Imagine that your daughter is walking home from the store. A man in a black car starts following her. He gets out and begins to follow her by foot. You daughter begins to run in fear. The suspicious character begins running after her. She stops and decides to face her fear. She knees him and pepper sprays him. Seconds later, shots were fired leaving your daughter dead. She is the aggressor and he is justified for shooting her in “self-defense” under the stand your ground law. The stand-your-ground law is a law that states that an individual has the lawful right to use any level of forces, including lethal force, if they are faced in any situation where they feel harmed. The first “stand your ground” law was passed in April of 2005 in Florida.WHile the “Stand Your Ground” law can be used as self defense, it puts the lives of African American youth in danger by allowing people to take unfair advantage of the law: therefore, O.C.G.A 16-3-23.1 should be prohibited. …show more content…
To start, the “Stand Your Ground” law has led to an augmentation of violent and fatal crimes.
While many people appeal this statement, there are some who agree. “Research shows that “Stand Your Ground” laws are associated with as many as 700 additional homicides nationwide each year (Galloway). Jim Galloway’s position is supported by clear evidence. States that who’ve adopted the “Stand Your Ground” laws have shown an increase of homicides and violent crimes. Mayors Against Illegal guns, a group formed by former New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, research and discovered that there was an additional count of homicides nationwide. With regards to the increase of homicides, “The Stand Your Ground” law is to blame. It provides sufferance for insecure or demented
individuals. In addition to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, studies were done by Texas A&M University. Their studies suggest: “So-called stand your ground laws do not deter crime and might actually cause an increase in murder and manslaughter” (Lipscomb). In regards to these studies, The Stand Your Ground laws have shown a definite increase in violent and fatal crimes. Further studies go on to explain, “They lead to a statistically significant 8% increase in the number of reported murders and nonnegligent manslaughters” (Cheng). Along with 700 additional homicides, there was an 8% increase. These were additional murders and manslaughters being added as if there weren’t already enough. While this that may seem trivial to some, the importance is severe. The Stand Your Ground law has added additional yet unnecessary numbers. Furthermore, white man subconsciously discriminate against minorities. “Growing numbers of psychological studies find that white Americans hold attitudes and engage in behaviors that unintentionally disadvantage or discriminate against racial and ethnic minorities” (Palmer) Though everyone has a mind of their own and are responsible for making their own decisions, there are a few individuals who are not capable of thinking and making decisions for themselves. Consider the case of Alexander Delaware, a citizen of downtown Miami. He was recently on trial for the death of a young African American male, Mario Smith. Mario's case was very similar, almost exact, to Jordan Davis’ case. While at the gas station, he encountered with with Mr.Delaware after being asked to turn his music down. Momentarily, seven shots were fired into the car, one landing in his main artery. Mr.Delaware was placed on trial which was soon indicted. Mr Delaware was found not guilty by the jury. 3 months later he was diagnosed with three mental illnesses, which included schizophrenia. In regards to his diagnosis, it might have not been intentional to kill the black teen, Mario Smith. He could have he suffered a relapse of schizophrenia. As a matter of fact, there have been many theories found to support that white men subconsciously discriminate against minorities.“Growing numbers of psychological studies find that White Americans hold attitudes and engage in behaviors that unintentionally disadvantage or discriminate against racial and ethnic minority groups (Apfelbaum, Sommers & Norton 2008 et al)”(Palmer). The essence of Palmer’s argument is it there are theories that justify white men discriminate against minorities beneath and beyond their own consciousness. Palmer then goes on to expand, “Theories of aversive racism, modern racism, subtle racism, and symbolic racism propose that acts of race discrimination are often couched in and beliefs about individualism.” These theories also support the subconscious discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities such as African Americans. Though this claim lacks the interest of many, it is a huge problem in today's society. As white man continues to subconsciously discriminate against the African American race, they will begin to gain a title though it is not their fault. In like manner, the image associated with Blacks are perceived as a threat to the white community. African American men and boys can be perceived as more dangerous, hostile and threatening than White men. Mario Balotelli, an Italian footballer for A.C Milan, himself says, “my public image is absolutely not a fair reflection of who I am.” Blair explain psychological science has provided increasing evidence of racial bias and prejudice held by whites toward blacks. To elaborate, Blair goes on to explain, “expectations of behavior and schemas also influenced by experience with these social categories, the