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FAU Offers Course On "Stand Your Ground" Law

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) – The depth and scope of Florida's so-called "stand your ground" self defense law will be the focus of a new course offered at Florida Atlantic University.

The course is being offered this fall by the School of Public Administration at the Boca Raton campus.

Program coordinator Richard Mangan says national publicity surrounding the recent George Zimmerman trial helped spur the creation of the course. It's being offered as an elective.

Florida's self-defense law generally removed a person's duty to retreat if possible in the face of danger. It was the first of its kind in the nation when passed in 2005. Now, about two dozen states have similar laws.

Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges last month in the shooting of 17-year old Trayvon Martin from Miami Gardens.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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