Florida Law Requires Full Investigations of Self-Defense Claims

Florida lawmakers have approved a bill requiring state law enforcement officials to conduct full investigations of self-defense claims and develop training guidelines for all neighborhood watch groups.

By a vote of 7-2, Senate Bill 130 also stipulates that law enforcement fully investigate all use of force incidents where self-defense has been claimed. The bill also mandates that anyone who uses force against an alleged attacker can still be held responsible if they injure or kill an uninvolved bystander.

Critics of 'stand your ground laws' have been clamoring for changes to its foundation ever since self-appointed, neighborhood watch patrolman George Zimmerman fatally shot unarmed 17-year-old teen Trayvon Martin in February 2012.

Martin died just steps from his father's gated community home in Sanford as he was returning home from a nearby convenience store, only to be approached by Zimmerman, who later admitted to authorities he followed and confronted the teen because he thought he looked suspicious simply because he was wearing a hoodie.

"After what happened in Sanford we want to send a message to neighborhood watch programs… about what is acceptable behavior," said Senate Minority leader Chris Smith. He later added he and other state lawmakers want a "broader definition of aggressors," as well as a system where authorities are better able to track use and application of the law statewide.

 With that in mind, Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon's still heartbroken mom, recently went to Washington to both advance the cause and honor her son's memory.

"By being unclear in when and how it is applied, stand your ground in its current form is far too open to abuse," Fulton told the Senate Judiciary Committee of a law that now has been adopted in some form or fashion in at least 22 states.

Lucia McBath, the mother of Jordan Russell Davis, the 17-year-old teen also killed nearly a year ago when 46-year-old Michael David Dunn opened fire on a vehicle he was sitting in with four other teens after quarreling with them over how loud they were playing their music, also tearfully addressed the committee.

"That man was empowered by the 'stand your ground' statue, McBath told the panel. "I am here to tell you there was no ground to stand. There was no threat. No one was trying to invade his home, his vehicle, nor threatened him or his family."

Argued Republican Sen. John Thrasher, the man largely responsible for drafting the law in 2005, "what we're saying is we're putting them in jeopardy even if they're trying to defend themselves."

Fulton looked on as others of Thrasher mindset, such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Louis Gohmert, even dared to try convincing the largely minority crowd that 'stand your ground' has actually served benefitted blacks.

It was at that point that she was again moved to action.

 "As I think about this as a mother, and I think about how many kids walk to the store, and how many kids now feel they cannot be safe in their own community I think about the message we're sending as parents, as lawmakers, because remember these are our kids in our communities that don't feel safe, don't feel safe simply walking to the store to candy and a drink."