Trayvon Martin Resolution Introduced By Congressional Black Caucus

WASHINGTON -- The Congressional Black Caucus unveiled a resolution on Wednesday that honors the life of Trayvon Martin and calls for the repeal of "Stand Your Ground" gun laws in every state that has one, including Florida, where Martin was killed.

"Florida's misguided 'Stand Your Ground' law does not make our streets safer, rather it turns our streets into a showdown at the OK Corral," Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), a sponsor of the resolution, said in a statement. "But this is not the Wild West. We are supposed to be a civilized society. Let Trayvon's death not be for naught. Let us honor his life by righting this wrong, and seeing that justice is served for Trayvon and his family. George Zimmerman must be prosecuted for his admitted shooting of Trayvon Martin and the 'Stand Your Ground' law must be repealed."

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), who represents Martin's district, said Congress should pass the resolution because his death "speaks to the reality that racial profiling still exists in America.”

The resolution, symbolic but not legally binding, indirectly criticizes the National Rifle Association for pushing Stand Your Ground state laws around the country. It also calls on state legislatures to reject similar legislation and "urges the repeal of the Stand Your Ground law in every applicable state, including Florida."

Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., has avoided arrest under the state's Stand Your Ground law, which allows a person who feels threatened to "stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force." More than half of U.S. states have similar laws. Martin's shooting has infuriated the black community, among others, because Martin, who was black, was unarmed and doesn't appear to have been doing anything wrong when Zimmerman pursued him.

Congress wouldn't be able to consider the resolution until at least the week of April 16, when lawmakers return from recess. But a senior GOP aide said Wednesday that House Republican leaders don't plan to bring it to a vote at all.

The aide said there are concerns that the resolution could raise jurisdictional issues since local and federal law enforcement agencies are already investigating Martin's killing.

The measure may also run afoul of House rules that prevent a measure from coming appearing on the suspension calendar -- typically where resolutions land -- that "expresses appreciation, commends, congratulates, celebrates, recognizes the accomplishments" of a person or entity.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Texpointman]

12:05 PM on 07/14/2012

STG, must stay, it's The Peoples right, it is also Constitutional, not Resolutional, why is it that when people in the black community are caught holding the bag, every activist goes on a rampage and try to exterminate everyone else other than themselves without knowing all the facts...so then, who are the real racist...we all are....that's why we live in segregated neighborhoods, and it's by choice, and never mingle. A gun is not a killer we all are, it doesn't matter who you are or how you do it, we are what we are, it not the laws that should be changed it's the people that should change, look around, smell the coffee, a law doesn't mean anything to a criminal, take it away and we all are under their mercy...I chose not to be under no ones mercy but God's....take that anyway you want it....Just saying.

[Still proud]

08:09 PM on 04/21/2012

OK, we're talking about the Stand Your Ground Law yes? I want to know why is nothing mentioned about the other Stand Your Ground case where an Iraq war veteran was shot down in front of his little girl and nothing is said about that??? And why do my comments about this always get deleted?

[Still proud]

07:54 PM on 04/21/2012

The facts are not in on this case, but they are on the 41 year old Iraq war veteran David James who was playing basketball with his little girl. Check this story out: Dooley, who lives across the street, comes out of his house, starts yelling at skateboarders, James defends skateboarders verbally, Dooley approaches James and starts to pull out a gun from his waistband, James tries to restrain Dooley, James is shot dead in front of his little girl. Bet no one heard about this. Dooley is black and James is white. Hey Al? Where you at?

[Still proud]

07:47 PM on 04/21/2012

Have you heard Martin's mother is getting a trademark on her son's name? She can now become wealthy and receive a percentage of the sales of Trayvon shirts, bumper stickers, posters etc. Hmmmmm.

[Still proud]

07:45 PM on 04/21/2012

I want an O.J. Simpson resolution!

[Caernarvon]

09:13 PM on 04/13/2012

And yet again, one more body is used to promote a political agenda before it even hits room temperature.

[ZeraLee]

04:14 AM on 04/11/2012

The people defending the law say it does not apply in this case. The police and the people defending Zimmerman say that it does. Zimmerman's lawyers say adios. The liberals say that because the law can be (and is) misapplied, it is a bad law.

These laws have more holes than a practice target. The one they tried to push through Minnesota was opposed by the vast majority of law enforcement. Thankfully, it was vetoed.

[Giglawyer]

07:34 PM on 04/10/2012

Ugh...what a waste of time and taxpayer money.

[Gloria VanBibber]

08:21 PM on 04/09/2012

A young boy is dead. It appears, for no reason this young boy is dead. Bow your heads. When are we, Americans, going to become color blind. Any of us can achieve it. It just takes work on your mind set. Embrace color blindness and your heart will be filled with joy, I guarentee it. Love is stronger than hate.

