WASHINGTON- Trayvon Martin’s mother told a Senate committee Tuesday that self-defense laws allowing the use of deadly force – like the Florida law cited in George Zimmerman’s acquittal in Martin’s death – increase racially motivated killing,
Sybrina Fulton’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee reignited the national debate about gun laws.
Florida was the first state to pass a so-called “stand your ground” law that allows people to defend themselves, including by the use of deadly force, if they think someone is trying to kill or grievously harm them, no matter where they are. More than two dozen states have since passed similar laws.
Martin, 17, was unarmed when he was shot to death last year by Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch patrol member in Sanford, Fla.
“We’re seeing a national impact when it comes to public safety and civil rights,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “These laws (Stand Your Ground) have allowed shooters to walk free in shocking situations. These laws increase racial disparity in our criminal justice system.”
Fulton said that her son, Trayvon, was simply walking to the store to buy a drink and some candy while talking on a cell phone at the time of his shooting.
“He was minding his own business. He was not looking for any type of trouble. He was not committing any crime,” Fulton said. “What message are we sending if our kids – because remember these are our kids in our communities – don’t feel safe?”
Lucia McBath, whose 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was killed when a man opened fire on Davis and three other unarmed teenagers in the back seat of a car after an argument about loud music coming from the car, said that “stand your ground defies all reason.”
“An angry man who owned a gun took it close at hand and chose to demonstrate unrivaled hatred for reasons that I will never understand,” McBath said.
“That man was empowered by the ‘stand your ground’ statute. I’m here to tell you there was no ground standing,” McBath said.
McBath also spoke on behalf of an organization called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which believes the “Stand Your Ground” laws go against justice.
Jennifer Hoppe, of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said it was founded the day after the mass shootings at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Conn., and now has more than 120,000 members.
“We’ve come here today to just say, ‘We’ve had enough of these “stand your ground” laws,” Hoppe said. “We think they’re contributing to gun violence in our country.”
David LaBahn, president of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, said the laws leave people to guess what behavior is legal and what behavior is criminal.
But Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, supports the laws, saying they don’t apply to aggressors just to people trying to protect themselves against serious threats.
“Self defense is a bedrock liberty of every American,” Cruz said. “I emphatically agree that law enforcement should be vigorous, protecting those innocent citizens who are preyed upon by violent criminals.”
Cruz said the Judiciary Committee hearing wasn’t needed and was called only to advance the gun-control cause.
“Unfortunately, there are many who are more interested in advancing a political agenda,” he said.