'Stand Your Ground' Panel Meets, Jennifer Carroll, Florida Lieutenant Governor, Promises Fair Investigation

The task force empaneled by Florida Governor Rick Scott called to look into the state's "Stand Your Ground" law, which has come under fire in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin shooting, had its first meeting yesterday.

The "Stand Your Ground" law, also known as Florida Statute Chapter 776, deals with justifiable use of force, holding that a person has conditional claims of self defense in situations in which they may have "held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself."

Florida's statute and similar measures in other states have become especially controversial in the wake of the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager who was shot and killed in an altercation with a neighborhood watch member. Under the statute, the shooter, George Zimmerman, may have standing for a self-defense claim.

Florida state lawmakers say that "Stand Your Ground" needs clarifying. "You have prostitutes shooting their johns and availing themselves to this law," said State Sen. Chris Smith. "You have gang members having shootouts and availing themselves of this law. You have people chasing someone a block down the street stabbing someone to death and availing themselves of this law. I think those points need to be clarified."

But the 19-member panel, led by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, the first African American elected statewide in Florida, has been criticized for its makeup.

“Though on face [sic] you have selected a mixed group, in reality the lawmakers chosen for this task force all represent a singular viewpoint, having all voted [for] and/or co-sponsored the bill that would become the 'Stand Your Ground' statute," State Rep. Dwight Bullard of Miami wrote to Scott.

But Carroll pushed back, vowing that the panel's investigation would be fair. "Out of the 19 total members on this task force, I am unaware of the other 15 members' position on ['Stand Your Ground'] or if they favor or disfavor gun laws. So it is a mischaracterization for anyone to presume that this task force is not balanced," Carroll said.

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Comments

[death62]

04:03 PM on 07/16/2012

people who are responsible go to get the CCW license.
people who are not don't
they both carry weapons.
make it illegal to carry it then who will be carrying weapons! crinimals!
but most liberals and crinimal wouldn't mind that!
criminal would have think their dream come true, lots of sheep to run amock and rob and other thing!
and liberals would dream of what to do with other peoples money to solve the countrys crime problem!
solve both problems "open carry" the criminal would see you are not a sheep but a wolverine! and messed with someone will get bitten!

[Rooster Coburn]

10:33 PM on 06/12/2012

We need open carry here in Florida.

[cherokee1934]

04:26 PM on 05/28/2012

Here is something that everyone needs to read and let it soak into their BRAIN.

Trayvon suspended THREE times for 'drugs, truancy, graffiti and carrying burglary tool' and did he attack bus driver too? New picture emerges of victim as parents claim it's all a smearThe teen was suspended from school three times
He was on suspension when he was shot in February, after officials caught him with a 'marijuana pipe' and a baggie with drug residue
Trayvon was kicked out of school in October for graffiti after he was allegedly caught with a 'burglary tool' and a bag full of women's jewelry
Officials also suspended him once for skipping school and tardiness
Tearful parents say their son is now the victim of a smear campaign
New poll shows 73 percent of Americans think Zimmerman should be arrested

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120504/Trayvon-Martin-case-He-suspended-times-caught-burglary-tool.html#ixzz1wCL2c8sE

[maoticamison]

08:54 AM on 05/29/2012

I believe Mr Z has had a "wee bit" of a history with the law also.Nobody has to be perfect to remain alive.If one is irrelevant so is the other.And T. was a child.

[cherokee1934]

02:47 PM on 05/29/2012

You are right about Zimmerman.....but have you seen the data on Trayvon Martin? He seemed to be into a few things himself..........

[Allan Tanny]

11:13 AM on 07/24/2012

Gee he was suspended from school. He smoked marijuana. Lets just shoot him. And the decision should be made by one guy acting as judge, jury and executioner. I have to check the laws down in Florida. I didn't think any of these things were punishable by death. Especially when the executioner wasn't even aware of these facts. Tough state you got there.
Time to start vacationing elsewhere because obviously i would be at a disadvantage, not being able to bring my AK-47 on the plane.

[cdecisneros]

03:10 PM on 05/21/2012

Real Fair. When asked why democrats were not on it. they answered did not apply. Only problem? No application.

[greenstraws]

08:49 PM on 05/10/2012

Any document signed into law by Jeb Bush is highly suspect.

[maoticamison]

11:38 AM on 05/10/2012

Did Trayvon have the right to self defense under this law?Zimmerman, had he remained in his vehicle as requested,(ordered), may be covered if Trayvon attacked his vehicle...but how after exiting the vehicle can we decide who is in fear for their life?

