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TALLAHASSEE After fierce debate over a proposal to repeal Floridas controversial stand your ground law, the House on Thursday passed a law aimed at loosening the states mandatory-minimum sentencing laws.

The legislation, HB 89, didnt include stand your ground repeal language until Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, filed an amendment less than eight hours before the bill hit the House floor.

The stand your ground language had no chance of passage in the GOP-dominated House, but did spark debate on the issue

Stand your ground has essentially failed my community, said state Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville. It may work for your community, but it is not working for ours.

Supporters of the law said that there is a false narrative surrounding the law after a handful of deaths involving black teenagers, but the gunmen werent convicted of the killings. The law gained national prominence after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, whose gunman was acquitted of second-degree murder charges.

George Zimmerman, the shooter, didnt use stand your ground as part of his defense, but it was included in the jury instructions.

Supporters said its about the right to self-defense.

The question you need to ask yourself is should we have the fundamental right to protect ourselves from those who seek to harm us, said state Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral.

As expected, the GOP-led House was easily able to swat the stand your ground amendment on an 83-31 vote, with 12 Democrats joining Republicans.

The underlying bill, which passed on a 93-24 vote, changes state self-defense laws to include justifiable use of force, or actions like a warning shot. Currently, self-defense laws only apply to someone who actually uses force.

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After the Florida House adopted an amendment to a bill that would expand the states stand your ground law, Minority Leader Perry Thurston filed an amendment that would repeal it.

Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, said he filed the amendment to HB 89 before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, which he says is in time for the bills final reading and floor vote on Thursday. Thurston didnt sit on any committees that approved the bill, which would shield people who fire warning shots in self defense from serving 10 to 20 years,

While the bill has sailed through committees garnering only two no votes from Democrats, Thurston said he had planned to vote against it because it unnecessarily expands the law. But he said he decided to file a repeal amendment, which wont be received favorably by Republican leaders, after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach explained to House members on Wednesday why he was amending it.

I was surprised when he said hes doing this to strengthen the stand your ground; law, Thurston said. If thats what hes doing, its relevant to file an amendment to repeal stand your ground.

Thurston, who is running for attorney general, reasons that while he was prepared to vote against the bill, he hadnt planned to push for its repeal because that debate has already taken place without much progress toward overturning or changing it. But he said it became clear from Gaetzs comments that Republicans were expanding the laws reach, and decided it was time to draw attention to the gambit.

I dont think my chances are good, Thurston said. But I hope to have a broader discussion.

HB 89 highlights frustrations Thurston is having not just with Republicans, but with the 44 other Democrats in the caucus. Most of them support the bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City.

In an election year where polls show strong support for 'stand your ground', Thurston is one of the few Democrats to oppose Combees bill, which has the strong backing of the National Rifle Association.

Another bill with NRA backing is HB 7029 by Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala -- who is revered by the gun rights lobby. Dubbed the pop tart bill, it would prohibit schools from punishing children from playing with imaginary guns, or, as one boy did, chewing a pop tart into the shape of a gun. It sailed through committees receiving not one no vote.

There were no objections to these bills when they came through the committee process, Thurston told Democrats in a meetiing Wednesday afternoon. No one voted against the poptart bill. Thats not a bill I would have expected would have gotten this far without no votes. I plan to vote against it. Remember, its ok to vote against bills.

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Thurston files late to repeal Stand Your Ground

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -

A Florida Senate committee has approved a bill that tweaks the state's controversial stand your ground law.

The adjustments include local law enforcement setting guidelines for neighborhood watch organizations, clarifying immunity and who can use a stand your ground defense and allowing law enforcement to conduct its investigation even when stand your ground is being used.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, and Sen. Christopher Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale.

The bill has now been approved by two Senate committees and must go through two more before it reaches the floor. The Community Affairs committee is the next stop.

The legislation passed unanimously Monday, despite being a topic that traditionally splits down party lines. The NRA, represented by Marion Hammer, even supported the changes.

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'Stand Your Ground' law moves through committee after change

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