Sybrina Fulton holds up a picture in remembrance of her son via Flickr/Creative Commons

Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, shared her frustration with the “stand your ground” law in a national debate on Tuesday,  stating that it “does not work.” Speaking on behalf of her 17-year-old son, who was shot and killed in Florida last year, Fulton urged the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights members to “seriously take a look” at the Florida law on which George Zimmerman—the man who claimed to act in self defense in the shooting death of an unarmed Martin—rested.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking Republican on the subcommittee, shared his sympathy with Fulton for her loss, but disagreed with her. His defense of 'Stand Your Ground'  supports the longevity of the 1985 Supreme Court decision the law stems from. Cruz argued that the law hasbenefited the African American Community. 

 “You’re obliged to turn and run rather than to defend yourself is a notion that is contrary to hundred of years of our  jurisprudence and to the rights that protect all of us,” said Cruz.

Others, like Sen. Dick Durbin (D-III), the chairman of the subcommittee, agreed with Fulton, stating that it’s time for the law “to be carefully reviewed and reconsidered.”

“Whatever the motivation behind them, it’s clear these laws often go too far in encouraging confrontation stat escalate into  deadly violence…They’re resulting in unnecessary tragedies and hey are diminishing accountability under our justice system,”  said Durbin.

Martin's death was shocking and sparked a heavy conversation about the significance of the "stand your ground law." Today's conversation, including his mother's opinion illuminated the partisan divide. 

Reach Executive Producer Cortney Riles here. Follow her here.