[cherokee1934]

11:41 AM on 05/28/2012

had he remained in his vehicle as requested,(ordered),.....(lol) This is becoming a JOKE.
Again, a 911 operator can't order anyone to do anything.....all they can do is to suggest things to do. The person on the spot has to decide what to do next...

[Allan Tanny]

11:20 AM on 07/24/2012

Your right. And he should rely on all his training to react to the problem. Certainly his training in how to handle suspicious people is far more advanced than the silly operator who is not on the scene. Trained police officers know how to handle these situations without resorting to gun violence. Idiots armed to the teeth do not. Just remember you gun toting maniacs, the next time an untrained armed idiot shoots someone it could be you. And for those yearning to strap on the old 6 shooter and pretend he is a cowboy, please note that the size of your gun or your willingness to use it does not make you a man, nor does it compensate for other size issues.

[maoticamison]

08:30 AM on 05/29/2012

If I am walking down the street minding my own business, how do I feel if you follow in an unmarked vehicle, for a block or two and then exit your vehicle( with no uniform, no badge and no real reaon to be bugging me...and then make demands on my person?) or am I not allowed to have ideas on the subject?Do I try to run?And if you try to stop me...do I "stand my ground"? Beacause I do not know you...or what you want.It's dark and there are no witnesses to anything that might occur.
But in the event...that dispatcher had more authority, in that situation than did Mr. Z.
There was no situation on the ground.It was in Mr. Z's need to imagine more authority and legitimacy than he actually possessed.
He didn't say anything was going wrong, or that any crime was being committed

[acumenguy]

01:38 AM on 05/10/2012

Interesting question I haven't heard asked yet:
Trayvon is being followed by some armed, adult guy.
Armed adult guy confronts Trayvon:

Question:
Does Trayvon have a legal right to stand HIS ground??????

[cherokee1934]

11:39 AM on 05/28/2012

If all the armed guy does is to ask questions then NO. If the guy is not doing anything wrong at the time then he should not mind answering a few questions. Then he would be allowed to go on his way. In Zimmerman's case, he was watching over the area because of break ins.

[maoticamison]

09:11 AM on 05/29/2012

If he's not doing anything wrong, it is possible a private citizen may not want to be bothered at all.No one is under any compulsion, legally or morally or even civilly to respond to strangers on the street.Skintone is not an automatic badge of undeniable authority and that is pretty much all that Z had going for him.And it seemed he was actually convinced that that was all it took.He sees a person smaller than him, feels like he can take him if things go bad and then shoots him cause "bein' real" went south on him.Plus it's dark and no one else is around.What could possibly go wrong?
Because of break-ins ? What he can shoot any burglar he wants to shoot?
He does not have that kind of license...
Do you think T. would have been killed if Z had waited for that squad car?Think T. could hurl that tea through the windshield and fracture Z's spine?

[daplumber]

06:58 AM on 05/09/2012

Stand Your Ground Laws are a very good idea. If you do not think so, I would bet, you have never been a Victim. Read about The Elderly Couple in Tulsa Ok. that were the Victims of a Home Invasion. This story in not reported in our Chicago Area Media, it is too upsetting to the agenda of the Tryvone Movement. Mr. Bob Strait was a WW2 Paratrooper, who was involved in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. The 20 Yr. old Criminal, that committed the Crime, Sexually Assaulted the 80 Yr. Old Wife of Mr. Bob Strait. He Died later of his wounds, which included a Broken Heart. This is what happens to people who are the Victims of a Home Invader. I would rather have read that a home invader was shot and Killed. Another Criminal stopped by Stand Your Ground, but that was not the case, he is still alive.

[cherokee1934]

11:35 AM on 05/28/2012

This type of thing keeps on happening across the USA and people are tired of putting up with it, so the several states are passing stand your ground laws just as fast as they can get them written. And most of them are looking at the Florida Law as a model.

[maoticamison]

09:20 AM on 05/29/2012

They were in their own home.And self defense in my opinion should always be okay.If that is what it is.You have a right to expect a reasonable amount of safety on or in your own properties.And you have the right to do what you need to do to protect yourself and your loved ones...or even a casual acquaintance if they are under your wing.But there is a point where self defense becomes a bit less than passive and becomes aggressive.Say when you get in your car and follow the car that just burglarized you, blow out the tires and shoot the thing up a few blocks from your home. At this point your defense of self may be questioned.