[Timothy Leo Ernest Crowe]

03:51 PM on 04/08/2012

I can kill you with my tea cup. We should have a stronger tea cup concealed carry laws. After all people aren't responsible for their own actions its always the tools fault.

[mikecross]

09:48 PM on 04/07/2012

All of us that do not have guns own or believe in them should identify ourselves as safe to others by bumper stickers and signs in our yards.

[Colin Ulman]

02:58 AM on 04/07/2012

Seems to me that repealing this law will hurt more law abiding African Americans than help. Put aside all the facts of this case, which I don't think anyone truly knows and look at the history of what they went through to have the same 2nd Amendment rights as whites and how it helped in the South.

[Watchman56]

07:38 AM on 04/07/2012

You have the right to have firearm. But do we need people pulling the trigger willy nilly anytime they feel even slightly threatened.

[Grimaud]

12:01 AM on 04/07/2012

The law is not the primary issue. There will always be those who are exceptions to the rule - when upholding a law. The focus instead should be on fighting the violent crime that plagues our neighborhoods - the underlying disease that precipitated the need for the law in the first place. The very reason GZ was out patrolling that night.

[vikingway2deal]

12:37 AM on 04/07/2012

Racist is the primary issue in this case. Racism by George Zimmerman, the Stanford Police Department and all the Southern tooth missing in the front, white racists who are threatened by the very existence of African Americans.

[Grimaud]

11:59 AM on 04/07/2012

Why is GZ a racist? 14 out of 14 crimes in his neighborhood ( in one month) were committed by black males. Who should he have been suspicious of? 80 year old Asian grandmother's? Stop race baiting. You're as bad as those who condemn the US for "profiling" Muslims - when terrorist attacks are made in the name of Allah.
If you don't want to be "profiled" - STOP COMMITTING THE CRIMES. It's a simple as that. And you've got that turned around - black thugs should be threatened by the existence of White citizen's who have had enough of violent crimes committed in their neighborhoods.

[gregman27]

02:11 PM on 04/09/2012

Very very few african americans, but about 13% of the country is black. And you really can not call racism when your shouting racism a little hypocritical.

[Yankeebrown]

06:28 PM on 04/06/2012

I'm in agreement that stand your ground law should be repealed but to charge Zimmerman retroactively is kinda unlawful considering that they are seeking legal means to repeal this law.

[vikingway2deal]

10:21 PM on 04/06/2012

George Zimmerman has already admitted to following Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman initiated a confrontation with Trayvon and fatally shoots Trayvon. How can Zimmerman claim he is protected by the 'Stand Your Ground' law? So if Zimmerman drove to an African American community so an African American who looked suspicious to him ( because racists think the very existence of African Americans is a threat to them) and shoots and kills that person. Can he still claim he is protected by the 'Stand Your Ground Law'? Stand your ground implies you are not moving. Zimmerman was moving towards his perceived danger. Why? If he really thought Trayvon Martin was a threat to him, then why did Zimmerman stalk and accost Trayvon subsequently murdering him?

[Yankeebrown]

07:53 AM on 04/07/2012

I read at huffpost that Zimmerman followed him and then he lost sight of him and while returning to his vehicle Treyvon attacked him from behind. It seems that Treyvon was following Zimmerman and he was justified in defending himself. Enough bad stuff has been said about Zimmerman and the truth is slowly starting to come out. Like the video showing blood on his head or the voice recording that was purposely misinterpreted by an NBC editor because hate sales. Enough of this!

[gregman27]

02:14 PM on 04/09/2012

"Stand your ground implies you are not moving" that would be standing still sweety. Stand your ground has nothing to do with standing, it means one does not have to retreat when threatened before one can use deadly force.

[Still proud]

07:44 PM on 04/21/2012

They can't charge Zimmerman retroactively, it violates the Constitution.

[gisellestwocents]

04:23 PM on 04/06/2012

Anyone can claim stand your ground if there are no witnesses to a shooting. For that reason alone, there should always be a trial to examine the facts. And there should be clear cut evidence to support the need for deadly force, otherwise, killers rule.

[vikingway2deal]

10:28 PM on 04/06/2012

Southern racist killers want to rule and the want to have the Wlid, Wild, West law to all the states. The 'Stand Your Ground' needs to be abolished!

[Grimaud]

11:49 PM on 04/06/2012

You're wrong. You would be taking away one more defense avenue for innocent citizen's protecting themselves from thugs. It is interesting that the minority that is guilty of the most violent crimes are the one's wanting to repeal the law.

[FTPG]

02:29 PM on 04/07/2012

The "Stand Your Ground Law" could have easily protected Trayvon, had he been of age, a law abiding citizen, with a legally purchased hand gun... assuming GZ was in fact hunting him down as his lawyers, protestors, and you are claiming.

[gregman27]

02:16 PM on 04/09/2012

That would be called an investigation, or should we start arresting everyone until we have enough evidence for a trial? That would go against the constitution, the document that gives all of us our rights.