Martin’s mother calls for gun law review

Sybrina Fulton released a Mother’s Day video on Friday on YouTube and on Justice TM website, which campaigns for truth, asking for reforms in the controversial gun laws in the US, AFP reported.

“Just like me, 30,000 mothers lost their children this year to senseless gun violence,” she said in a minute-long video.

“Nobody can bring our children back, but it would bring us comfort if we can help spare other mothers the pain we will feel on Mother’s Day and every day for the rest of our lives,” she added.

The 17-year-old high school student was killed by volunteer neighborhood watch guard George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida on February 26, in what he described as self-defense.

Martin’s mother asked the supporters to lobby against “Stand Your Ground” laws in many states in the US, which allows people to use deadly force when they believe they are in danger of being killed or sustaining great bodily harm.

Police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman, citing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, until public anger led to a probe led by a special state prosecutor. He was then arrested on April 11 and charged with second-degree murder, however, he was released on bail on April 23 awaiting trial.

The incident has stirred nation-wide protests across the US and led to a heated debate over racial discrimination with social experts noting racial prejudice as a major factor in Zimmerman’s claim that Martin looked “suspicious,” and police refusal to arrest the shooter.

SAB/JR

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