on-state-laws-legislators/

 

[HomerJS]

For those in favor of SYG. What prompted the need for its creation? Im all for self defense but was there a rash of people being jailed for legitimate self defense claims? Shouldn't all self defense claims resulting in a death of serious bodily injury be fully investigated?

Why did we need this law?

 

[xBiffx]

For those in favor of SYG. What prompted the need for its creation? Im all for self defense but was there a rash of people being jailed for legitimate self defense claims? Shouldn't all self defense claims resulting in a death of serious bodily injury be fully investigated?

Why did we need this law?

Well, if you don't have a SYG law then it is not clear what the limits are to self defense. If someone comes in your home with a knife, are you limited to only a knife? Are you obligated to flee? The SYG laws make it quite clear that you don't have to retreat, you can use deadly force when threatened, you are not limited on the use of a gun, and you don't have to worry about any criminal consequences.

There are still states that require you to retreat. There are also still states that can charge people with excessive force even in a self defense scenario. These states only allow you to slowly diffuse a situation and not stop the threat immediately.

 

[HumblePie]

Nothing wrong with SYG.

Bunch of knee jerk reactionary crap from emotionally distraught people without rational thought.

 

[HomerJS]

Well, if you don't have a SYG law then it is not clear what the limits are to self defense. If someone comes in your home with a knife, are you limited to only a knife? Are you obligated to flee? The SYG laws make it quite clear that you don't have to retreat, you can use deadly force when threatened, you are not limited on the use of a gun, and you don't have to worry about any criminal consequences.

There are still states that require you to retreat. There are also still states that can charge people with excessive force even in a self defense scenario. These states only allow you to slowly diffuse a situation and not stop the threat immediately.

I understand that but was this really a problem? SYG was started in Florida were people being unjustly jailed? Could all these concernes be resolved in a normal police investigation?

 

[xBiffx]

I understand that but was this really a problem? SYG was started in Florida were people being unjustly jailed? Could all these concernes be resolved in a normal police investigation?

I am not sure if it was unjust jailing or innocent people hesitating to defend themselves, thereby being harmed or killed. Let me do some looking around.

 

[peonyu]

Stand your ground as a law is meant to have a investigation with it, its just common sense. You cant take anybody's word that I was "just defending myself", if we did then most murderers would not be in jail today. The law itself I think is ok but its inherently flawed when the Police dont investigate properly, Florida [and other states ofc] has many areas where you could end up dead if you dont stand your ground so to speak. And while most groups live well together down here its not a joke to say that there are many "black only" or "hispanic only" neighborhoods where if your not one of them you risk being attacked.

 

[BUTCH1]

It's called brand damage control! I am hoping many other companies bailout and the list of Legislators backing this Rightwing think tank are exposed.

Checkout this link how they control Legislators it will make you puke.

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/04/05/alecs-secret-influence-on-state-laws-legislators/

from your link, very interesting indeed, "It’s important to note that there’s nothing illegal about ALEC’s actions. However, the secrecy with which it operates and the influence that it wields so quietly are cause for alarm. Its meetings of state legislators are closed to the public, as are its list of donors and members and its database of model legislation (last year a whistleblower released some 800 of those bills, which is how we know what little we know.) "

Money still makes the laws, nothing has or will ever change that...

 

[monovillage]

I guess you have to be a lefty to give a shit about what Coca~Cola does.

 

[cybrsage]

Coca-Cola has not been the same ever since the evil government used its war on drugs to force them to change their recipe. :reallyangryface:

 

[BUTCH1]

Coca-Cola has not been the same ever since the evil government used its war on drugs to force them to change their recipe. :reallyangryface:

Back then the catchphrase "the pause that refreshes" had some bite to it LOL..

 

[Infohawk]

For those in favor of SYG. What prompted the need for its creation? Im all for self defense but was there a rash of people being jailed for legitimate self defense claims? Shouldn't all self defense claims resulting in a death of serious bodily injury be fully investigated?

Why did we need this law?

People seem to be upset about evidence issues and not necessarily the idea of stand your ground in general. In country that generally accepts firearms like the US, I don't see why someone shouldn't be able to defend themselves with firearms without running away. I haven't seen any evidence the Zimmerman case wasn't investigated (and yes I read your posts in the other thread). I'm not saying that there can't be tweaks to the law though. For example, if it's true that you can start a fight and still use self-defense, that shouldn't be allowed.

