Sarasota City Commission Supporting Repeal of 'Stand Your Ground' Law

When outlining the major legislative priorities for its 2014 agenda, the Sarasota City Commission voted to support a repeal of Florida's Stand Your Ground laws.

The repeal was listed in the City Commission's document titled Revised Final 2014 Legislative Priorities.

"The City Commission requests that the state Legislature repeal the Stand Your Ground statute and establish a more civil approach to governance than afforded under the current statute," the document states.

The National Rifle Association has already sunk its teeth into the Commission's decision to support a repeal of Stand Your Ground, which received a great deal of publicity over the summer when George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, although the law was not invoked in the trial.

The NRA urged the public to email the members of the Sarasota County legislative delegation, including Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and Rep. Doug Holder, R-Venice.

Miami-based protesters, the Dream Defenders, camped out in front of Gov. Rick Scott's office for 31 days protesting the law. There will be hearings to discuss the law in Washington, D.C., next Tuesday. There will also be a hearing on the law in Florida, but a date has not yet been determined.