Informative Essay: Stand Your Ground Law

1237 Words3 Pages

Zach Heyerhoff
Mr. Kadlec
Advanced Composition
26 March 2017
Stand Your Ground Law One of the most recent, debatable topics in the United States today has become the Stand Your Ground Law. Although it is sometimes misunderstood, the basic definition of the law allows for the use of deadly force when being attacked without first having to retreat. When it comes to public opinion, middle ground does not exist between the advocates for the law, or the critics against it. The drastically different opinions of staunch critics and fervent advocates of the Stand Your Ground Law have made this a very controversial and divisive topic. Many people may have a misunderstanding of this new law which leads to frequent debates. Stand Your Ground Law states …show more content…

This means that if a person faces danger, he or she may prevent it from happening by using force without having to retreat first. But in states that do not have Stand Your Ground Laws, a person must first try to escape the threat of danger, or retreat, in order to use deadly force. But some people still do not have a clear idea of what the law actually entails. According to Bradford Cohen, many people wrongly believe that the Stand Your Ground defense has only paved the way to “a free-for-all shooting gallery” (1). However, in reality, this law only states that if you feel that you face grave danger, you may use deadly force to defend against it without having to run and hide first. John Hay Rabb suggests that many supporters of Stand Your Ground Laws are reasonable, law-abiding, responsible citizens who happen to own guns (1). Advocates of the law agree with Rabb, and say they need this law because it makes them feel …show more content…

Even though many misunderstandings and disagreements about the Stand Your Ground Law exist, several states have adopted the law. Yet people on both sides of this issue will probably always find it hard to agree with a different perspective about it than their

Open Document