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As weve seen especially since the infamous George Zimmerman court ruling court cases concerning the Stand Your Ground law tend to draw a considerable amount of media attention. One Florida lawmaker is determined to change that.

According to the Huffington Post, earlier this month, state Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, filed an amendment that would, as Tampa Bay Times writer Michael van Sickler wrote, severely limit access to court records in the self-defense cases. Those found innocent in self-defense cases in which Stand Your Ground was employed would be able to apply for a certificate of eligibility to expunge the associated criminal history record.

While Gaetz purports the amendment to be a measure that would protect those found innocent from being placed under media scrutiny, the implication that reporters would lose access to public records has ignited anger among journalists.

Many believe the amendment has been brought to the table as a result of an extensive Tampa Bay Times review in 2012 of 200 self-defense cases that involved Stand Your Ground. The investigation found that the law was being interpreted in different ways and applied inconsistently. In an ideal world, the report would spark policy change regarding how the law can be used in self-defense cases not as the inspiration for an amendment that would limit access from court and arrest records.

Gaetz told The Associated Press the amendment was unrelated to the Times investigation.

While its true the mainstream American media has the ability to and occasionally do unfairly scrutinize citizens in controversial court cases, prohibiting journalists from acquiring public records is not something a democratic government should consider. The medias watchdog function would be severely infringed upon; and not to speculate, but the passage of an amendment limiting journalists rights in this particular case could lead to legislation that limits their rights in other cases.

Stand Your Ground, weve seen, has been an open can of worms from the start. Newspapers have rightfully called attention to the laws unintended consequences as a go-to tactic in self-defense cases.

And its no surprise that Gaetz is championing the amendment. Hes a well-known proponent of the Stand Your Ground law. Last year, he told the Tampa Bay Times, after being appointed chair of a hearing on the laws unintended consequences, I dont support changing one damn comma.

Changes, however, are crucial.

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board wrote last year that the law has let scores of people escape punishment who started fights and then shot their unarmed opponents, because the shooters said they felt their lives were in danger.

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Standing Our Ground: Media needs access

Sheriff Scott Israel -- Broward County, FL
Sheriff who wants to get rid of the stand your ground law.

By: NewsmaxTV

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Sheriff Scott Israel -- Broward County, FL - Video

The parents of Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin called for the repeal of Stand Your Ground during a hearing Tuesday in Washington before a human rights commission.

Davis and Martin were both teenagers killed in Florida. Their parents blamed the law for creating a culture of lawlessness even though Stand Your Ground wasnt specifically cited in the trials of the men who shot their children.

Sybrina Fulton, mother of Martin, said the law has created fear that black teenagers will be shot when theyre doing nothing wrong.

Our teenagers have no clue what to do, Fulton said. Theyre afraid of being perceived as criminals when theyre not.

Her son was simply walking home from a convenience store, and he was shot, Fulton said.

An unarmed Martin, 17, was shot to death in Sanford by George Zimmerman after the Neighborhood Watch member became suspicious and started following him. Zimmerman was acquitted on the basis of self-defense.

Ron Davis, father of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, said Stand Your Ground had led people like his sons shooter, Michael Dunn, to believe they were justified in shooting anyone.

Michael Dunn never called 911, Ron Davis said. And when he was arrested, he didnt think it was right. He claimed he was standing his ground.

Dunn testified Davis had a gun and threatened to kill him at a Jacksonville gas station, so he fired in self-defense. The other teenagers in the vehicle with Davis and witnesses at the gas station said Davis never had a gun, and Dunn became enraged when Davis cursed him after he asked the teenagers to turn down their music.

Dunn returned to his hotel that night and then went back to his home in Brevard County the next day, where he was arrested.

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Parents of Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin testify against Stand Your Ground law

Monday, March 24, 11:33 AM EDT

By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida

The measure (HB 89) by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, would extend immunity to people who threaten to use force in self-defense the same immunity already in law for those who actually shoot people in response to perceived threats.

It passed in a 93-24 vote after a floor debate filled with the names of people associated with gun-related crimes that sparked public outrage in Florida, especially Marissa Alexander, a Jacksonville woman who faces the possibility of 60 years in prison for firing a shot into the wall during a domestic dispute.

The proposal has become known as the warning shot bill, although Combee said Thursday that people who call it that do a terrible disservice to the general public if they put the notion out that this bill somehow or other authorizes or encourages warning shots, because it does not. We specifically did not put warning shot in the bill.

Most of the debate, however, centered on an amendment by House Minority Leader Perry Thursday, D-Fort Lauderdale, that sought to repeal the stand your ground law. While Democrats and Republicans went back and forth about the law, few of the arguments were new.

Thurston filed the amendment, he said in an email before the vote, because under the law, Innocent people have been killed and the perpetrators have been able to walk away. Stand your ground encourages citizens to use force if they feel threatened even if no real threat exists.

Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville, pointed to black mothers who warn their teenage sons, Be careful, because a black boys life is not as valuable.

The law may work for your community, but its not working for ours, Fullwood, an African-American, said to other House members.

But Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, who famously vowed that not one damn comma of the law would be changed, took issue with such arguments by the laws opponents.

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Warning shot bill passes Florida House

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The parents of Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin were in Washington D.C. Tuesday, lending their voices to the fight to take down a controversial law.

According to Sybrina Fulton, Stand Your Ground doesnt have a leg to stand on.

The law is not clear. That law does not benefit anyone, she said.

The parents have made repealing "Stand Your Ground" laws their mission ever since their sons were gunned down. Both parents testified before the Inter-Americas Human Rights Commission in Washington D.C. about the impact of the law on their lives and on minority communities.

Here we sit like the wild wild west and we're seeing our kids murdered in the streets like animals, Ron Davis said.

According to a Texas A&M University study, homicides have increased 7 to 9 percent in states with "Stand Your Ground" laws.

Although the SYG defense was not used in the cases of George Zimmerman and Michael Dunn-- similar language was used in the jury instructions. Both Fulton and Davis say: that's a problem.

I just want other people to stand with me, to support me, to understand what's going on with the Stand Your Ground law, Fulton said.

Whenever someone claims Stand Your Ground and they get away with it, everything else is collateral damage, Davis explained.

Leaders from the Free Marissa Alexander Now group also took part in the hearing.

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Parents lobby to change 'Stand Your Ground' laws