[Scotlandsgirl]

04:56 PM on 05/08/2012

Florida is a pit of dysfunction.

[daplumber]

10:21 AM on 07/29/2012

I think you misspelled CHICAGO!

[Fusil Banniere]

03:02 PM on 05/07/2012

The steps needed to end gun violence.

Step One is to take advantage of high profile incidents that involve guns and to use them to get media time. People make decisions when their emotions are elevated that they would not have considered at other times.

Step Two is to marginalize legal gun use and historic precedent. Police forces should be considered as sufficient without personal security measures. Incidents of the mishandling of guns create doubt about their usefulness and their safe use.

Step Three is to make some guns seem more dangerous than others. Fear could sway the support for banning of some firearms.

Step Four is to register every sale. It’s important to know who owns guns and what type for future reference.

Step Five is a “Shall Issue” permitting process. Police can then decide a person’s eligibility for a permit based on “Good Cause” which can later be legislatively defined to limit carry to those who are law enforcement with further prohibitions as opportunities arise.

The Final step is to encourage and incentivize the forfeiture of arms. If people believe that they no longer have a need for arms and that arms are dangerous to own, they will be more likely to forfeit them. Incentives could include cash or food for information about unlicensed neighbors or family members. Lastly a serious of ongoing compliance inspections based on gun and ammunition sales registration would complete the goal of a world free of gun violence.

[JohnF Boulder Co]

09:14 PM on 05/08/2012

In other words, lie.

[ecotton02]

10:45 AM on 05/12/2012

ok... so we should give up our guns and run and hide or just let our selves be victoms. have you ever called a cop and saw how long it takes for them to come. My house was robbed and they know who did it and did nothing. The best way to stops the deaths is to leave other peoples property alone and stay away from them and you won't get shot in most cases. This martin guy might not have been doing anything at the time but he was a known thief that hat been robbing homes and messing with drugs. He was not the sweet little angel the dishonest media tried to pass off on everybody.

[maoticamison]

09:29 AM on 05/29/2012

Z had never heard of the guy.He was from out of the area.Visiting a relative who lived in the neighborhood.

[Allan Tanny]

11:33 AM on 07/24/2012

Right. Except none of the things he did were punishable by death. And his executioner was not aware of his past history.
And what is it about the USA that if you don't have guns you have to run and hide. I live in Montreal and our urban area counts a population of about 5.5 million. Right now I think we are around 40 homicides for the year. If a thief came into my house I'd let him take what he wants and call the police and my insurance company. Taking a life doesn't make you a hero and the law doesn't allow the courts to sentence a crook to death, why should you have that right.

[AJCAVReport]

10:10 AM on 05/07/2012

"Stand Your Ground" For Justice and Equality against, The Injustice and Inequality "Stand Your Ground" Law!!!

[Jerry Bourbon]

11:25 AM on 05/08/2012

Remind me again: What was the crime rate in Florida BEFORE this law passed? What is the crime rate in Florida TODAY?

[cherokee1934]

11:29 AM on 05/28/2012

The crime rate was much higher then than it is now. Every state that has passed this kind of law has seen crime go down in the following years.

[Tquin]

11:02 AM on 05/05/2012

One has the right to defend their life if they believe they are going to be killed. It is as simple as that. That will also be the ultimate outcome of this case. The circumstances in this one case are unfortunate, however, the end result will be that the law will stand.

[popeej]

01:04 PM on 05/07/2012

But it does not give the right to people who start fights to use deadly force when they start to lose.

[gdogs]

02:03 PM on 05/07/2012

Actually, if you read the law, it does precisely that.

[JohnF Boulder Co]

09:08 PM on 05/08/2012

Not true at all.
Any prosecutor and judge would be happy to get another conviction from someone who tried that.
"self defense" justifiable homicide is used as a defense against conviction when charged. Historically, it is tried very seldom, and succeeds very seldom when tried.
If there's _ANY_ indication that the "defender" urged an attack or started any hostilities, they'll lose.
(Note: Following someone and asking them a question isn't an open hostile action.)

