The Hill News

Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) is calling for repeal of that state’s “stand your ground” law following the deadly shooting of unarmed African-American teenager Trayvon Martin last month.

“Trayvon Martin’s death is a tragedy and that has rightly spurred a national conversation and calls to action,” Wasserman Schultz, who chairs the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement posted on her website Friday and circulated on Twitter Saturday.

“This case is further evidence that Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground Law,’ which passed in 2005, needs to be repealed. The failure of the Sanford police to further investigate this crime as a result of their interpretation of this law is an injustice to Trayvon’s family and to all Floridians,” she added of the killing of the 17-year-old.

The shooting of Martin has increased scrutiny the 2005 Florida statute and similar laws in other states. The Florida law allows peop! le in places where they have a “right to be” the license use deadly force, rather than retreat, if they “reasonably” believe its necessary to prevent death or serious harm.

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