JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An expert panel of lawyers, professors and state representatives were joining forces Tuesday evening to help better explain a controversial law that's recently come under the national spotlight.
Florida's "stand your ground" law was raised during the trial of Jacksonville's Marissa Alexander.
She was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot against her husband, who she claimed had abused her.
Even more recognizable, Sanford's George Zimmerman is using the law as his defense after shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, and the D.W. Perkins Bar Foundation hosted the town hall meeting from 6-8 p.m. at Florida State College at Jacksonville's downtown campus.
"This is an informational town hall meeting to educate the public on Florida's stand your ground law," Jones said in a news release. "Our panel of experts will be discussing the pros and cons, how the law is being applied in our state and here in Jacksonville, and how it affects all of us."
Panelists include Sen. Audrey Gibson, former Jacksonville police officer Ken Jefferson, professor Bob Dekle, of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, criminal defense attorneys Chuck Hobbs and Richard Brown, and Jason Snyder, of the Duval County Public Defender's Office.