Does Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law give people free reign to kill without fear of prosecution?
That’s the question being raised as Senator Bill Nelson moves to ask for a federal investigation into the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton, who was gunned down in a Clearwater, Florida parking lot last week, reports Fox 13.
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The shooter, Michael Drejka, gunned down McGlockton just seconds after McGlockton shoved him during a confrontation Drejka was having with McGlockton’s girlfriend over a parking space.
“When you look at that video, obviously he is backing away, and the question is, is there more to it, than just what meets our eye on a video?” Nelson said.
“Is there a question of civil rights being infringed? And that is what the Department of Justice is charged with investigating under the law.”
State Senator Dennis Baxley, believes Nelson is using the McGlockton tragedy as a political ploy. Baxley wrote the controversial Stand Your Ground law in 2005.
“They’re trying to draw some sort of implication or division that isn’t there,” Baxley said. “This is not about firearms; it’s about your right to protect yourself from harm when you’re attacked.”
Benjamin Crump, who represented Trayvon Martin’s family in 2012 has been hired by the McGlockton family.
“It’s still ludicrous that you can claim that you have fear of your life, but yet you approach and start the confrontation with the individuals,” Crump said.
When asked if the law should be change altogether, said Nelson:
“My role is to find out if a crime was committed for other reasons by having the Department of Justice on civil rights law take a look at that, and that’s what I’m doing,” he said.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the shooting. A rally is planned with Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network Aug. 5 to protest the McGlockton killing.
Sharpton tweeted: “I will be protesting the death of#MarkeisMcGlockton next week with the National Action Network, here is the information if you would like to join us.#PoliticsNation”
The “Rally for Markeis McGlockton” will take place at St. John Primitive Baptist Church.