111: The Danger of "Stand Your Ground" Laws

More than 37 states in the US allow a person to use deadly force against an intruder or attacker under the guise that they are defending themselves or their property. This is due to what are called “Stand Your Ground'' laws-- but those laws are highly controversial. In this episode, hosts Kelly and JJ are joined by three amazing guests: Alyssa Ackbar, the legislative coordinator for Team ENOUGH’s Florida Lobbying Collective and a state director with March For Our Lives, as well as part of their “Youth Congress''; Dr. Caroline Light, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Senior Lecturer on Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard -- who also wrote the book Stand Your Ground: A History of America’s Love Affair with Lethal Self-Defense; and Dr. John Roman, a senior fellow in the Economics, Justice and Society Group at NORC at the University of Chicago who has extensive experience on the effect race plays in “Stand Your Ground'' defenses. Together, we are discussing the recent development with Stand Your Ground laws and how these laws have the potential to cause more harm than good.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Is There Racial Bias in “Stand Your Ground” Laws? (PBS)
Why Do People Buy Guns (Roman)
Race, justifiable homicide, and stand your ground laws: Analysis of FBI supplementary homicide report data (Urban Institute)
Stand Your Ground: A History of America's Love Affair with Lethal Self-Defense (Beacon Press)