Compromise reached in Tallahassee seen as positive first step
Headline Surfer photo / Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin are shown in this screeenshort from an exclusive video interview in Miami weeks after their 17-year-old son, Trayvon Martin, was shot to death in a Sanford neighborhood by George Zimmerman.SANFORD -- Nearly three months after George Zimmerman walked out of the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center courtroom acquitted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, the slain teen's parents may finally be realizing a dream for change.
That change is in the legislation being discussed in Tallahassee modifying the so-called "Stand Your Ground" defense that Zimmerman used as a defense in firing a fatal shot through the heart of the unarmed teen the night of Feb. 26, 2012.
Today in Tallahassee the democratic process won out and a first compromise was reached,” said attorney Benjamin Crump who represents Trayvon Martin's family.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-2 to forward a bill that made some important changes to Florida's Stand Your Ground law. This will ensure proper investigations are conducted even when Stand Your Ground is claimed, involve Police and Sheriff's Departments in training Neighborhood Watch Programs and most importantly tighten the use of the law when aggressors claim it.
"I see this as an important first step in making sure that Florida's Stand Your Ground Law properly protects victims and applaud the committee for taking this first step" Crump told Headline Surfer. "In light of current events in Washington D.C., It is refreshing to see legislators compromising and working together so that Florida's citizens are protected."
"I see this as an important first step in making sure that Florida's Stand Your Ground Law properly protects victims and applaud the committee for taking this first step" Crump told Headline Surfer. "In light of current events in Washington D.C., It is refreshing to see legislators compromising and working together so that Florida's citizens are protected."
Sybrina Fulton, mother of the slain teen, said she and his father, are pleased as well.
"Tracy and I have said from the beginning that our hope is that the tragedy of Trayvon's death can be turned into real change so that other parents don't have to experience the grief we have endured" Fulton said in a statement released through Crump.
"The work here is not done and we fear an uphill battle going forward to achieve real change in our son's name. We encourage everyone to visit changefortrayvon.com and help us ensure that real change for Trayvon occurs in Florida and other states across the country."