Mediaboss Marketing

TALLAHASSEE After fierce debate over a proposal to repeal Floridas controversial stand your ground law, the House on Thursday passed a law aimed at loosening the states mandatory-minimum sentencing laws.

The legislation, HB 89, didnt include stand your ground repeal language until Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, filed an amendment less than eight hours before the bill hit the House floor.

The stand your ground language had no chance of passage in the GOP-dominated House, but did spark debate on the issue

Stand your ground has essentially failed my community, said state Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville. It may work for your community, but it is not working for ours.

Supporters of the law said that there is a false narrative surrounding the law after a handful of deaths involving black teenagers, but the gunmen werent convicted of the killings. The law gained national prominence after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, whose gunman was acquitted of second-degree murder charges.

George Zimmerman, the shooter, didnt use stand your ground as part of his defense, but it was included in the jury instructions.

Supporters said its about the right to self-defense.

The question you need to ask yourself is should we have the fundamental right to protect ourselves from those who seek to harm us, said state Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral.

As expected, the GOP-led House was easily able to swat the stand your ground amendment on an 83-31 vote, with 12 Democrats joining Republicans.

The underlying bill, which passed on a 93-24 vote, changes state self-defense laws to include justifiable use of force, or actions like a warning shot. Currently, self-defense laws only apply to someone who actually uses force.

See original here:

Florida House passes changes to gun laws, tuition, license tag fees