Mothers Team Up to Fight Stand Your Ground Law

The mothers of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis are working together to end Florida’s infamous “stand your ground” law.

“These two moms are going to make positive change to make sure that ‘stand your ground’ doesn’t continue to happen,” Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin told CBS News.

“Stand your ground” laws allow people who fear for their safety to use deadly force against their agressor and override any legal obligation they have to retreat. Fulton and Lucia McBath—the mother of Davis—both lost their sons to men whose actions put the law center stage and sparked national debate, though they didn’t necessarily use the law as part of their legal defense. Martin was killed by George Zimmerman in 2012 and Davis was shot and killed by Michael Dunn during a dispute over Davis’ music volume. Martin was acquitted, while Dunn was convicted of attempted murder but the jury hung on more serious murder charges.

Fulton and McBath are helping to lead a protest Monday at Florida’s State Capitol for the repeal of stand your ground. They argue the law gives killers the excuse to “shoot and kill someone and then ask questions later.”

But Florida is preparing to expand the law to allow people who feel their life is in jeopardy to fire a warning shot, CBS reports. Proponents of this addition say it will protect people like Marissa Alexander, who says she fired a warning shot in 2012 that killed her abusive husband. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Alexander’s family is joining the march in protest of the law.

[CBS News]