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Florida holds public hearing on 'stand your ground' law

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    Could meeting prejudice potential jurors in George Zimmerman trial?

  • Duration 6:25
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While the controversial -- the heart of the trade -- -- case under the microscope today at a hearing in Florida.

Governor Rick Scott set up a task force to examine the seven year old stand your ground law.

Which allows the use of deadly force in self defense -- no obligation to retreat or try to avoid confrontation.

The law has been at the center of a mass protest after neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman.

Shot and killed seventeen year old -- -- -- back in February the teen was on armed.

But Zimmerman says there was a confrontation.

And that he opened fire because he feared for his life.

-- -- Martin's mom spoke at today's hearing saying that she does not completely oppose.

The stand your ground law but believes that it needs fixing.

Not -- good moments.

But is something seriously wrong.

When there's a minor child that was an arm and he's there right now.

-- there's a law.

That a person is using.

To try to defend himself against killing the -- So I just wanted to say please.

I -- you just review the law again.

Members of the public also had a chance to weigh in today Phil Keating was there he joins us live from long would Florida.

Fell.

I traced the task force presented today with these boxes on the nearly 400000.

Petition signatures.

Urging the law to be reformed or outright repeal now according to testimony inside today.

Since the Florida stand your ground law was put into -- facts in the seven years since.

Justifiable homicides have jumped up and triples while the -- -- -- of conceal weapons permits have quadrupled.

-- there will be several more of these fact finding hearings around the state and then the task force will offered suggestions to lawmakers next year.

Aside -- -- -- on Martin case that had also heard today about -- -- cattle -- there was stand your ground case in the state just charged with murder in Miami after allegedly.

Shooting to death and unarmed man eleven times at a strip club parking lot last week.

Police say he claims he felt threatened.

The governor tells us he is open to suggestions.

As you know I'm and -- -- amendment I believe and stand your ground law.

But I think it's right thing to do to go back a look at these laws look at how it's been implemented.

And.

Nationwide half the country has stand your ground lost -- Florida is is considered the strongest allowing anyone to use deadly force anywhere.

If they reasonably fear for their lives and there are supporters of the -- speaking here to.

C a man can -- a bullet.

We know from reports published by the FBI there are -- accomplish is only one thing you get shot.

Shot in the back.

Retreat is rarely a life saving solution.

Words out today in the case of George Zimmerman by the judge -- revoked his bonds saying.

George there remains wife lied during his original bond hearing and that George Zimmerman does not respect the rule of law.

Back teachers.

Computing lab -- -- -- -- Florida Phil thank you let's get to our legal panel now former prosecutor and Fox News legal analyst are right dollar.

And criminal defense attorney Randy -- and ready -- the reason -- having this thing down in Florida is because of the Zimmermann case.

You know he's your -- are potential jurors inside this meeting I mean what what impact could this have on the Zimmerman trial.

I thought I was seeing things when I first found out about this public hearing how do you hold the public hearing where you have law enforcement.

Giving input.

Into law when you have not just the case going -- but one of the highest profile cases in the country you are going to prejudice potential jurors.

You -- allowing a potential jury pool to hear what the government has to say about what's going on here.

I think it is so prejudicial and deprives George zero -- of any shot.

Of a fair and impartial jury.

And the truth is -- we don't even know if it's danger ground really applies to the George Zimmermann case yet.

You you're correct this.

The other issue what's going on damage he's maybe everyone -- real educated.

I'm glad this conversation took place good people don't need to know what that law stands for and what it doesn't stand -- he did not stand for.

What just happened down -- last week where someone -- intimidated someone felt threatened by two guys get out of a car using words.

No weapons no aggressive maneuvers so people that has gotten any children want and -- another -- is under the under the truck.

That does not stand you're ground I'd stand your ground type of defense that addition to think that will Keating just kicked out.

That that -- that they shootings have -- -- -- killings and got a three times.

Since this is very on the books.

Is a little scary.

-- -- wait a minute -- ready first of all the quinnipiac poll recently says that 54% of Floridians still support this law.

And this Texan and and you've studied the Phil Keating was -- -- RD decided as well as saying you know what.

What they're saying that you do is if you don't have a -- burglars are less likely carry a gun because they don't believe that your arms are we supposed to rely on the kindness of -- ready.

But the problem is you are in the midst.

Of an important case to George Zimmerman and perhaps an important case to the entire country.

At a potential juror is supposed to promised that the only person that this jury is going to listen to on the lot is going to be the judge and everyone's gonna walk into the judge well you know -- I've heard it -- way to -- it talks in and they went around talking about the -- you know what.

I don't know what to think and I don't know who -- listen to and that's not fair to George Zimmerman doing some other time not now.

I know listen to a little listen Arthur I delegate its last when he put that there are days there's so much -- already going on in about this case strays that jurors who met with the jurors are going to be whether it's this convention they just took place about the these.

This law or -- -- I've still got on studio B who would ever jurors get chosen are not to do their best that take all of is that their mind listen to build the law.

-- no longer applies it was meant to be applied not the way is being spun.

That's the key phrase as the law applies in this matter RD Randy gentlemen thank you both -- and thank you.

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