UPDATE-Governor to Announced Gun Law Task Force in Wake of Trayvon Martin Death
Our nation needs to carefully consider a civilians right to self defense in the context of modern lifestyles and the second amendment as an individual right. One can look at Supreme court precedent for a lot of good guidance.
What “last resort” defense will we allow law abiding civilians in public?
We have to balance the possibility of those who would be vigilantes and single women living or traveling alone.
UPDATE—
“”Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who is chairing the Task Force on Citizens Safety and Protection, said the “highly qualified” group includes people from “many different points of view” who are “racially, regionally, and professionally diverse.”
The task force includes a retired judge, attorneys experienced in both prosecution and defense, and members of neighborhood watch programs. Two state representatives are on the task force, one of them the author of the “stand your ground” bill in the House, Carroll said. The list of 17 members also shows two state senators.
There are no representatives from the National Rifle Association on the task force, Carroll said in response to a question. But the task force will hear from people on various sides of the issues at public events throughout the state.
She said the government did not reach out to people to join the task force, but rather considered people who had contacted officials and said they wanted to be a part of it.
“We’re going to engage the entire state of Florida to tell us the pros and cons, how they feel about these laws,” said the Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., who is serving as vice chair.”“
(CNN) — Florida’s governor will announce Thursday morning who will be part of a task force that will look at the state’s gun laws in the aftermath of the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin.
In March, as outrage was growing about the shooting, Gov. Rick Scott said that Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll would lead the task force but he would also take time to choose some of the other members.
“After listening to many concerned citizens in recent days, I will call for a Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection to investigate how to make sure a tragedy such as this does not occur in the future,” Scott said at the time.
The task force will study Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury, Scott has said.
It is unknown how the law may ultimately factor into the defense case of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Martin on February 26. The 28-year-old has told authorities the killing was in self-defense.