CONGRESS

Schumer Calls for Federal Look Into 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Updated: March 25, 2012 | 12:47 p.m.
March 25, 2012 | 10:58 a.m.

Following the death of Trayvon Martin in Florida, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he is sending a letter to the Justice Department to request that it look into the “Stand Your Ground” laws that some say were at fault in the shooting.

Florida is one of several states that allow the use of deadly force for self-defense. Schumer said that these types of laws are new and deserve to be looked into.

“I'm a law enforcement Democrat,” he said on CBS's Face the Nation. “I have a lot of faith in our police and sheriffs. I don't like the move to vigilantism. The bottom line is had (George) Zimmerman listened to the police when he called 911 and let them handle it, this would have had a much better outcome.”

He said he hopes there will be hearings on Capitol Hill to look into these laws and their effect nationwide.

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