Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJune 14, 2016

Scoring political points in the immediate aftermath of tragedy is nothing new. The response to the Orlando shooting will surely provide numerous examples in the days ahead, but thanks to Sen. Darren Soto, we already have one of our most egregious examples. Soto, who is currently running for Congress, announced he will hold a press […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

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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 […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 23, 2016

After a House version died, the Senate version of a Stand Your Ground bill might be finding new life – in the House. And that’s if it can get on an agenda. 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 […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

Friday marks the fourth anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old African-American youth shot by George Zimmerman during a neighborhood watch in Sanford. This week, the House Judiciary Committee is likely to take up SB 344, which attempts to loosen the state’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws. The bill is from Orange Park […]

Associated PressJanuary 28, 2016

The Florida Senate has passed a bill that would expand the state’s “stand your ground” law to place more burden on prosecutors to prove self-defense wasn’t a factor when charging someone with assaulting or killing another person. The Senate voted 24-12 for the bill on Thursday. If the bill becomes law, the state would have […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2016

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz made an appearance in the Tallahassee on Thursday to join legislators and activists in opposing a raft of controversial gun bills now circulating in the Capitol Remarks from Wasserman Schultz and longtime friend and fellow Broward Democrat Sen. Chris Smith seemingly were meant to shame GOP lawmakers into voting the bills down, […]

Julie DelegalJanuary 11, 2016

When President Barack Obama announced his executive actions on guns last week, parents of children slain by bullets stood behind him. Jordan Davis’ mother, Lucia McBath, was one of them. McBath and Ron Davis were thrust into every parent’s nightmare in late 2012 when their 17-year-old son, Jordan, was shot and killed outside a Gate […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

First off, I want to wish the best for Brendan McLaughlin, who will be departing as a news anchor at ABC affiliate WFTS in a couple of weeks after 21 years in the market. Like yours truly, Brendan hails from the San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County, actually, I believe). Folks, there ain’t that many […]

Mitch PerryDecember 3, 2015

Earlier this summer, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that defendants who use the controversial “Stand Your Ground” controversial legal defense — rather than the government — have the burden of proving it should shield them from prosecution. The ruling upset the National Rifle Association, and prompted GOP lawmakers to say they would address the issue in […]

Melissa RossNovember 23, 2015

Three years ago Monday on Nov. 23, 2012, – it was Black Friday that year – Michael Dunn, a 45-year-old white man, argued with a group of teenage friends at a Southside gas station in Jacksonville. Dunn was peeved about the volume of their hip-hop music . The altercation would turn violent. Dunn fired 10 […]

Tag: Stand Your Ground

Darren Soto stands with the NRA

Stand Your Ground bill still in legislative limbo

Stand Your Ground bill revived in House – or is it?

Gun safety advocates still don’t like Senate bill loosening Stand Your Ground laws

Senate passes “stand your ground” expansion, gun bills

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, state Dems decry gun proposals

Julie Delegal: Crossing over: Parents of slain son fight gun violence

Mitch Perry Report for 12.4.15 – on Jeb, Ted and Kobe

Stand Your Ground revisions pass thru Florida Senate committee

HBO film “3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets” debuts Monday with story of Jax teen Jordan Davis