Half The Lawmakers On Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Task Force Are ALEC Members, All Supported

[cal04]

Half The Lawmakers On Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Task Force Are ALEC Members, All Supported Stand Your Ground
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/20/468444/half-the-lawmakers-on-florida-stand-your-ground-task-force-are-alec-members-all-supported-stand-your-ground/

Yesterday, Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) unveiled the members of his task force assigned to investigate the effects of the state’s “Stand Your Ground” laws that have come under intense scrutiny and criticism in recent weeks after the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

But critics were quick to notice some of the curious appointments made by Gov. Scott’s selection committee.

Take State Representative Dennis Baxley for instance. He was chosen as a member of the task force despite the fact that he authored H.B 249, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. His version of the bill was used by corporate front-group ALEC as a template for similar pieces of legislation that are now in the books in half the country. And in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting, Baxley has repeatedly defended the law.

Two other lawmakers, State Senators David Simmons (R) and Gary Siplin (D), were part of the state senate that unanimously passed the senate’s version of the bill. Rep. Jason Brodeur, another co-sponsor of the House bill, is also a member of ALEC. Of the four lawmakers appointed to the 17-person task force, all of them voted for or co-sponsored the Stand Your Ground law.

[robinlynne]

1. great. just great.

[librechik]

2. what? That's fair and balanced.

For Floriduh

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Did you expect something else? The task force will find SYG to be an excellent law.

[aquart]

4. Every candidate for any office needs to be asked about ALEC allegiance. Every time.

[spin]

5. The fact that State Representative Dennis Baxley has defended the law is misleading ...

From the OP:

Take State Representative Dennis Baxley for instance. He was chosen as a member of the task force despite the fact that he authored H.B 249, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. His version of the bill was used by corporate front-group ALEC as a template for similar pieces of legislation that are now in the books in half the country. And in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting, Baxley has repeatedly defended the law. emphasis added
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/20/468444/half-the-lawmakers-on-florida-stand-your-ground-task-force-are-alec-members-all-supported-stand-your-ground/?mobile=nc

While it is true that Representative Baxley has defended the law, he has also stated that he doesn't feel it applies to the Trayvon Martin shooting. It's one thing to support a law that allows legitimate self defense without requiring a duty to retreat. To claim that that "Stand Your Ground" law allows pursuit and confrontation as supposedly happened in the Martin incident is far different and to insinuate that this is Representative Baxley's position is unfair at the best.

For example on this video interview from MSNBC Baxley states ...

>> thank you very much. first of all, i would just like to express my sympathy to the martin family. i served my own community as a funeral director for over 40 years and i walked with many family and friends through this tragedy, and i don't think there is anything quite as painful as the loss and the heartbreak of the loss of a child. please accept my condolences in that regard to the martin family. my point really as a sponsor of this castle doctrine legislation was always to protect lives, and to empower. what we learned is if we empower people to stop bad things from happening, they will. in fact, that statistic is coupled with another statistic, and that is the fact we have had a dramatic drop in violent crimes since this law has been in effect. i think the biggest problem here is application. there is nothing in the castle doctrine statute that provides authority for you to pursue or confront other people. this is a self-defense law. it says if you are in your home or car or somewhere you have a right to be and someone attacks you, we will stand with you. you don't have to worry you would be charged with a crime for defending yourself or family from harm. and i am very pleased to see this is going to a grand jury . i think that is the place to sort this out. quite frankly , i think it is a misapplication to be attacking this castle doctrine statute when it really doesn't apply to pursue and confront other people. emphasis added

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/46811800#46811800

The entire interview is worth watching and fair.