"Senate Postpones "Stand Your Ground" Hearing; Study Ties Law to Jump in Justified Homicides"

[applegrove]

Senate Postpones "Stand Your Ground" Hearing; Study Ties Law to Jump in Justified Homicides

Democracy Now

http://m.democracynow.org/headlines/2013/9/18/35771

"SNIP......................................

As the D.C. shooting helps renew public attention on gun control, the Senate has postponed a hearing on "Stand Your Ground" laws that promote the use of weapons in response to perceived threats. A new study co-sponsored by Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the National Urban League shows killings deemed justified increased in states with Stand Your Ground laws in effect. Overall, states with Stand Your Ground laws saw the number of justifiable homicides jump 53 percent. In states without Stand Your Ground, the rate dropped 5 percent.

.......................................SNIP"

[ManiacJoe]

1. The federal Senate was going to have a hearing on "Stand Your Ground" laws?

[applegrove]

2. Was news to me too.

[NYC_SKP]

3. Due, apparently, to the DC shooting.

Durbin postpones 'stand your ground' gun law hearing after D.C. shooting

By Liz Goodwin, Yahoo News | Yahoo News – Mon, Sep 16, 2013

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has postponed a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on “stand your ground” self-defense gun laws slated for Tuesday morning in the wake of Monday’s shooting at the nearby Navy Yard complex that’s left at least 13 dead, included the suspected gunman.

The mothers of two slain teens and experts who are both for and against gun control were scheduled to testify about the controversial laws, which sparked a national debate after the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Sybrina Fulton, Martin’s mother and a vocal opponent of "stand your ground" laws, was slated to be one of the witnesses at the hearing.

The hearing has not yet been rescheduled.

http://news.yahoo.com/durbin-postpones--stand-your-ground--gun-law-hearing-after-d-c--shooting-225202977.html

[applegrove]

5. Thanks for the info. Now that we know

Last edited Thu Sep 19, 2013, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

there will be a hearing on syg, we can look for it, and follow it.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Trayvon's mom will appear before congress.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/14/1238730/-IL-Sen-Trayvon-Martin-s-Mother-Will-Testify-At-Dick-Durbin-s-D-Stand-Your-Ground-Hearing

While SYG isn't related to the DC Navy shootings, I can't imagine that they won't reschedule.

If anything, they should broaden the hearings to include background checks, crazy people who fall through the cracks, etc.

[applegrove]

7. Glad Trayvon‘s mom has a role to play in

this horrid mess. She can be close to her son in her fight.

[jberryhill]

4. Well of course it does. That's the point

It redefines as "justified", a class of homicides which would not have previously had an affirmative defense in the way of justification.

I mean, my goodness, if all homicides were deemed to be legal, there would no longer be any illegal homicides at all. I can hardly imagine why we don't take that step to bring the murder rate down to zero instantly.