Controversy surrounding the first-degree murder charge and release of pharmacist Jerome Ersland... is evoking a strong response today from the Oklahoma and Oklahoma City NAACP.

At a press conference this afternoon... The Oklahoma state branch president saying they stand behind the first-degree murder charge.

"The district attorney has properly done his job, bringing the charge of murder, as we believe the circumstance so dictates," NAACP Oklahoma President Anthony Douglas said. "Self-defense is one thing, and it is our right, and an unusual executional--executional-style murder is something different and our society should not condone it and we are hear to speak against such conduct."

Speaking with the NAACP today... 2 state representatives... A representative from the Peace House and Franco Cevallos ... representing the Hispanic Action Coalition.

Cevallos speaking out strongly against the pharmacists actions.

"Mr. Ersland should have stopped after he shot him the first time," Cevallos said. "He was unarmed, he was not a threat for him, he was disabled, he should have stopped there. He didn't have to play rambo and go get a gun and unload it another five times that, that is shameful."

And State Representative Anastasia Pittman says now she wants to make laws that permit self-defense more clear---so it's obvious what someone can and cannot do.

"If we have these laws on the books, that are supposed to protect, our citizens who obey the law, but if we have an unjustice application of the law then it's not serving it's purpose," Pittman said. "This is not a black issue, this is not a white issue," Douglas said. "This is a judicial issue. and our concern is about the judicial system being open and fair."