media, culture or information from others that influence how people respond”(Palmer). In other words, experience media & culture have become factors of perceptions and social categories. Further studies discover and justify the stereotypes and perception often guide the way people respond to certain descriptions or traits. For example, an elderly woman might be viewed as frail and non-threatening. While a larger Black man may draw a response of fear and danger. Although the image of Blacks being perceived as a threat may seem of concern to only a small group of citizens, it should in fact concern everyone who cares about having a fair and liberal government. With regards to the image of Blacks been perceived as a threat, ideal revisions have been made. Bell said, “the best way of changing the law would be adding a provision that states such a fear can't be driven by age, race, gender, religion or sex orientation of another person”(Blau). As Bill explains, she has discovered a clever and effective modification by adding acquisition that prevents fear being impeled by characteristics of Blacks such as age, race or, gender. This modification disables the White community’s right to kill Blacks due to an image being perceived as a threat. Whites will no longer be able to use the Stand Your Ground law as an excuse of them “judging a book by it’s cover.” This modification could possibly eliminate the unnecessary killings of the Black community. Image of blacks being perceived as a threat is very critical in order to cut down the unnecessary numbers of homicide. In the same fashion, the “Stand Your Ground” law provides a venue for white men to inflict violence upon the Black community. The “Stand Your Ground” law has become an effective defense for everything from stabbings to assaults with baseball bats”(Blau). Though many doubt the innocence of the Black community, consider the case of Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old African American from Miami Gardens Florida who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman on the 26th of February 2012. Trayvon was walking home from a local 7-Eleven after purchasing Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea. Along his journey, he wore a dark grey sweatshirt. He was also sharing a phone call with his girlfriend. Moments later he encountered with George Zimmerman. After calling the police authority, Zimmerman began to follow Trayvon ignoring the request of him not to. His excuse being, “this guy looks like he up to no good or he on drugs or something.” Moments later shots were fired, killing Trayvon Martin. After going to court, he was found not guilty do to “self defense” under the “Stand Your Ground” law. This case was another opportunity for violence to be inflicted among the Black community. While the “Stand Your Ground” law is meant for one to use deadly force in cases of self defense, it instead provides a venue for white men to inflict violence among the Black community. “SYG laws have nothing to do with legitimate self defense but, instead of invitations for vigilantes to use deadly and unnecessary force”(Beger). As Berger explain, the “Stand Your Ground” law does not concern the idea of self defense, but more of an opportunity for citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority to use deadly force. Though all people are not the same, there are few who take advantage of this law. While this is the case, people will soon develop the idea that it is acceptable to kill members of the black community and not receive consequences. The “Stand Your Ground” law will then become a traditional alibi. With the “Stand Your Ground” laws in place, White men are rewarded with opportunities to inflict violence among the Black community without any consequences. This requires an urgent response because, if you do not stop a fire when it begins, it will spread only to grow larger.
The next cartoon I have shows a man defending his actions of shooting another person by saying that he felt threatened. He argues that Florida’s Stand Your Ground law gives him the right to do so and that the victim would also agree but the twist is that the victim is actually dead and would not be able to say otherwise. I think the artist created this illustration to emphasize how ri...
States that have stand-your ground laws remove a common law requirement to retreat if a person is able to do so before using reasonable force outside of one’s home (Randall and DeBoer). This allows individuals in states with these laws to use force in self-defense when there is a reasonable belief of a threat (Randall and DeBoer). Under certain circumstances, such as a threat of imminent serious bodily harm or death, deadly force is considered reasonable under stand your ground laws (Randall and DeBoer). In Florida the stand-your ground law states “a person has the right to stand his or her ground if he or she (1) reasonably believes it is necessary to d...
The “Stand Your Ground” law was first adopted in the state of florida in 2005. This law did not gain national attention until the shooting death of unarmed teenager, Trayvon Martin, in Sanford, florida, where the shooter, George Zimmerman used the “Stand Your Ground” law as his basis for defending himself against Trayvon Martin to the Sanford Police Department. However, George Zimmerman’s legal defense team did not utilize the law to argue his innocence during his trial. But the damage had been done because soon after other cases in florida began to sprout up with “Stand Your Ground” as the driving force.
