Sen. Oscar Braynon Blasted for 'Politicizing' Trayvon Martin's Death

In the aftermath of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, state Sen. Oscar Braynon's call for hearings into the "Stand Your Ground" law drew sharp return fire on Tuesday.

The Miami Democrat raised questions about the legal circumstances surrounding the shooting of Martin, 17, by an Orlando neighborhood watch volunteer last month.

But gun-rights groups and libertarians rejected Braynon's suggestion that the Stand Your Ground law, also known as the Castle Doctrine, should be implicated in the actions of alleged gunman George Zimmerman.

"Regardless of the outcome of this case, it does not justify infringing upon all Floridians' inherent right to self-defense. Stand Your Ground is a good law, and is wholly consistent with the Second Amendment," said Florida Libertarian Party Chairman Adrian Wyllie.

"This case is not about gun rights. It is about the actions of one man, and whether or not they were justified. To make this tragic event about Stand Your Ground is politicizing the death of a young man."

Sean Caranna, executive of Florida Carry, called Braynon "another anti-self-defense politician using a tragic event to further his own longstanding agenda."

Caranna said, "The best investigators from our state and national law enforcement agencies are working this case. It's disgusting that some would try to politicize a young man's death even before the facts are in. Let our law-enforcement professionals do their jobs, and hold them accountable if they don't."

In defense of state law, Caranna added:

"The Castle doctrine ended the extremely dangerous requirement that you 'turn your back on an attacker' and try to run away. It did not create a 007 license to kill. You can't attack someone without proper cause and call it self-defense."

John Lindsey, a Republican candidate for Florida House District 41, said, "It is not the law at fault here, but the actions of two individuals, the apparent victim and the shooter.

"There is no need for federal involvement at this time," said Lindsey, of Winter Haven. "Let the state of Florida and its law enforcement officials do their job unobstructed by outside influences."