RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Strengthening Self-Defense Law Deter Crime or Escalate Violence?
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 821
OP 854
DO 10.3368/jhr.48.3.821
VO 48
IS 3
A1 Cheng, Cheng
A1 Hoekstra, Mark
YR 2013
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/48/3/821.abstract
AB From 2000 to 2010, more than 20 states passed so-called “Castle Doctrine” or “stand your ground” laws. These laws expand the legal justification for the use of lethal force in self-defense, thereby lowering the expected cost of using lethal force and increasing the expected cost of committing violent crime. This paper exploits the within-state variation in self-defense law to examine their effect on homicides and violent crime. Results indicate the laws do not deter burglary, robbery, or aggravated assault. In contrast, they lead to a statistically significant 8 percent net increase in the number of reported murders and nonnegligent manslaughters.