 

[woolfe9999]

Well, if you don't have a SYG law then it is not clear what the limits are to self defense. If someone comes in your home with a knife, are you limited to only a knife? Are you obligated to flee? The SYG laws make it quite clear that you don't have to retreat, you can use deadly force when threatened, you are not limited on the use of a gun, and you don't have to worry about any criminal consequences.

There are still states that require you to retreat. There are also still states that can charge people with excessive force even in a self defense scenario. These states only allow you to slowly diffuse a situation and not stop the threat immediately.

My main concern about that Florida law is that if someone is put on trial and then acquitted on grounds of self-defense, the police can then be sued for unlawful arrest. You can't do that if you're acquitted on any other grounds, just that one. Which means that in any situation where the suspect claims self-defense the cops are going to be reluctant to arrest that person unless they have a slam dunk like a video of the incident. A trial is supposed to be where the evidence is tested and you can't even bring someone to trial without probable cause. Those safeguards which apply in every other situation ought to be sufficient protection for the legitimate self-defense cases. This law just causes the cops to bend over backwards and probably results in guilty people not being prosecuted.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Kraft also announced they were not renewing their membership this summer. I'm glad to see this. I despise the fact I can't even wipe my ass without some of the money for that TP is ending up in some politician's coffers or fueling some agenda. If we can't outright ban corporate political donations and lobbying at least we can shame/pressure them into cutting back the really flagrant stuff.

Also, ALEC has been up to a whole host of shenanigans in addition to pushing the SYG law.

 

[werepossum]

My main concern about that Florida law is that if someone is put on trial and then acquitted on grounds of self-defense, the police can then be sued for unlawful arrest. You can't do that if you're acquitted on any other grounds, just that one. Which means that in any situation where the suspect claims self-defense the cops are going to be reluctant to arrest that person unless they have a slam dunk like a video of the incident. A trial is supposed to be where the evidence is tested and you can't even bring someone to trial without probable cause. Those safeguards which apply in every other situation ought to be sufficient protection for the legitimate self-defense cases. This law just causes the cops to bend over backwards and probably results in guilty people not being prosecuted.

That's a good point. I have a big problem with the number of unnecessary and agenda-driven prosecutions, but to set in law the concept that anyone found not guilty has been wrongfully prosecuted is going much too far in the other direction.

 

[Craig234]

Pepsi and Coke both left ALEC - good for them. The issues with ALEC are FAR broader than anything to do with the SYG law.

 

[WHAMPOM]

For those in favor of SYG. What prompted the need for its creation? Im all for self defense but was there a rash of people being jailed for legitimate self defense claims? Shouldn't all self defense claims resulting in a death of serious bodily injury be fully investigated?

Why did we need this law?

Because of the absurd lenghts of retreat required previously, crawling out a second story window rather then *confront* an intruder.

 

[werepossum]

Because of the absurd lenghts of retreat required previously, crawling out a second story window rather then *confront* an intruder.

This.

I'm in favor of SYG in general, but the shooter has to be held to what a reasonable person would feel. And a verdict of not guilty should not be automatic evidence of police and/or prosecutorial malfeasance.

 

[Ninjahedge]

Actually I am sad to hear this, but not for why you may think.

What I am sad about is that F'n COCA COLA is more important to the political standing of our government than the actual "will of the people".

Money does not just talk, it bitch slaps anyone who talks back.

 

[xBiffx]

My main concern about that Florida law is that if someone is put on trial and then acquitted on grounds of self-defense, the police can then be sued for unlawful arrest. You can't do that if you're acquitted on any other grounds, just that one. Which means that in any situation where the suspect claims self-defense the cops are going to be reluctant to arrest that person unless they have a slam dunk like a video of the incident. A trial is supposed to be where the evidence is tested and you can't even bring someone to trial without probable cause. Those safeguards which apply in every other situation ought to be sufficient protection for the legitimate self-defense cases. This law just causes the cops to bend over backwards and probably results in guilty people not being prosecuted.

Having the police sued for unlawful arrest is far better than a victim hesitating, or worse refusing, to defend themselves due to them thinking they might be in the wrong. One results in maybe some money changing hands, the other could result in a fatality of an innocent victim.

 

[Ausm]

I am not sure if it was unjust jailing or innocent people hesitating to defend themselves, thereby being harmed or killed. Let me do some looking around.

What about "unjustified" burials for people mistakenly identified as a threat holding a bag of skittles and an iced tea?