Fla. looks to expand controversial Stand Your Ground law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In Florida Monday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the state capitol, demanding changes in the Stand Your Ground law. The law allows a person to use deadly force to defend himself, even if retreat is possible.
"In Florida, we believe in robust self-defense laws, it's worked. It's created a 42-year crime low," said state Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz pointed to the case of Marissa Alexander. She was initially sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband.
"I'm more interested in closing a loophole where someone would be punished more for missing with a bullet than they would be for striking someone with a bullet in a self-defense circumstance," Gaetz said.
Eleven states are considering bills to adopt or strengthen Stand Your Ground laws, but 12 states are deciding whether to weaken or repeal them.
"I feel like there's no justice in Stand Your Ground law," Fulton told CBS News.
Asked what she thinks would happen in Florida if the law is expanded to include warning shots, Fulton said, "I think everybody is going to go out and buy guns and shoot and say, 'OK, this is my warning shot.' And I think it sends an awful message."
The woman who fired a warning shot toward her husband will be retried in July because of improper jury instruction. This time, prosecutors plan to push for a sentence of 60 years.