Stand your ground law is a self-defense law that authorize a person to protect and defend one’s own life. Only few states in the U.S including Florida (2005) pass this law. On April 30, 2013 George Zimmerman waives his rights to a “stand your ground” pretrial immunity hearing as CNN states. His attorneys decides to try this as a “self-defends’ case. Judge will have to decide if his actions were protected under the
The sixth amendment is indeed a right that carries tremendous importance with its name. It constitutes for many protections which Mallicoat (2016) summarizes by saying it “provides for the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of one’s peers in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. Provides the right to be informed of the nature of the charges, to confront witnesses against oneself, and present witnesses in one’s defense. Provides the right to an attorney.” Having an impartial jury of one’s peers is extremely important in efforts to eliminate bias and a subjective, limited range of mindsets. If this cannot be obtained in the jurisdiction where the crime was committed, one may request trial to be held elsewhere, such as in the case
Zimmerman was asked by a dispatcher to stop pursuing Treyvon Martin. The “Stand Your Ground”
The article ‘Stand your Ground’ Laws Encourage Vigilantes is a short opinionated piece written by Cynthia Tucker. It covers the topic of self-defense laws more commonly known as stand your ground laws and how she feels they help spread racism towards black citizens, and why they should be repealed. To get her point across to the reader she uses examples of a few high profile cases that demonstrates her opinion. The article also states information about the ...
Gun control is a controversial issue that currently has no easy solution to please everyone. In an article written by Adam Winkler, a professor from the UCLA School of Law, he states that open carry is the answer to having fewer guns on the streets. His argument fails because it contains false premises throughout the article and is also inductively weak. First, he commits the slippery slope fallacy by assuming a series of events will occur for doing one action. Second, he commits the bandwagon fallacy. The fact that other states have the open carry law in effect does not make his argument true nor does it make it a valid reason. Last, he neglects how there will always be people who do not follow laws. Gun control in the United States has been a difficult topic for many people to discuss, but Winkler’s point of view of the topic does not give a complete thought about why people should agree with him.
When someone is taken into custody they are read certain rights. These rights are called the Miranda rights. These insure that everyone knows what rights they have upon being arrested. Once arrested the police officer must read the rights. Included in the right are the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. For people that cannot afford a lawyer the lawyer will be appointed. Before the rights were implemented people would think they had to tell the police everything they saw or did, also by police stating the rights the people know that they have the right to a lawyer.
Evidence can prove that Miranda Rights should be an important right for the citizens of the United States Of America but should not be a digression or inconsequential and that shows Equality,liberty and justice. If we didn't have miranda rights we would end in a deleterious situation which would end in disaster for example, the police requirement to remember few amendment portrayed to Miranda Rights to recommend citizens that are inculpable to go to jail by police who can fabricate the situation.Evils don't have rights for other citizens like Paris which some of the victims have to be interrogated for a few days. “The Miranda warning prevents police from taking advantage of suspects who have been arrested or are in police custody. The Miranda Court determined that these protections were necessary to
Stand-your-ground Law - "Stand-your-ground Law." Wikipedia. The World of the. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Mar.
Crime rate has steadily lowered as more guns enter the private market. There is no single answer to end the debate on gun control. Many variables must be examined, but the evidence presented cannot be ignored. Gun control does not end violence, but makes the law-abiding citizens more vulnerable. In the 1878 Arkansas case of Wilson v. State, a judge stated, “Common sense dictates that inanimate objects, such as guns, are not responsible for human behavior.
What makes a good person good? According to WikiHow, "We should learn to define our own morals ourselves. One of the simplest ways to do so is to love others, and treat them as you would like to be treated. Try to think of others before yourself. Even doing small things daily will greatly enrich and improve your life, and the lives of others around you." This quote shows us what we need to do in order to be what society thinks as, “good". In order to be a good person, you have to do good and moral things in your society consistently. However people might think that by doing one good thing once in a while will automatically make you a “good person”, but in reality it doesn’t.
Today, there is a huge diversity of video games, from Life is Strange, a time travel graphic adventure that explores consequence and the “butterfly effect” to Undertale, a indie roleplaying game that encourages pacifism. Yet video games were also amazing in the past. 15 years ago, Capcom, a Japanese studio, released a video game called: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, which eventually become a series. This game tells the tale of Phoenix Wright, an amateur defense attorney, who fights to defend his clients from being falsely convicted in murder trials. Following after his mentor, Mia Fey’s, footsteps, Wright learns to unveil the truth through“thinking outside the box”, pressuring the witness, contradictions, and sometimes blatant bluffing and stalling. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is my favorite video game because it’s an excellent critique of the Japanese courtroom, it’s humorous, and it has exciting and unpredictable plot lines.
Police officers primary responsibility is to protect and serve citizens and communities, not to abuse the laws by hurting innocent people. In most states Stand-Your-Ground laws allows innocent citizens the right to use deadly force to defend and protect themselves. But what if they were protecting themselves from police brutality. Police brutality has been going on for many years; they can cause riots, injuries, and even mistrust for the police.