While homicides overall are declining in the U.S., justifiable homicides are going up.

 

An analysis of murder statistics by The Wall Street Journal revealed killings done in the name of self-defense doubled last decade, reaching a total of 326. In Florida, they have tripled since the state’s Stand Your Ground law took effect in 2005. The law, based on the 17th century “Castle Doctrine” that allows a person to use deadly force in one’s home, expanded this right to public settings.

 

The newspaper also found that in 60% of cases where police determined the relationship between the victim and killer, those involved did not know each other. This stands in stark contrast to the vast majority of murder cases, in which victims knew their killers.

 

Another discovery made: Guns were used in more than 80% of justifiable cases, but only 65% of non-justifiable cases.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

More Killings Called Self-Defense (by Joe Palazzolo and Rob Barry, Wall Street Journal)

'Stand Your Ground' Law Protects Those Who Go Far Beyond That Point (by Ben Montgomery, Tampa Bay Times)