Two weeks before the opening of George Zimmerman's much-watched trial for the murder of Trayvon Martin, Ohio's legislature introduced legislation to expand it's version of the Florida law that allows residents to use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger, as Zimmerman convinced a jury he did.
The acquittal of George Zimmerman for killing unarmed high-schooler Trayvon Martin serves as a reminder of the continuing inequities in America's criminal justice system -- and might be the impetus to repeal a law like "Stand Your Ground," which was adopted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and subsequently spread across the country.
Lawmakers are set to consider Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed changes to a bill that would end Illinois' status as the last state to ban the concealed carry of weapons in public today. The Chicago Democrat has been highlighting the city's gun violence, saying recent shootings show the need for tougher restrictions on weapons. But the state must lift the concealed carry ban by Tuesday to meet a federal appeals court's deadline, and lawmakers are widely expected to override his proposed amendments.
Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation Friday that would have made it a crime for federal agents to attempt to enforce federal gun laws in Missouri and could have landed journalists in jail for publishing the names of gun owners in the state.
Sandy Hook families and other activists are keeping pressure on lawmakers to expand background purchases for firearm sales, despite Senate rejection of the measure in April and no indication votes have shifted. As the half-year anniversary of the massacre approaches, lobbying efforts and events are planned throughout the week.
Referencing past instances of racial discrimination and relating them to individuals who oppose new laws aimed at preventing gun violence is nothing new for the NRA.
