Today, much of the news coverage will undoubtedly focus on the House hearing on the failed Obamacare rollout. But guess what's happening on the Senate side: a hearing on "stand your ground" laws.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 20: Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton speaks during a rally honoring Trayvon Martin organized by the National Action Network outside One Police Plaza in Manhattan on July 20, 2013 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images
Here's how CSPAN describes the hearing:
Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, testifies on Capitol Hill Tuesday before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on “Stand Your Ground” laws. She is joined by Lucia McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis, who was killed in a confrontation in Jacksonville, Florida and state and local officials.This hearing examines how the “Stand Your Ground” laws originated, the way these laws have changed the legal definition of self-defense, whether they encourage unnecessary shooting confrontations, and if the laws promote racial profiling.
Currently 30 states have some type of “Stand Your Ground” law on the books. They allow a person the right to use deadly force to protect themselves if they think their life is in danger.
"By being unclear in when and how it is applied, stand your ground in its current form is far to open to abuse," Fulton will say, according to prepared remarks.
You can watch the hearing here.
The mantra "Watch the other hand" seems especially important today.
