“Stand Your Ground” Authors Say Law Doesn't Apply To Trayvon Martin Shooter

Lawmakers talk about how the Stand Your Ground Law doesn't apply in the Trayvon Martin shooting

Two lawmakers who crafted the Stand Your Ground Law say the measure doesn't apply to the shooter of Trayvon Martin, a Miami teen shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer, and he should face charges.

"He has no protection under my law," said Former Sen. Durell Peaden, one of the law's authors, The Miami Herald reported. "They got the goods on him. They need to prosecute whoever shot the kid." 

Peaden said that when George Zimmerman told dispatch that he was following Martin he lost his defense under the law.

Sen. Oscar Braynon (D-Miami Gardens) urged that the law be changed, but the law's authors state Peaden and Rep. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) said there's no need to change the law.

On Tuesday, the Seminole County State Attorney said case would go before a grand jury.

The newspaper reported that the law allows law-abiding people to use deadly force if they believe doing so would save their lives or prevent great bodily harm.

In the 911 tapes it seems as if Zimmerman ignores the police request to stay where he is when he said he was following Martin.

Braynon said the role of neighborhood watch volunteers should be examined.

"When the Legislature passed this in 2005, I don't think they planned for people who would go out and become vigilantes or be like some weird Batman who would go out and kill little kids like Trayvon," the newspaper quoted Sen. Oscar Braynon (D-Miami Gardens) as saying.

Baxley said there is nothing in the law that allows people to pursue and confront people.

"There's nothing in the Florida law that allows him to follow someone with a d*** gun," said Peaden.

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