The Rise of Stand Your Ground Laws in the US

Stand your ground laws, which allow individuals to protect themselves with reasonable force, including deadly force, to prevent death or great bodily harm, are in effect in at least 28 US states and Puerto Rico. These laws remove the duty to retreat when a person feels they must defend their home or private property. Critics call them "shoot first" laws. Statistics show that states with stand your ground laws have seen a rise in homicides by 10% or higher. The laws also increase racial disparities in the US criminal justice system.