Gov. Scott Announces Gun Law Task Force Members
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – In the aftermath of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, Governor Rick Scott has formed a task force to look into the state's gun laws.
Scott tapped Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll to lead the task force and Rev. R. B. Holmes Jr. was chosen to be her vice chair.
On Thursday, the rest of the task force members were announced. Among them were Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami attorney Mark Seiden and Edna Canino of Miami. Canino is the president of the Florida Embassy of League of United Latin American Citizens, Council 7220.
Martin, 17, died after he was shot while walking through a gated community in Sanford by Zimmerman of February 26th. Zimmerman has said that he shot the teen in self defense, according to Sanford police. Initially they did not charge him citing the state's 'Stand Your Ground'. This sparked out and protests across the country. Last week special prosecutor Angela Courey had Zimmerman arrested and charged after a review of the police investigation.
Carroll said the focus of the task force will be to review state statute Chapter 776 (Stand Your Ground law) and any other laws, rules, regulations or programs that relate to public safety and citizen protection. They will hold a series of public hearings across the state to get opinions from the public; the first will be held May 1st in Tallahassee. They will then make their recommendations to Scott and the Legislature.
"We look forward to hearing from the citizens of our state about their concerns and recommendations for keeping our state safe," said Carroll. "Governor Scott has tapped a diverse and qualified group to carefully review our laws and our policies."
Filling out the rest of the task force are:
- Sheriff Larry Ashley, of Shalimar, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
- State Representative Dennis Baxley, of Ocala, Florida House of Representatives, District 24.
- Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth B. Bell, of Pensacola
- State Representative Jason Brodeur, of Sanford, Florida House of Representatives, District 33.
- Derek E. Bruce, of Orlando, attorney with Edge Public Affairs.
- Joseph A. Caimano Jr., of Tampa, criminal defense attorney with Caimano Law Group.
- Gretchen Lorenzo, neighborhood watch coordinator for the Fort Myers Police Department.
- Judge Krista Marx, of West Palm Beach, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
- Maria Newman, neighborhood watch volunteer with the City of Melbourne.
- Stacy A. Scott, of Gainesville, assistant public defender with the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
- State Senator David Simmons, of Altamonte Springs, Florida Senate, District 22.
- State Senator Gary Siplin, of Orlando, Florida Senate, District 19.
Thursday afternoon Martin's parents are scheduled to appear at a town hall meeting in Tampa to speak about their son's death. Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton will address the gathering at the Beulah Baptist International Church. The event, which is sponsored by the National Bar Association, is open to the public.
Thursday evening, the city of Sanford will hold a community meeting at the Second Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to give the public an opportunity to discuss the Martin shooting.
Zimmerman, who is charged with second degree murder, has a bond hearing set for Friday before Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester.
