Policy Learning and the Diffusion of Stand‐Your‐Ground Laws. Issue 3 (5th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butz, Adam M.; Fix, Michael P.; Mitchell, Joshua L.
• Is Part Of: Politics & policy. Volume 43:Issue 3(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 347
• Page End: 377
• Publication Date: 2015-06-05
• Subjects: Political science -- Periodicals; World politics -- 21st century -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1111/polp.12116
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-5623

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="polp12116-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="polp12116-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Stand‐Your‐Ground (SYG) laws have recently received increased attention due to the controversial verdict in the 2013 George Zimmerman trial. At the time of the trial, 22 states had adopted SYG laws, with Florida adopting the first SYG law only a few years earlier. This article explores how policy learning contributed to the diffusion of these laws among U.S. states. It is found that learning exhibits atypical and complex patterns of diffusion not observed in previous studies. We posit that this dynamic is likely attributed to the fact that SYG is a controversial version of a morality policy, and these types of policies may exhibit multiple properties of policy learning theory. In addition, we find that multiple internal determinants including racial context, gun purchase rates, and poverty influence the likelihood of SYG adoption.</p> </sec> <sec id="polp12116-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Related Articles</title> <p> <mixed-citation id="polp12116-cit-0061" publication-type="journal" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <string-name> <surname>Tucker</surname>, <given-names>Justin A.</given-names></string-name>, <string-name><given-names>James W.</given-names><surname>Stoutenborough</surname></string-name>, and <string-name><given-names>Mathew R.</given-names><surname>Beverlin</surname></string-name>. <year>2012</year>. "<article-title>Geographic Proximity in the Diffusion of Concealed Weapons Permit Laws</article-title>." <source content-type="journalTitle">Politics & Policy</source><volume>40</volume>: <fpage>1081</fpage>–<lpage>1105</lpage>. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00399.x/abstract" xlink:type="simple">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00399.x/abstract</ext-link></mixed-citation> <mixed-citation id="polp12116-cit-0062" publication-type="journal" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <string-name> <surname>Shanahan</surname>, <given-names>Elizabeth A.</given-names></string-name>, <string-name><given-names>Mark K.</given-names><surname>McBeth</surname></string-name>, and <string-name><given-names>Paul L.</given-names><surname>Hathaway</surname></string-name>. <year>2011</year>. "<article-title>Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narratives on Public Opinion</article-title>." <source content-type="journalTitle">Politics & Policy</source><volume>39</volume>: <fpage>373</fpage>–<lpage>400</lpage>. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x/abstract" xlink:type="simple">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x/abstract</ext-link></mixed-citation> <mixed-citation id="polp12116-cit-0063" publication-type="journal" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <string-name> <surname>Propheter</surname>, <given-names>Geoffrey</given-names></string-name>. <year>2012</year>. "<article-title>Political Determinants of State E‐Commerce Sales Tax Policy</article-title>." <source content-type="journalTitle">Politics & Policy</source><volume>40</volume>: <fpage>657</fpage>–<lpage>679</lpage>. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00369.x/abstract" xlink:type="simple">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00369.x/abstract</ext-link></mixed-citation> </p> </sec> <sec id="polp12116-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Related Media</title> <p> <mixed-citation id="polp12116-cit-0064" publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <collab collab-type="groupName" xlink:type="simple">PBS Newshours</collab>. <year>2013</year>. "<source content-type="otherTitle">Americans Rally in Protest of Zimmerman Verdict</source>." <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://video.pbs.org/video/2365046883/" xlink:type="simple">http://video.pbs.org/video/2365046883/</ext-link></mixed-citation> <mixed-citation id="polp12116-cit-0065" publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <collab collab-type="groupName" xlink:type="simple">C‐Span</collab>. <year>2012</year>. "<source content-type="otherTitle">Guns and Stand Your Ground Laws</source>." <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?c3548463/guns-stand-ground-law" xlink:type="simple">http://www.c-span.org/video/?c3548463/guns-stand-ground-law</ext-link></mixed-citation> </p> </sec> </abstract>