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Davis Family Attorney John Phillips On Bringing The Stand Your Ground Debate To Washington

the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis testified on Capitol Hill Tuesday, asking a panel of U.S. Senators to amend Stand Your Ground self-defense laws they say contributed to the shooting deaths of their teenage sons.

Florida is one of 22 states with a Stand Your Ground statute that says there is no duty to retreat from an armed attacker.

The death of Trayvon Martin, a Central Florida teen, became a flashpoint in the debate over Stand Your Ground even though his killer George Zimmerman did not use the law as his official defense.
Zimmerman was acquitted by a jury, saying he shot Martin in self defense.

In Jacksonville, 17-year-old Jordan Davis was killed last Thanksgiving by 45-year-old Michael Dunn, who said he felt threatened after arguing with Davis and two friends over loud music.

John Phillips, attorney for the parents of Jordan Davis, was in Washington for the hearing and joined Melissa Ross to discuss the latest on the Stand Your Ground debate.

You can follow Melissa on Twitter @MelissainJax.

Melissa Ross joined WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her career as a television and radio news anchor and reporter, Melissa has won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting.