Stand Your Ground bill still in legislative limbo
State Rep. Charles McBurney (Florida House file photo)

Screen Shot 2016-02-24 at 4.38.46 PM

There were still no definite answers Wednesday on whether the House will consider a Senate-approved change to the state’s Stand Your Ground law.

The Senate bill, backed by state Sen. Rob Bradley, “shifts the burden of proof from the defendant to the prosecution” in pretrial hearings on whether a use of force was justifiable, according to a staff analysis.

Those hearings determine whether a defendant can claim self-defense at trial.

The House version died in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in November on a 6-6 vote. But the Senate bill passed that chamber last month on a 24-12 vote and was redirected to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Jacksonville Republican Charles McBurney.

But the bill wasn’t on the agenda for Thursday, the last scheduled meeting of that committee for the 2016 Legislative Session.

After a Wednesday floor session, McBurney exited the chamber through a side door before reporters could get to him.

Speaker Steve Crisafulli wasn’t able to give any more clarity: “I couldn’t tell you. Chair McBurney has the authority to meet through next week. He’ll be the one to make the decision” to hear the bill.

On Tuesday, he denied reports of pressure from the National Rifle Association to move the bill.

“We are certainly not under pressure,” Crisafulli said. “Members are moving legislation as they see fit.”

Jim Rosica

Jim Rosica is the Tallahassee-based Senior Editor for Florida Politics. He previously was the Tampa Tribune’s statehouse reporter. Before that, he covered three legislative sessions in Florida for The Associated Press. Jim graduated from law school in 2009 after spending nearly a decade covering courts for the Tallahassee Democrat, including reporting on the 2000 presidential recount. He can be reached at [email protected].



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories