Mistaken address shootings spark debate on 'stand your ground' laws.

The recent shootings of two people who accidentally came to the wrong address have reignited scrutiny and criticism of stand your ground statutes, which allow individuals to use deadly force in dangerous situations even when they could have safely retreated from the encounter. Research shows that their proliferation has helped to drive an increase in firearm homicide rates nationwide. Stand your ground laws expand the castle doctrine beyond the home to anywhere in public where a person is lawfully present. There's growing evidence that states with stand your ground laws may experience more gun violence, and the laws are also unevenly applied, leading to racial disparities in who is able to successfully use the defense.