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The right to use force in self-defense an important civil liberty and right, ensconced in the Second Amendment of the Constitution. Because of Second Amendment assurances, all Americans technically have the right to bear arms in self-defense. Some states have attempted to restrict Second Amendment rights, but the vast majority of states have implemented “some statutory version” of the Castle Doctrine (“What is the Castle Doctrine,” n.d.). In fact, some states like Florida have taken the Castle Doctrine a step further to invoke what are commonly called “stand your ground laws.” Whereas the Castle Doctrine only applies to a person’s “castle,” or home and private property, stand your ground laws can be invoked in any situation requiring self-defense. There is no real reason, evidence-based or otherwise, why Americans who are protected by the provisions of the Constitution should not be able to defend themselves if and when faced with a potentially violent or threatening situation.What other countries like England do should have no bearing on American law. Gun proliferation is already a problem in the United States, and the Castle Doctrine in no way contributes to a culture of violence....
If anything, stand your ground laws may discourage would-be perpetrators from inciting or provoking use of force. For example, a person who is about to commit a mugging or robbery might think twice if they believe their intended victim could be carrying a deadly weapon that they are fully prepared to wield. Use of force in self-defense is both a Constitutional right and an affirmation of personal liberty.
It is true that some people could abuse their rights and liberties by using force when it was unnecessary, and that unnecessary use of force might result in serious injury or death. In fact, in 2014 a Montana jury ruled against the homeowner in a case in which the property owner shot a person. Based on evidence that showed the homeowner “purposefully lured” the shooting victim into his garage, the jury ruled that the stand your ground rule had been abused (Allen, 2014). The homeowner was tried and convicted of homicide. Stand your ground laws are designed to be invoked only in cases in which the person experiences a real threat. Unfortunately, the more famous case of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman shows that juries do not always interpret threat the same way. Unlike the shooting victim in the…
Stand Your Ground Law 'Stand your ground' laws To inform tand your ground' laws are extremely controversial pieces of legislation. Attention-getter: 'A man's home is his castle.' How often have we heard this phrase? This concept is at the foundation of the right to defend yourself by using deadly force against an intruder who invades your home. However, recent laws have expanded the 'castle doctrine' and other, existing self-defense laws. Many of these new
Of even more significance is that twelve states go ahead to extend litigation costs and attorney fees "to a shooter who prevails in a civil lawsuit, creating a strong disincentive for a shooting victim to pursue justice in the civil system" (Mayors against Illegal Guns 6) The Reach of Stand Your Ground Law Although the Stand Your Ground Law is largely and extensively linked to Martin's case, a 2012 investigation by
Peaceful Approaches to Human Interaction Throughout history, conflicts over scarce resources or fundamental differences in political or religious ideologies have exacted an enormous toll on humanity, with the 20th century being perhaps the most violent in human history. It is therefore not surprising that during the 20th century, a number of advocates of nonviolence emerged to promote alternative approaches to resolving human conflicts, including Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther
Quoted in "Strengthen Alliances..." Chapter III of "NSS" paper) Not long after the unveiling of the Bush doctrine vide the NSS, the United States demonstrated its practical application by taking unilateral military action against Iraq despite opposition from most of its key allies and not having a specific UN Resolution to do so. US Hegemony: Another key feature of the Bush doctrine that appeared in the NSS was that the United States
Stand Your Ground Laws: A Cry for Repeal THE EFFECTS OF HYPOXIA STAND YOUR GROUND: A CRY FOR REPEAL Stand Your Ground Laws: A Cry for Repeal Academic and Professional Writing for Graduate Students (LS526-01) The "Stand Your Ground Law" is one of the most controversial laws in recent years and has gained notoriety due to its enactment in thirty-three states so far. Advocates of the law claim that it reduces the threat of violence
On the other hand, it is possible that such scenarios are extreme, and are based on the same time of 'slippery slope' logic that causes people to wonder if legalizing gay marriages will lead to people marrying animals. Extremism on either side of an issue is never a good thing, nor is the fabrication of doomsday scenarios that are based on nothing but speculation. Sarah Palin should know that better