[LJ P]

09:37 PM on 05/03/2012

New FLorida crime statistics just released on April 30, 2012 for the year 2011. Florida recorded its lowest crime rate in 41 years. Overall Firearm Involved Violent Offense down for the 4th straight year. lAs for Justifiable Homicides, overall justifiable homicides increased from 96 in 2010 to 118 in 2011, but let me break that down. Seventy felons were killed by police officers compared to 56 in 2010 and 48 felons were killed by private citizens in 2011 compared to 40 in 2010. So you saw an increase of about 25 percent more law-enforcement-officer justifiable homicide and an increase of about 20 percent for civilian justifiable homicides. These numbers are not the pandemic reported by the Huffy and certainly not the "Tripling of justifiable homicides" reported so often in the blogs.

This hardly seems like a pandemic issue.

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/efeec3a5-7c63-4a31-a999-7f01ed8e6fe7/firearms_2011.aspx

[Teresa Martinez]

01:49 PM on 05/08/2012

Very simple question, what have you taught you child/teen to do if pursued by a stranger? If you are any decent parent you tell them to try and run away. If you get cornered, fight and keep fighting all the while screaming for help. So if your kid does this and ends up dead in the street, just like Trayvon, you would be ok with that? I doubt it. The one thing that no one can deny is if Zimmerman had just stayed in his car and not pursued this kid like he was told by the police, Trayvon would be alive. Gotten home, given his brother the candy and finished watching the All Star game. That's the most depressing part of all.

[LJ P]

02:41 PM on 05/08/2012

OF course i would teach them that. And then when they were old enough, I would teach them about guns, and gun safety, and how to deal with people who might have guns.  Long before they could carry a weapon concealed (that is their decision) I would teach them about hunting and all the great shooting sports.

 As for being "OK" with mu child getting shot, of course I wouldn't be OK with it.  I would demand complete due process of the law. However, that does not mean justice equals revenge.  There is nothing the trial or lack of it will do to end my grieving.  The law is there to protect me and anyone else who might be in the same circumstance. As long as it was handled properly, and I would assure that it was, I would not fight it. There is no amount of Monday morning quarterbacking that is going to make this any better for the Martins. Sure if he never got out of his car this MIGHT not have happened.  IF he never went out to the go to the store this might not have happened.  If Trayvon had not gone to the store this might not have happened.  Both had a right to do what they did, right up to the confrontation. It is only that moment that matters here.  Unfortunately there were not witnesses to that moment.  It may be that GZ is innocent and his story is true.  OR it may be

[ecotton02]

10:50 AM on 05/12/2012

I get so sick of people saying that just because Zimmerman didn,t stay in his car Martin had the right to attack hom. Martin just made a mistake and brought fists to a gun fight.

[milk62078]

05:34 PM on 05/02/2012

about time a state lets you defend your life without making you the criminal.

[popeej]

01:03 PM on 05/07/2012

Exactly when did defending your life make you a criminal? There was no need for the SYG law because there were no cases where a person defending their life was ever arrested or convicted of doing so. Even the authors of the bill conceded that.

[JohnF Boulder Co]

09:28 PM on 05/08/2012

The legislation which the "no duty to retreat" law is a response to, did not specify that like in your home, you may defend yourself without exhausting every possible means of escape if outdoors.
It left it open for prosecutors to charge people who defended themselves outdoors.

Meanwhile in Illinois, a piece of legislation called "the Hale Demar act" provides immunity from prosecution for gun possession charges, if the reason the person was found to be in illegal possession of a gun in their home, is that they were forced to use it to defend themselves against a home invasion.
The prosecutors had declined to press charges against Mr Demar after such an incident, on fear of losing their jobs due to widespread citizen outcry after they voiced some interest in prosecuting him for owning a gun.
Personally, I'm against the Demar act immunity. If they wish to press forward with their nonsense of insisting that all citizens must be disarmed, when it's proven that you can't disarm the criminals and the police have no legal requirement to come to your aid even if they can, then we should require them to make fools of themselves, and hopefully use Jury Nullification to throw out the gun prohibition laws.

[milk62078]

09:48 PM on 05/08/2012

clearly youre not from massachusetts....

[cherokee1934]

11:11 AM on 05/28/2012

At least half of the states have this same kind of law. And many more are studying Florida's law to pattern their law for their state.

[gmb007]

04:36 PM on 05/02/2012

Well, of course this panel will be "fair" and "balanced".

Look who's at its helm - Rick Scott, a fraudulent, self-serving liar and thief.

[Jerry Bourbon]

10:21 PM on 05/02/2012

Floridians are, of course, free to use the democratic process and repeal this law any time they like.

[HotheadPaisen]

11:17 AM on 05/05/2012

as if Floridians voted for it in the first place?