Personal Protection and the Use of Deadly Force Persuasive Essay by Nicky

A discussion on the debate surrounding American citizens' rights to use deadly force as a means of self-defense.
# 151110 | 1,880 words | 8 sources | APA | 2012 | US
Published on May 22, 2012 in Political Science (State and Local Politics) , Hot Topics (Gun Control)


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Description:

The paper discusses how self-protection with firearms can be an effective deterrent to crime but, guns increase the danger for the victim, and there is no way to ensure that the intended victim is only going to use deadly force if it is absolutely necessary. The paper asserts that while there is no denying that people should have the right to defend themselves, violence begets violence, and ordinary citizens should not be able to possess the same rights and powers as the police force. The paper contains two appendices with figures.

From the Paper:

"Another important question related to personal protection and deadly force is the availability of alternatives, such as running away. One would think that using force as a last resort would include the attempt to flee the scene, but that is not the case. In states with Castle Doctrines, "The defendant has no duty to retreat from a place where he has a right to be and has the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent great bodily harm or death to himself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony" ("Florida Use", 2009, p. 1). Essentially this means that not wanting to 'lose face' is enough to justify legal homicide.
"Those who are in favor of these types of laws refer to them affectionately as "stand your ground" laws. Those who oppose them prefer the term "shoot first" laws, referring to the maxim 'shoot first, ask questions later.' So, on one side of the fence we have the people who think that running away or attempting other means of resolution to a physical threat is a sign of being a 'wuss'. And on the other side are those that equate expanded self-defense laws as a free pass to commit murder."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Carroll, J. (2007, October 26) How Americans protect themselves from crime. Gallup Daily News. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from http://www.gallup.com/poll/102418/how-americans-protect-themselves-from-crime.aspx
  • Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (2009) Shoot first laws, Retrieved October 27, 2009 from http://www.csgv.org/site/c.pmL5JnO7KzE/b.3509335/
  • Florida use of deadly force for self-defense (2008) Sammis Law, Retrieved October 28, 2009 from http://www.criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com/FloridaDefenses/DeadlyForceSelfDefense.aspx
  • Kaufman, W. (2004) Is there a "Right" to self-defense? Criminal Justice Ethics, 23, 20-31
  • Liptak, A. (2006, August 7) 15 states expand right to shoot in self-defense, New York Times, Retrieved October 29 from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/us/07shoot.html

Cite this Persuasive Essay:

APA Format

Personal Protection and the Use of Deadly Force (2012, May 22) Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/persuasive-essay/personal-protection-and-the-use-of-deadly-force-151110/

MLA Format

"Personal Protection and the Use of Deadly Force" 22 May 2012. Web. 02 April. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/persuasive-essay/personal-protection-and-the-use-of-deadly-force-151110/>

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