Bloomberg takes on 'stand your ground' laws with new campaign

Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday argued that America is no safer because of controversial "stand your ground" laws during the launch of a campaign to change them.

Such laws "justify civilian gunplay and invite vigilante justice and retribution, with disastrous results," Bloomberg said at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he was joined by groups supporting the "Second Chance on Shoot First" campaign.

States with "stand your ground" laws generally allow civilians who feel their lives are threatened to respond with deadly force, even if they could flee the situation instead.

The laws have gained more attention after the February killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood-watch volunteer.