Topic: Stand Your Ground

Don't call them "warning shots," bill's sponsor says of the self-defense measure sent to the Senate. Democrats failed in an attempt to pass an amendment to make a major change to "stand your ground."

About 150 members of the Dream Defenders outside the House and Senate chambers chanted, stomped and jumped so hard that the fourth floor of the Capitol bounced during a protest on Tuesday.

Michael Dunn and George Zimmerman trials show racial disparity, leaders said. Sen. Dwight Bullard said, if black gun owners had shot white teens, the Legislature would have repealed stand your ground long ago.

Everybody always wants to be tough on crime. Events since the 2013 session -- particularly an eye-opening report on released sex offenders committing new crimes and use of the "stand your ground" defense in some high-profile trials -- will help shape the law-and-order debate this spring.

"Dream Defenders" and gun-rights activists took turns during nearly five hours of testimony to argue the points of the much-contested self-defense law. It generated international anger after police cited the law when a neighborhood watch member shot an unarmed teenager to death in early 2012. Emotions flared again after the shooter was acquitted this past summer. Thursday's hearing was part of an agreement that ended a monthlong Capitol protest following the verdict.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee is set to shoot down a repeal bill on Thursday that was the agreement that ended the occupation of the Capitol this past summer after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the slaying of teenager Trayvon Martin.

However, Matt Gaetz, chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, says such changes are not needed.

Jury instructions in Marissa Alexander case were flawed, 1st District Court of Appeal ruled. ... Related Research: Sept. 26, 2013 Opinion in Case 1D12-2469 (Marissa Alexander v. Florida) before the Florida First District Court of Appeal.

The state representative from Ocala tells the Capital City Republican Club that President Barack Obama and the Rev. Al Sharpton injected politics in the Trayvon Martin case and advises legislators to be "very cautious" about changing the law.

The Senate Democratic Leader incorporates several GOP recommendations to close a last-man-standing loophole in the self-defense law. A person who leaves a safe place and initiates a fight would not be able to invoke stand your ground to avoid prosecution. ... Related Research: Aug. 26, 2013 Press release, "Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith Files Legislation Closing 'Last Man Standing' Loophole."

Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, said he looks forward to "a meaningful dialog on this next month" as he filed HB 4003. NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer says the law needs no change.

The Department of State Wednesday released a list that showed more than half of the state's 160-member Legislature had voted no. Republicans overwhelmingly reject the idea in a survey of all lawmakers.

Survey of legislators shows 2-1 opposition to a stand-your-ground session.

At its summer conference, the Florida Sheriffs Association unanimously says no changes are needed to the much-debated self-defense law. ... Related Research: Aug. 9, 2013 Statement from FL Sheriffs Association.