Evaluating the impact of “stand your ground” self-defence laws in the US

Since 2005, a series of controversial changes to self-defense laws have been enacted in a number of US states. These laws are known as “stand your ground” or “shoot first” laws, and they expand the rights of individuals to use lethal force in situations when a severe threat to their life is perceived. Advocates of these laws argue that they will result in positive effects on crime, deterring would be criminals. But there are growing concerns that these laws may have adverse effects on public safety.

This project will examine the impact of stand your ground laws across US states, aiming to examine and explain differences between states and population subgroups (e.g. different ages and racial groups). The project will employ a quasi-experimental design, using novel statistical methods to help understand the impact of these laws. The findings will be disseminated via international collaboration, research output(s), and public engagement.