Blog 5, Repeal "Stand Your Gun" Law

Blog 5

I was having a difficult time choosing an issue to write about. I'm not schooled on the intricacies of politics and what it "means" for the everyday man. As I searched through the archives of the numerous media outlets, I found an extreme number of "Stand Your Ground" related articles. This "Stand Your Ground" law seems to exploit the defenseless, rather than protect them. This law allows individuals, under certain situations, to use force to defend themselves without attempting to flee the conflict. The supporter's of this bill cited the elimination of prosecutions that legitimately used self-defense. (1) Sounds like a well conceived and thoughtful law, to the contrary. This legally gives a gun toting citizen the power to kill another human being in a public domain.

"Stand Your Ground" essentially turns a  routine argument, scuffle, situation, disagreement, wrong-doing, or any perceived "threat" by an individual, into deadly, life ending event. All it takes is a gun-toting individual to "snap" and decides to use deadly force in a road rage incident, looking at someone wrong, and maybe even bumping into that individual. This law promotes violence on a nation wide scale. Giving power to use deadly force in this gun crazed, over stimulated, pro-2nd Amendment, self-absorbed nation will be deadly. This self defense attitude will carry on through generations, generally the kid(s) take after their parents political affiliations).

 Apparently, there doesn't even need to be an argument in the first place; evidenced by the recent killing of 19 year old, Renisha McBride.(3) Renisha was simply asking for help after being involved in an accident. Another disturbing case where homeowner, Joe Hendrix, shot and killed Ronald Westbrook, a 72 year old man with Alzheimer's disease.  The "Stand Your Ground" law is an extension of the commonly accepted

Castle Doctrine. The Castle Doctrine gave homeowners the right to use deadly force in their homes. (4) Often these cases involve no witnesses so trials are decided on human judgement and or rather a one-sided story.

          Human element/error is a significant part of this process. Human judgement/testimony is heavily relied on and is subject to change throughout the trial process. Nothing is perfect in this world, especially humans. The "Stand Your Ground" needs to be repealed to prevent unnecessary deaths like Martin, McBride, etc. It would strip the citizens the power to make such fatal decisions.

-(1) http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/stand-your-ground-laws.html#sthash.Wy9MYx0G.dpuf

(4)http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/castle-doctrine.html

(2) Textbook.

(3)http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/07/woman-shot-detroit-stand-your-ground