This book is an attempt to untangle the web of social, cultural, and theological discourse that contributes to standyourground culture as well as to provide a theological response to the ideological assumptions that undergird this culture. Black bodies and the justice of god, what questions do you have about the. A history of americas stand your ground gun laws, from reconstruction to trayvon martin after a young, white gunman killed twentysix people at. Below is an excerpt of her conversation with wlrn reporter nadege green. The family jensen, sidewinders, and shawn obrien town tamer. Harvard professor caroline light was recently in miami to talk about the laws historical roots and her book stand your ground. Im really torn about this series i think ill read book 2 in the hopes that it develops.
Stand your ground by victoria christopher murray, paperback. The shooting death of trayvon martin in florida in 2012 brought a lot of attention to socalled stand your ground selfdefense laws, which allow armed individuals who believe they are in imminent danger to use deadly force. Janice johnson is living every black mothers nightmare. I found myself holding my breath on more than one occasion. A novel may be found by selecting the categories below. The castle doctrine originated as a theory of early common law, meaning it was a universally accepted natural right of selfdefense rather than a formally written law. A texas dynasty, and the standalone thrillers suicide mission, the bleeding. Kelly brown douglas is ordained in the episcopal church and currently serves at the washington. As you contemplate the full title of kelly brown douglas book stand your ground. Winner of nine african american literary awards for fiction and author of the year female, murray is also a fourtime naacp image award. The chapter discusses in detail legislation passed in 2007 that affected a persons duty to retreat and defined the terms habitation and vehicle. What makes this book unique is douglass awareness of contemporary events along with a keen ability to parse out the ways in which the past is connected to contemporary situations. This book is a look into the life of a family that was torn apart because of these laws and the people who are privileged to use these laws in the name of self defensecalled stand your ground. Its important to understand that even states that have stand your ground laws still have certain restrictions when it comes to using force in selfdefense.
When you do stand your ground, communicate your views clearly and dont be afraid of rocking the boat. Also, look at the friends and coworkers who you spend the most time with. Cases of selfdefense arent always simple especially in states with a stand your ground law. Its still too early to tell whether the prosecutor will consider this a case of stand your ground. When florida adopted a stand your ground law in 2005, it not only protected lawabiding citizens right to selfdefense, but also birthed a movement that began sweeping the country state by state. American strong series i know its the first of a series and biuld up can be everything but i found the book to be slow and by the end i felt as if nothing had happened there was action but the style of writing made it seem longwinded. Under the law, a person is allowed to use lethal force and has no duty to retreat if harvard professors book explores. T he idea of the right to defend oneself may seem universal, but in her new book stand your ground. This standyourground culture has produced and sustained slavery, black codes, jim crow, lynching, and other forms of racialized violence against black bodies. Stand your ground benefits the vulnerable in society. Stand your ground definition in the cambridge english. Winner of nine african american literary awards for fiction and author of the year female, murray is also a four.
If trayvon was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk. What does floridas stand your ground law say you can do. A history of americas stand your ground gun laws, from reconstruction to trayvon martin after a young, white gunman killed twentysix people at sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut, in december 2012, conservative legislators lamented that the tragedy could have been avoided if the schoolteachers had been armed and the classrooms equipped with guns. Stand your ground book by victoria christopher murray. May 28, 2018 florida was the first state to enact a stand your ground law. Theres more information on this topic, and others, at findlaw s section on criminal law basics. Read this book for my mdiv work and i dont know that ill read a more formative or significant book in the rest of my program. In stand your ground, popular speaker diana hoelscher shares ideas to help us be firmer in our testimony and more resistant to the influences of satan in our life. Stand your ground shows a racist culture, continuing to.
A history of americas love affair with lethal selfdefense. Kelly brown douglas traces the roots of stand your ground culture all the way back to 98ce, then brings it forward with the. Jul 29, 2018 cases of selfdefense arent always simple especially in states with a stand your ground law. When a book covers as large of a sweep of history and theology as stand your ground, we can always pick nits. Stand your ground is actionpacked and there isnt a single dull moment. Youll gain spiritual insight and encouragement from the words of these teen writers and the world of god. Black bodies and the justice of god is one of those books.
But you can do itwhen you are standing upon the firm foundation of god and his word. From page one, stand your ground grabbed me and didnt let go. For example, they may require that the threat of perceived harm is objectively reasonable and that the force used be proportional to the threat. President barack obama the 2012 killing of trayvon martin, an african american teenager in florida, and the subsequent acquittal of his killer, brought public attention to controversial stand your ground laws. Ella strong is a decent character with enough background that you get to know her fairly well. Stand your ground laws became a flashpoint in the national debate about race and criminal justice in 2012 when george zimmerman was set free after shooting teenager trayvon martin, who was. Under the law, a person is allowed to use lethal force and has no duty to. Harvard professors book explores history of stand your.
Under the law, a person is allowed to use lethal force and has no duty to retreat if they believe they are in danger. After parking lot shooting, floridas stand your ground. A history of americas stand your ground gun laws, from reconstruction to trayvon martin after a young, white gunman killed twentysix people at sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut, in december 2012, conservative legislators lamented that the tragedy could have been avoided if the schoolteachers had been armed and the classrooms. The tragic situation in florida, and others like it around the country, have caused many people to question the wisdom of these laws and even to demand. Stand your ground explores the development of the american right to selfdefense and reveals how the original duty to retreat from threat was transformed into a selective right to kill. Definition of stand ground in the idioms dictionary.
