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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -

A Florida Senate committee has approved a bill that tweaks the state's controversial stand your ground law.

The adjustments include local law enforcement setting guidelines for neighborhood watch organizations, clarifying immunity and who can use a stand your ground defense and allowing law enforcement to conduct its investigation even when stand your ground is being used.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, and Sen. Christopher Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale.

The bill has now been approved by two Senate committees and must go through two more before it reaches the floor. The Community Affairs committee is the next stop.

The legislation passed unanimously Monday, despite being a topic that traditionally splits down party lines. The NRA, represented by Marion Hammer, even supported the changes.

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'Stand Your Ground' law moves through committee after change

How to survive stand your ground law if youre black Tutorial 1167

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In Florida Monday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the state capitol, demanding changes in the Stand Your Ground law. The law allows a person to use deadly force to defend himself, even if retreat is possible.

Florida state Rep. Matt Gaetz

CBS News

"In Florida, we believe in robust self-defense laws, it's worked. It's created a 42-year crime low," said state Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz pointed to the case of Marissa Alexander. She was initially sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband.

"I'm more interested in closing a loophole where someone would be punished more for missing with a bullet than they would be for striking someone with a bullet in a self-defense circumstance," Gaetz said.

Eleven states are considering bills to adopt or strengthen Stand Your Ground laws, but 12 states are deciding whether to weaken or repeal them.

Sybrina Fulton

CBS News

"I feel like there's no justice in Stand Your Ground law," Fulton told CBS News.

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Fla. looks to expand controversial Stand Your Ground law ...

Karl Etters, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat 4:24 p.m. EDT March 10, 2014

The Rev. Al Sharpton addresses a rally on March 10, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Sharpton, the parents of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis and hundreds of others marched about a mile to Florida's Capitol against the state's stand your ground law.(Photo: Glenn Beil, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Hundreds of marchers joined the parents of slain black teens Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin and the Rev. Al Sharpton to call Monday for changes to Florida's stand your ground law.

Also walking from the Leon County Civic Center to the Florida Capitol less than a mile away was the family of Marissa Alexander, who was sentenced to 20 years for firing a gun in the direction of her estranged husband.

Florida law gives people who are not involved in illegal activity the right to stand their ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if they reasonably believe it's necessary to avoid death or great bodily harm.

"It's a flawed law because you don't need an actual threat," Sharpton said. "All you've got to do is believe a threat and you can use deadly force."

VIDEO: How often are guns used in self-defense? STORY: Self-defense argument at center of gun debate

Those looking for change have been adamant that self-defense laws have been used against minorities disproportionately. They believe that force should be used only after all other options have been exhausted.

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Stephen Proctor, a Tallahassee Community College student, walks March 10, 2013, to the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee to rally against the state's stand your ground law.(Photo: Phil Sears, AP)

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Protesters press for changes in stand your ground law