Posted on 04/02/2012 8:47:04 PM PDT by Hunton Peck
Capitol Hill lawmakers are doing more than donning hoodies on the House floor to respond to the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. Members of Congress are crafting new legislation, using the outcry over the shooting to push an agenda calling for everything from gun control to restrictions on neighborhood watch groups.
The legislative steps in the wake of the fatal shooting face an uncertain fate. So far, they come exclusively from Democrats in the Congressional Black Caucus -- not power-wielding Republicans who would no doubt be leery of a hasty legislative response, particularly with an investigation still underway.
But the sponsors are working on the measures over spring break and plan to push them when lawmakers return later this month.
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, is meanwhile working on a bill that would require neighborhood watch groups -- like the one for which shooter George Zimmerman was a volunteer -- to register.
"No one's registered," Jackson Lee spokesman Michael McQuerry told FoxNews.com.
He said staff members were meeting Monday to try to work out some of the details, such as what entities neighborhood watch groups should register with, and whether that should happen at the federal, state or local level.
Asked whether the proposal would call for neighborhood watch outfits to meet specific standards, McQuerry said it's still "being worked out."
CBC members last week introduced a separate resolution calling on states to repeal so-called "Stand Your Ground" laws.
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As for the renewed debate over Stand Your Ground legislation, backers of the laws have said the legislation doesn't apply in the case of Zimmerman and Martin.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said last month that "stand your ground means stand your ground -- it doesn't mean chase after somebody who's turned their back."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Dumbass politicians. They should register WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD! Not rocket science morons!
It’s simply amazing that pockets of this country can elect idiots to Congress.
As a paramilitary group, the new black pampers should be required to register. I mean besides with their parole officers.
It is all for show...thanks to the Tea Party. But it will help the NRA to see who the slime buckets are.
If anything this incident highlights the need for “stand your ground” laws like Florida’s. No one should have to worry about the political repercussions of self defense while their head is being beaten into a sidewalk.
So what does that have to do with the Zimmerman case, Jeb?
(Go have a nice cold glass of water and something to eat while you think about it).
does this mean the Black Panther ‘neighborhood watch’ groups have to register too? or is this just for the non-hoodies?
I thought Zimmerman was self-appointed and that his neighborhood watch group was non-existent!?! The Lynch Mob Media flip-flops more than Jean effin Kerry.
Could be they decided that changing the narrative to make him a member-in-good-standing of the program gives them a bunch of additional defendants with deeper pockets than just Zimmerman himself.
Gads! our media is pathetic.
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