Mar 29 2012
Gun Lobby and ALEC Push “Stand Your Ground” Laws Used to Justify Trayvon Martin’s Killing
Illinois Congressman and former Black Panther, Bobby Rush, called for an end to racial profiling in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s killing from the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday. During his comments Rush took off his suit jacket and put on a grey hooded sweatshirt, after which he was interrupted by presiding Republican Congressman Greg Harper who called the Illinois Congressman out of order for violating a no-hat rule. Rush refused to stop speaking and was then ejected from the chamber. He later told CNN, “I don’t mind being out of order if it means standing up for truth and justice.”
The February 26th killing of Trayvon Martin continues to be met with calls for the arrest of his shooter George Zimmerman, and with a national solidarity movement against racial profiling. Martin’s death has also brought scrutiny on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which allows citizens to use deadly force in self-defense, without retreating, when they perceive a threat to their life. George Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and the law puts the burden of proof on the state to prove otherwise. Florida was the first state to pass a Stand Your Ground law in 2005. Soon after, the American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC, drafted its own model bill under the name, “Castle Doctrine Act.”
ALEC is a private organization that brings together corporations, conservative advocacy groups, and elected officials to advance a legislative agenda. ALEC produces model bills, templates for various bills that are drafted with the input of private interests and introduced into state legislatures around the country by elected officials affiliated with ALEC. Since Florida enacted its Stand Your Ground law, 16 other states have adopted similar bills and ALEC has taken responsibility for the proliferation. The National Rifle Association is closely affiliated with ALEC and in 2008 ALEC resident fellow Michael Hough told the NRA news, “[ALEC] is a very pro-Second Amendment organization. …[some] of the things that we were pushing in states was the Castle Doctrine.”
GUEST: Brendon Fischer, Law Fellow and reporter with the Center for Media and Democracy
Visit www.prwatch.org and www.alecexposed.org for more information.
2 Responses to “Gun Lobby and ALEC Push “Stand Your Ground” Laws Used to Justify Trayvon Martin’s Killing”
The gun lobby is supported and mainly funded by American people because we want to preserve our liberties peacefully which some politicians desire to chip away at.
To understand the Trayvon Martin vs. George Zimmerman case, you need to listen to the recorded phone call made by the neighbor to 911.
The fatal shot is heard during this call.
Merely listen to it.
Then draw your own conclusions.
No need for experts. No need for pundits. No need even for an open mind.
Just listen to the haunting call.
A transcript won’t do. It must be heard.
Here it is: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11548279