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Schumer calls for Justice Department probe of ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that he is asking the Justice Department to investigate “Stand Your Ground” laws in the aftermath of Trayvon Martin’s death.

“This ‘Stand Your Ground’ law is a whole new concept in our jurisprudence. It basically says, if you fear great physical harm, you can shoot,” said Schumer, a Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“Some people call it ‘Shoot first; ask questions later,'” he added.

George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26 as the unarmed teen walked in a gated community in Sanford, Fla., outside Orlando, where he was staying with his father.

Zimmerman, 28, told police the teen looked “suspicious” and then followed him. He has said he acted in compliance with Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows people to use deadly force if they think their lives or others’ are in imminent danger.

Schumer said he is asking the Justice Department “to expand their investigation [of the Martin case] into the general application of these ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws, whether they actually increase rather than decrease violence and whether they actually prevent law enforcement from prosecuting cases where a real crime has been committed.”

He cited reporting by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, which found that in 12 out of 13 cases where “Stand Your Ground” was invoked in central Florida, the person shot was unarmed.

“The bottom line is, had Mr. Zimmerman listened to the police when he called 911 and let them handle it, this would have had a much better outcome,” Schumer said.

Schumer said he hopes the laws will be examined during congressional hearings.

“They’re all new. They’ve been passed very, very quickly,” he said. “And I think the states who passed them, if they find out the real facts, may decide to repeal them.”