Florida Task Force on Self-Defense Laws to Meet Tuesday

State's Stand Your Ground law to be examined by task force

The Florida task force formed to examine the state's Stand Your Ground law in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting will be meeting for the first time Tuesday in Tallahassee.

The first meeting of the Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection, formed by Gov. Rick Scott, is expected to cover housekeeping matters.

Scott said he has no "preconceived notions" on what the task force will recommend but he wants it to look at the Florida law that allows citizens to defend themselves with deadly force.

The 19-member review team will spend the rest of the year investigating self-defense cases.
 
Martin was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who maintains he acted in self-defense. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder following weeks of protests.
 
Some have questioned the make-up of the task force and whether it will recommend substantive changes.

On Monday, Sen. Chris Smith, who formed his own task force to look into the law, released recommendations to make changes to Stand Your Ground.

Smith's recommendations included presenting cases to a Grand Jury, educating the public and law enforcement about the law, creating a system to track self-defense claims in the state and allow detaining.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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