ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Just miles from where the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin launched a national debate over stand your ground laws, a federal commission is holding a hearing on whether there are racial disparities in the application of the law.
The U.S. Civil Rights Commission on Friday will hold the hearing in Orlando's tourist district, about 30 miles from the Sanford gated community where the 17-year-old Martin was fatally shot by George Zimmerman.
The stand your ground law says people who are not involved in illegal activity have the right to use force - even deadly force - if they reasonably believe it's necessary to avoid death or great bodily harm.
Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense. He was acquitted of any crime at his trial last year.
