Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Brendan FarringtonMay 29, 2017

Lucy McBath is afraid many more people will die if Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs a bill making it harder to prosecute when people claim they commit violence in self-defense. She already lost her son, an unarmed black teenager, when a white man angry over loud music and claiming self-defense fired 10 times at an […]

Brendan FarringtonMarch 5, 2017

Florida’s “stand your ground” law, a source of contention for years, could soon provide even more protection to people who invoke it. Some lawmakers want to make prosecutors prove a defendant wasn’t acting in self-defense before proceeding to trial. Florida has been a leader in giving citizens immunity in cases of self-defense, with its “stand […]

Darryl PaulsonJanuary 18, 2017

(Part 1 of two. Part two will deal with Obama’s political legacy) The 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama focused on the theme of change. Obama promised to “restore our moral standing” and “focus on nation-building here at home.” Obama, as a candidate, told audiences that “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We […]

Associated PressOctober 14, 2016

Ken Bone is learning what it’s like to be famous. The Illinois man who became an internet sensation after asking a question of the candidates while wearing a bright red sweater during Sunday’s presidential debate answered questions on Reddit late Thursday and early Friday. Bone included his Reddit username in a Twitter post announcing the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 26, 2016

Some conservatives scoffed when they learned a portion of the Democratic National Convention would be devoted to the mothers of some black youths notoriously killed at the hands of law enforcement in recent years. What about the slain police officers?, Bill O’Reilly opined. The “social justice” segment, as it was called, began with a speech […]

Peter SchorschJune 29, 2016

At a press conference yesterday, Darren Soto called for a special legislative session to close the “terror loophole” in the aftermath of the Orlando Shooting. Soto refused to take questions from the public at the event — which is a shame, because voters deserve to know the truth about Soto’s record on guns. But the only time Soto […]

Associated PressMay 10, 2016

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be the keynote speaker later this month in Fort Lauderdale during a conference organized by the Trayvon Martin Foundation. The foundation said in a statement that Clinton will address the third annual Circle of Mothers conference, a three-day event that helps mothers who have “lost children or family members […]

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 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 5, 2016

A high-profile Tallahassee attorney has endorsed Hillary Clinton. According to BuzzFeed News, Benjamin Crump, the lawyer who represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, is backing Clinton in the presidential race. Crump is expected to talk to South Carolina voters about Clinton’s record, according to Politico. Crump, according to BuzzFeed News, introduced Clinton […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 18, 2015

A bill that would force prosecutors to prove self-defense wasn’t a factor before bringing someone using a “stand your ground” defense to trial advanced in the Senate on Wednesday despite a similar House bill being killed the day before. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice approved the bill on a 5-1 vote. But its […]

Tag: Trayvon Martin
Image via Carlton Ward Jr.

Florida could pave new changes in ‘stand your ground’ laws

State could flip burden of proving ‘Stand Your Ground’

A look at Obama’s legacy, foolish hope of ‘post-racial’ America

Ken Bone’s past comments come to light in Reddit session

‘Mothers of the Movement’ have their moment at DNC

Three questions for Darren Soto

Hillary Clinton to speak in Fort Lauderdale at Trayvon Martin Foundation event

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

Benjamin Crump endorses Hillary Clinton

Senate advancing bill to change “stand your ground” law