After Monday’s shooting at the Washington, D.C., Navy Yard, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has postponed a much-anticipated Senate hearing on Stand Your Ground laws.
The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to hear arguments regarding the controversial self-defense laws on Tuesday morning, but a spokesman for Durbin, chairman of the subcommittee, announced Monday afternoon that the hearing had been postponed.
The U.S. Senate also adjourned early on Monday in light of the shooting.
The hearing was scheduled in the wake of the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin in Feb. 2012. While the defense for shooter George Zimmerman — who was acquitted in July — did not invoke the state’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law in the case, the piece of self-defense legislation came under fire during the trial.
Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, was scheduled to testify at Tuesday’s hearing. Reps. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) were also going to speak, along with experts on both sides of the gun control debate.
Lucia McBath, mother of another teen killed in a shooting, was also going to testify at the ‘Stand Your Ground’ hearing. Her attorney, John Phillips, told Yahoo! News that it was “ironic” the hearing had to be rescheduled due to gun violence.
“I can’t even put it into words how bitterly ironic and significant that is that we were all delayed [on our way to a gun control hearing] because of a shooting in DC,” Phillips said.
Several of the Senators on the subcommittee tweeted their regards to those involved in the attack, but none mentioned the postponing of the hearing. A spokesman for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had no additional comment on the postponement.
The hearing has not yet been rescheduled.
Elaine and I extend our thoughts and prayers to all those affected by today’s tragic act of violence at the Navy Yard. Just senseless.
— Orrin Hatch (@OrrinHatch) September 16, 2013
My thoughts are with the Navy Yard workers & first responders, their families & all affected by the #NavyYardShooting
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) September 16, 2013
Heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with victims and loved ones in tragic gun violence at Washington DC Navy Yard
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) September 16, 2013
Profound truth we must heed. Dr Orlowski: “Something’s wrong. We have to work to get rid of it. I want you to put my trauma ctr out of biz”
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) September 16, 2013
Saddened to hear the news from the #navyyard. My thoughts are with those who lost their lives today. – AF
— Al Franken (@alfranken) September 16, 2013
Prayers for the Navy Yard victims, their families and for first responders who rushed to protect those in danger and work to secure the area
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 16, 2013
