Just for a moment think about the effect of "Stand your Ground Laws" and how they are applied in two different worlds. On one hand, a neighborhood watch person, with a loaded gun, who pursues a person who resembles personality wise, someone he feels is likely to do the things like burglary that has been occurring in his neck or neighborhood. First when confronted he doesn't take the time to explain who he is and why he feels it necessary to scope the situation out.
Then after advising local constabularies of his predicament he is advised to cut the pursuit out, not to leave his van and instead picks up the trail where he left off. Now, seeing as the young gentleman is somewhat perplexed at his own predicament, instead of running to safety at where he was staying in order to stop what actually happened, he decides to "Stand His Ground". Though by Florida law, he now holds the distinction of being the perpetrator, he no longer holds the victim status.
As for Neighborhood Watch personnel you have no rights to carry a gun, but in Florida law, you have the right to carry a gun so you can claim Stand Your Ground status, if and when you are confronted. Now irregardless of who was on top, if he had not gotten out of the van, and Travon had gone home quickly, none of this tragedy would have happened. A young man chose his own fate, but a mature man, intending only to help out has more burden to make a wise or experienced decision and thus avoiding the inevitable outcry and emotional upheaval and national discussion of whatever people want to derive from such an event. Why hide the fact there are two justice systems going on here. A wife was just given 20 years for firing warning shots at her alleged abusive husband. If a prosecutor loses, he has double jeopardy to face, but a defense lawyer can get a rematch numerous times. I don't care to live in another country and I don't think any system really gets to the core of any problem that pops up, it only deals with the symptoms and none of the underlying causes of what occurs from time to time to arouse our indignation. A watched pot never boils, but let it boil over and presto, chango, interest follows, true or not, it gets the 24 hour day news cycle going.....Me
No comments:
Post a Comment