Florida legislature poised to bolster 'Stand Your Ground' law(Reuters) - Florida lawmakers advanced a measure on Wednesday that could make it easier to avoid prosecution in deadly shootings and other use-of-force cases by seeking immunity on self-defense grounds under the state’s pioneering “stand your ground” law. In a 74-39 vote, the state’s House of Representatives passed legislation that shifts the burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors when the law is invoked to avoid trial. The measure now returns to the state Senate, which last month approved its own version of the bill. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans. Florida’s “stand your ground” law, passed in 2005, received wide scrutiny and inspired similar laws in other states. It removed the legal responsibility to retreat from a dangerous situation and allowed use deadly force when a person felt greatly threatened. Opponents say the measures will embolden gun owners to shoot first, citing the 2012 death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida, which spurred national protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. The neighborhood watchman who killed him, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of murder after the law was included in jury instructions. Wednesday’s House vote on changing the law followed party lines. Supporters, including the National Rifle Association, the powerful U.S. gun lobby, see the legislation as bolstering a civilian’s right to quell an apparent threat. “This bill is trying to put the burden of proof where it belongs, on the state, because all people are innocent before being proven guilty,” said the Republican sponsor of the bill, Representative Bobby Payne. Florida’s law did not specify the process for applying “stand your ground” immunity. State courts established the current protocol, which calls for a pre-trial hearing before a judge and puts the burden of proof on the defendant. Most of those speaking in the House debate were Democrats who said the bill would lead to more violence. “Who will speak for the voiceless victims, silenced by an aggressor who claims he wasn’t an aggressor but is protected by a flawed law?” said Democrat Representative Bobby Dubose. While public defenders support the changes to the law, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and gun control advocates oppose them.  “Every battery case, every domestic violence case, every use of force case, as a matter of routine, defense attorneys will now request hearings,” said Phil Archer, a state attorney. Archer, a lifetime NRA member who teachers gun owners about “stand your ground,” said of the changes: “This is just going too far.” politicsNews
florida legislature poised bolster your ground law reuters florida lawmakers advanced measure wednesday could make easier avoid prosecution deadly shootings cases seeking immunity grounds state pioneering stand ground law in vote state house representatives passed legislation shifts burden proof defendants prosecutors law invoked avoid trial the measure returns state senate last month approved version bill both chambers controlled republicans florida stand ground law passed received wide scrutiny inspired similar laws states it removed legal responsibility retreat dangerous situation allowed use deadly force person felt greatly threatened opponents say measures embolden gun owners shoot first citing death unarmed black teenager rayon martin florida spurred national protests black lives matter movement the neighborhood watchman killed george zimmerman acquitted murder law included jury instructions wednesday house vote changing law followed party lines supporters including national rifle association powerful gun lobby see legislation fostering civilian right quell apparent threat this bill trying put burden proof belongs state people innocent proven guilty said republican sponsor bill representative bobby payne florida law specify process applying stand ground immunity state courts established current protocol calls hearing judge puts burden proof defendant most speaking house debate democrats said bill would lead violence who speak voiceless victims silenced aggression claims aggression protected flawed law said democrat representative bobby dose while public defenders support changes law florida prosecuting attorneys association gun control advocates oppose every battery case every domestic violence case every use force case matter routine defense attorneys request hearings said phil archer state attorney archer lifetime nra member teachers gun owners stand ground said changes this going politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Florida legislature poised to bolster 'Stand Your Ground' law(Reuters) - Florida lawmakers advanced a measure on Wednesday that could make it easier to avoid prosecution in deadly shootings and other use-of-force cases by seeking immunity on self-defense grounds under the state’s pioneering “stand your ground” law. In a 74-39 vote, the state’s House of Representatives passed legislation that shifts the burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors when the law is invoked to avoid trial. The measure now returns to the state Senate, which last month approved its own version of the bill. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans. Florida’s “stand your ground” law, passed in 2005, received wide scrutiny and inspired similar laws in other states. It removed the legal responsibility to retreat from a dangerous situation and allowed use deadly force when a person felt greatly threatened. Opponents say the measures will embolden gun owners to shoot first, citing the 2012 death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida, which spurred national protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. The neighborhood watchman who killed him, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of murder after the law was included in jury instructions. Wednesday’s House vote on changing the law followed party lines. Supporters, including the National Rifle Association, the powerful U.S. gun lobby, see the legislation as bolstering a civilian’s right to quell an apparent threat. “This bill is trying to put the burden of proof where it belongs, on the state, because all people are innocent before being proven guilty,” said the Republican sponsor of the bill, Representative Bobby Payne. Florida’s law did not specify the process for applying “stand your ground” immunity. State courts established the current protocol, which calls for a pre-trial hearing before a judge and puts the burden of proof on the defendant. Most of those speaking in the House debate were Democrats who said the bill would lead to more violence. “Who will speak for the voiceless victims, silenced by an aggressor who claims he wasn’t an aggressor but is protected by a flawed law?” said Democrat Representative Bobby Dubose. While public defenders support the changes to the law, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and gun control advocates oppose them.  “Every battery case, every domestic violence case, every use of force case, as a matter of routine, defense attorneys will now request hearings,” said Phil Archer, a state attorney. Archer, a lifetime NRA member who teachers gun owners about “stand your ground,” said of the changes: “This is just going too far.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: florida legislature poised bolster your ground law reuters florida lawmakers advanced measure wednesday could make easier avoid prosecution deadly shootings cases seeking immunity grounds state pioneering stand ground law in vote state house representatives passed legislation shifts burden proof defendants prosecutors law invoked avoid trial the measure returns state senate last month approved version bill both chambers controlled republicans florida stand ground law passed received wide scrutiny inspired similar laws states it removed legal responsibility retreat dangerous situation allowed use deadly force person felt greatly threatened opponents say measures embolden gun owners shoot first citing death unarmed black teenager rayon martin florida spurred national protests black lives matter movement the neighborhood watchman killed george zimmerman acquitted murder law included jury instructions wednesday house vote changing law followed party lines supporters including national rifle association powerful gun lobby see legislation fostering civilian right quell apparent threat this bill trying put burden proof belongs state people innocent proven guilty said republican sponsor bill representative bobby payne florida law specify process applying stand ground immunity state courts established current protocol calls hearing judge puts burden proof defendant most speaking house debate democrats said bill would lead violence who speak voiceless victims silenced aggression claims aggression protected flawed law said democrat representative bobby dose while public defenders support changes law florida prosecuting attorneys association gun control advocates oppose every battery case every domestic violence case every use force case matter routine defense attorneys request hearings said phil archer state attorney archer lifetime nra member teachers gun owners stand ground said changes this going politicsnews