For Immediate Release

Contact:

CJ Frogozo, CJ@FitzGibbonMedia.com, 310.570.2622

Rachel Tardiff, Rachel@FitzGibbonMedia.com, 202.746.1507

“Following the tragic shooting death of Jordan Davis, it’s expected that his killer, Michael Dunn, will claim the killing was a justifiable homicide based on Florida’s ‘Shoot First’ law. Just 9 months after the death of Trayvon Martin we are reminded how important it is to fight back against laws that enable a culture of senseless violence. The numerous vigils and community reaction across Florida and the US tell us that people are outraged, and our leaders need to listen.

“Florida’s dangerous ‘Shoot First’ law allowed Trayvon Martin’s killer to walk free without charges for more than a month. Shoot First laws legalize vigilante homicide, have demonstrated racial bias in their application, and, according to a growing number of research studies, have led to an increase in gun-related deaths in the more than two dozen states where they have been passed into law. Numerous experts have pointed out that these laws even go so far as to give individual gun owners a greater right to shoot and kill than the rules of engagement for our military during times of war grant soldiers in war zones. These laws must be reformed now to protect families and communities and prevent senseless deaths.

“Please join us in calling on elected officials in your state to stand against Shoot First laws.”

Note: to schedule an interview with Rashad Robinson, please see contact information. To view the ColorOfChange petition calling on reform of Shoot First Laws and justice of victims, see /a> #### With more than 800,000 members, ColorOfChange.org is the nation’s largest Black online civil rights organization.