Press Releases

On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., Congressional Black Caucus Chair Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) will testify at the  Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing "'Stand Your Ground' Laws: Civil Rights and Public Safety Implications of the Expanded Use of Deadly Force". The Chair is scheduled to be the first witness before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Below is an excerpt from Chair Fudge’s remarks:

“I fully understand the right to defend oneself from violence as an established principle in our legal system that stems from English common law.  However, Stand Your Ground laws eliminate all responsibility to retreat and peacefully end an incident.  These laws permit and, quite frankly, encourage individuals to use deadly force even in situations where lesser or no physical force would be sufficient.

“Proponents of Stand Your Ground laws often allege that these laws deter crime. However, the opposite is true.  According to a study by the University of Texas A&M, states with Stand Your Ground laws have seen an 8 percent increase in homicides.  The enforcement of Stand Your Ground laws rely on decisions by many with cultural bias on whether a person’s life was in danger.  Not surprisingly, these decisions have a disparate impact on African Americans. “

The “Stand Your Ground' Laws: Civil Rights and Public Safety Implications of the Expanded Use of Deadly Force" hearing may be viewed live online by clicking here.  

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