Stand your ground by kelly brown douglas overdrive rakuten. Orbis books 2015 examines the deep roots of stand your ground. Jul 22, 20 the florida stand your ground law is often characterized as an expansion of the venerable castle doctrine because a mans home is his castle, he is justified in repelling intruders with force if necessary but, as many have observed, it may be more accurate to see it as the return to the contemporary american landscape of the shoot first ethic of the old west, at least as. In her rigorous genealogy, light traces white americas attachment to racialized, lethal selfdefense by unearthing its complex legal and social historiesfrom the original castle laws of the 1600s, which gave white men the right to protect their homes, to the brutal lynching of criminal. Stand your ground this is one of the few books that held my interest throughout the entire story. She says, if you are going to beat an enemy, its good to know his strategy. A history of americas stand your ground gun laws, from reconstruction to trayvon martin after a young, white gunman killed twentysix people at sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut, in december 2012, conservative legislators lamented that the tragedy could have been avoided if the schoolteachers had been armed and. A woman struggles with her faith when her son is falsely accused of murder and the odds are stacked against him. Under its common law interpretation, the castle doctrine gives people the right to use deadly force to defend their home, but only after having used every reasonable means to avoid doing so and trying to retreat safely from.
Stand your ground raises important spiritual and social questions. Orbis books 2015 examines the deep roots of stand your ground culture in america and the challenges it brings for the black church community and others. The author construed a perfect balance for torstens inner struggles of being a vacationing father and soldier. Under its common law interpretation, the castle doctrine gives people the right to use deadly force to defend their home, but only after having used every reasonable means to avoid doing so and. If you like your heroes to have almost superhuman strength and fighting skills, this is the book for you. A history of americas stand your ground gun laws, from reconstruction to trayvon. A stand your ground law sometimes called line in the sand or no duty to retreat law establishes a right by which a person may defend ones self or others right of selfdefense against threats or perceived threats, even to the point of applying lethal force, regardless of whether safely retreating from the situation might have been possible. Stand your ground is an average survival tale, but theres not a lot of information on who or why or certainly not how the virus or whatever it is spread so far so quickly. A history of americas love affair with lethal selfdefense, addresses the national reverence for the right to selfdefense but selective enforcement of justifiable homicide legal protections.
Douglass approach in outlining the historical factors and contributors to american exceptionalism and the anglosaxon myth as they built up a standyourground culture, followed by theological responses as informed by black christian traditions accomplishes not only. Definition of stand your ground in the idioms dictionary. Johnstone is the usa today and new york times bestselling author of over 300 books, including preacher, the last mountain man, luke jensen bounty hunter, flintlock, savage texas, matt jensen, the last mountain man. Her book will also affirm the truth of a black mothers faith in these times of stand your ground. In this timely and compelling book, kelly brown douglas examines the myths and narratives underlying a standyourground culture. Publishers weekly a clarion call to all in the united states, regardless of race, gender, class or faith, to acknowledge our sordid and painful past and to work together to transform the american dream of equality and opportunity into a reality for all.
Murray as always has written a book in her exceptional storyline format that captures todays headlines and that keep the readers informed. Sep 24, 2018 the castle doctrine originated as a theory of early common law, meaning it was a universally accepted natural right of selfdefense rather than a formally written law. This book includes 60 devotions from 40 teens who faced opportunities to stand their ground. Floridas stand your ground law basically says you can use deadly force such as shooting someone to defend yourself if you fear for their life, or are afraid of serious bodily. Surround yourself with people you admire, to further inspire you to strengthen your own character. The chapter discusses in detail legislation passed in 2007 that affected a persons duty to retreat and defined the terms habitation and. Stand your ground by kelly brown douglas overdrive. In this timely and compelling book, kelly brown douglas examines the myths and narratives underlying a standyourground culture, taking seriously the social as well as the theological questions raised by this and similar events, from ferguson, missouri to staten island, new york. Christiana star ba hons psychology, ba hons education, grad cert ap sc psychology of coaching is a registered. She continues in the introduction, this book will explore the socialcultural narratives that have given birth to our standyourground culture and the religious canopies that have legitimated it. After parking lot shooting, floridas stand your ground law scrutinized again under state law, a person in fear for his or her life is justified in. The florida stand your ground law is often characterized as an expansion of the venerable castle doctrine because a mans home is his castle, he is justified in repelling intruders with force if necessary but, as many have observed, it may be more accurate to see it as the return to the contemporary american landscape of the shoot first ethic of the old west. Feb 14, 2017 stand your ground a history of americas love affair with lethal selfdefense by caroline e.
Beautifully, and terrifyingly, douglas weaves her own fears. Stand your ground laws generally state that, under certain circumstances, individuals can use force to defend themselves without first attempting to retreat. Florida was the first state to enact a stand your ground law. Johnstone is the usa today and new york times bestselling author of over 220 books, including the first mountain man. Developing character learning how to stand your ground. Stand your ground shows a racist culture, continuing to kill. Victoria christopher murray is the author of more than twenty novels including. Raeder lomaxs book is about the gun law that stirred the nation when trayvon martin was killed and the shooter evoked the stand your ground law. With francine locke, drew matthews, cameron arnett, sandra elise williams. Douglass stand your ground is a challenging and timely commentary on americas original sin. The nook book ebook of the stand your ground by william w. A history of americas love affair with lethal selfdefense, harvards caroline e.
697 567 971 209 50 120 352 166 211 349 1527 112 1454 1072 1134 1405 457 480 781 510 835 1414 748 142 1513 215 674 971 1370 162 851 707 601 1317 1117 912 1281