August 12, 2013
Mr. Patrick Truax
641 Lincoln Avenue
East Alton, IL 62024-1312
Dear Mr. Truax:
Thank you for contacting me about the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman. I appreciate hearing from you.
The tragic killing of Trayvon Martin was placed in the hands of the criminal justice system. According to an affidavit filed by investigators, George Zimmerman profiled Trayvon and assumed he was a criminal. On July 13, 2013, a six person jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of all charges in the death of Trayvon Martin. The jury reached its verdict after having been asked to consider Mr. Zimmerman’s actions in light of Florida’s “stand your ground” statute, under which a person may use deadly force if he or she “reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.”
As the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, I will hold a hearing on “stand your ground” laws in September. These laws give individuals the right to use lethal force to protect themselves if they feel their life is in danger, without first attempting to retreat from the situation.
Nearly 30 states have "stand your ground” laws on the books. It is important to have a discussion about the way in which these laws have changed the legal definition of self-defense; the extent to which the laws have encouraged unnecessary shooting confrontations; and the civil rights implications of the laws.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
RJD/jv
I'm surprised he even bothered..
Once again, DURBIN LIES! Stand Your Ground has NOTHING to do with the case, period.