The Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee rejected a repeal of the controversial Stand Your Ground law on Thursday.
The repeal bill, HB 4003, pushed by Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) was voted down 2-11, by lawmakers of the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Williams said, his effort to repeal Stand Your Ground had “everything to do with making sure we keep our streets and our communities and our neighborhoods safe.”
“We have had a number of cases that have shown us over and over that the law as adopted in 2005 isn’t working,” added Williams.
Republicans disagreed saying that, the state is safer and has the lowest crime rate in 42 years and Stand Your Ground ought not to be changed.
Democrats Rep. Kionne McGhee, of Miami, and Randolph Bracy, of Orlando, supported the repeal bill.
