TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The mother of a teenager killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer who has claimed self-defense was at the state Capitol on Wednesday calling on lawmakers to repeal the controversial "stand your ground" legislation.
But the sponsor of the 2005 legislation says it has yet to be proven the law needs to be changed.
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Sabrina Fulton arrived at the Capitol looking composed.
"I think it's important that we have some type of change," she said.
The mother turned activist went to urge lawmakers to repeal the "stand your ground" law, one that was invoked by George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who police said followed, then shot her son, Trayvon Martin, in a scuffle.
Zimmerman has claimed self-defense even though the teenager was unarmed.
"As a parent, I wouldn't want you to stand in my shoes because it is hard, it's difficult," Fulton said.
A Task Force on Citizen Safety formed by Gov. Rick Scott, spent half of last year taking testimony. Sponsors of the legislation to repeal the law called the effort bogus.
"They had a job to do and they failed their job," said Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami.
After holding hearings across the state, the governor is yet to get the task force report, and it's unclear if he plans to make any recommendations.
Meanwhile, the sponsor of the law said his sympathy went out to Martin's parents, but he said that the death hasn't convinced him the law needs changing.
"The policy itself has proved that if you allow law-abiding people to stop violent acts, they can, they will and they did," said Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, a sponsor of the law.
Zimmerman has yet to have his day in court. In mid- to late-April, he will argue that he stood his ground. If that defense fails, he'll face second-degree murder charges in June.