Citation

Humphreys DK, Gasparrini A, Wiebe DJ. JAMA Intern. Med. 2017; 177(10): 1523-1524.

Affiliation

Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.3433

PMID

28806437

Abstract

Results from our study of the influence of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law on homicide and suicide by firearm have been questioned for not distinguishing between “unlawful” homicide (ie, murder) and “justifiable” homicide (ie, lawful use of lethal force). Using an interrupted time series design, we found “an abrupt and sustained increase in the monthly homicide rate of 24.4%” (31.6% for homicide by firearm) following the effective date of the law. Readers have suggested that if the increase in homicide rates resulted from an increase in homicides that were justifiable, the law may be working as intended. We investigated this possibility by acquiring additional data and conducting new analyses...

Language: en