Zimmerman Up Against Familiar Words: 'Stand Your Ground'

The man accused of shooting at George Zimmerman is planning to use a defense strategy that should be familiar to Zimmerman: Stand your ground. The attorney for Matthew Apperson said today that his client qualifies because he opened fire when he thought his life was in danger. As the AP notes, Zimmerman's legal team considered but ultimately chose not to pursue a stand-your-ground defense after Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. Under Florida's law, Apperson would get a hearing before his trial at which a judge would decide whether he's in the clear because of the self-defense strategy.

"That's a good look into the future," attorney Michael LaFay tells the Orlando Sentinel. The newspaper also points out broad similarities between this case and the Trayvon Martin shooting:

• "Two people exchanged words. There was a confrontation, and then someone grabbed a gun and opened fire, claiming the other was about to kill him. In this case, each man says the other was the aggressor."

(More George Zimmerman stories.)