Attorney general Eric Holder assured attendees at the NAACP convention in Orlando that he continues to be “concerned” about the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and that the incident has personally affected him. The 17-year-old boy’s death prompted him to have a discussion with his teenage son about how to behave around police, he said.

Following his speech yesterday, Holder vowed again to continue investigating possible federal civil-rights charges against George Zimmerman, telling the audience that the Department of Justice will not be afraid to do “everything possible” to seek justice in this case.

He also urged the audience to speak out against laws that could encourage gun violence. “We must stand our ground to ensure that our laws reduce violence and take a hard look at laws that contribute to more violence than they prevent,” said Holder, referring to ”Stand Your Ground” law. Florida’s version of that law did not ultimately play a role in the Zimmerman trial. 

“It’s time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self-defense and sow dangerous conflict in our neighborhoods,” he said.