Politics

Gov. Rick Scott doesn’t want to rush the investigation into the shooting of Trayvon Martin and won’t expedite the work of a task force that will examine the state’s self defense law, a spokesman said Tuesday.  Several Democratic lawmakers had asked Scott to speed up the work of the task force – getting it to start meeting now, and Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, asked Scott to call  a special session next month to take a look at the stand your ground law. Scott appointed a task force to look at the issue, but the panel won’t begin its work until after a state’s attorney has completed an investigation into the case, which could take as long as a year.

“We still don’t know the effect the stand your ground law might have in this case, so it would be premature to begin evaluating facts when more facts are yet to emerge,” Scott spokesman Lane Wright said. “Gov. Scott believes we need to be thoughtful and thorough as we deal with this awful tragedy and for those reasons he will not interfere with the investigation or prematurely expedite the work of the task force.”

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As the Legislature finished up its special session today on redistricting, talk continued on the Trayvon Martin case and the state’s stand your ground law. Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, wore a hoodie on the floor of the House today in support of the family of Trayvon Martin, who was wearing one when he was shot last month in Sanford under circumstances that remain unclear. The case has drawn attention to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which says in the public square you have no duty to retreat before defending yourself with lethal force. The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Martin says it was self defense.

Here’s video of Bullard discussing his choice of clothing today – and Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala defending the law. Also, Reps. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, talking about the stand your ground law.