The stand your ground law is an expansion of the Castle Doctrine (a 17th-century common law that was eventually brought to the U.S.). The Castle Doctrine is a legal doctrine, that “designates a person's abode or any legally occupied place as a place in which that person has protections and immunities permitting him or her, in certain circumstances, to use force (up to and including deadly force) to defend himself or herself against an intruder, and is free from legal prosecution for the consequences of the force used” (pg.). The stand your ground law, however, was a lobbying product of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and was signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush on April 26, 2005. Florida was the first the state to enact this law, and currently, 22 states have now adopted this law. The stand you ground law allows individuals to use force in self-defense when there is a reasonable …show more content…
Additionally, this law infringes on several human rights, including the right to life and the right to equality and non-discrimination. The American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man clearly states that “every human being has the right to life, liberty, and the security of his person” (). However, even today we see this is not applicable to vulnerable minority groups with the assistance of the stand your ground. Some individuals may say the criminal system Is broken, but the system works perfectly fine for those it is intended to work in favor for.
Significant Main Points The stand your ground law is a policy that is clearly not equitable for all Amercian citizens. The racial basis of this law is a perfect example why African Americans feel the need to say Black Lives Matters and its time to make a change within our justice system to ensure liberty for all