Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced Friday he will chair a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing on civil rights issues raised by “stand your ground” laws when the Senate reconvenes in September.
“These laws, one of which played a key role in the trial surrounding the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, 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,” a statement from Durbin’s office read.
Among the topics the hearing will raise are civil rights issues arising from the intersection of racial profiling and “stand your ground” laws, the extent to which those laws provoke armed confrontations, as well as the gun lobby and the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) influence in creating and promoting those laws, according to the statement.
