For over six weeks now, the media has engaged the nation in a spirited discussion of the merits and challenges of the law commonly known as “Stand Your Ground”(SYG). The catalyst for this expository discourse is the shooting death of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman on February 26th. I addressed this topic directly in post three weeks ago, and I will not rehash the specifics of that case.
In these few moments my focus is on the relationship, correlative or coincidental, between “SYG” laws, and increases in the homicide rate. Intuitively, one might be led to think a measure that permits and validates the use of deadly force, in instances when one fears for his or her life, might lead to more people shooting folks in close quarters…which in turn may lead to more those folks dying of gunshot wounds…hence, an increase in homicides.
By and large, proponents of these measures subscribe to the notion that guns don’t kill people; criminals do. Of course that notion allows for the rapidly expanding exception which includes the cases of the people whose rights these proponents support; “people who kill the criminals they fear are threatening their lives by attacking them.”
Mr. Zimmerman shot Martin in
The American psyche reeled from fallout emanating from the attacks of September11, 2001, and was further alarmed by the lawlessness depicted across
It has been seven years since
There is a healthy debate about the laws effect on crime rates. Dennis Baxley, author of the
Nationally, studies suggest a variety of factors have led to the decline in crime, including:
- High incarceration rates
- Less use of cash
- Legalization of abortion (fewer poor young people)
In concert with the alternative reasons for falling crime rates, critics of SYG have pointed out a number of causes for concern about the law. Some of them are:
- Criminals will use the law as a defense for their actions
- More people will carry guns
- People will not feel safe because anyone can use deadly force to settle a conflict
- Misinterpretation of clues will lead to use of deadly force when there is no threat
- Racial & ethnic minorities will be at greater risk because of stereotypes
So how do the facts square with intuition and inference? I’m glad you asked! According to data supplied by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and FBI statistics, justifiable homicides have tripled in Florida
During the five years preceding the adoption of SYG, Florida
Not surprisingly, opinions regarding whether there is a direct correlation vary, depending on the position of the analyst. The state of Florida and the Florida
Beyond Florida
As Steven A. Jansen, the group’s vice president put it, “It’s almost like we now have to prove a negative – that a person was not acting in self-defense, often on the basis of only one witness, the shooter.”
At this point, in response to the query “How to the facts line up with my pre-judgment,” I am inclined to view the correlation as substantial; in fact direct. As I see, the heading “Stand Your Ground: Licensed to Kill,” is Dead On (pun intended)!
I’m done; holla back!
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