Recently in Texas, a father walked into a room in his house and caught a guy sexually abusing his daughter. He proceded to beat the hell out of the guy and landed a fatal blow to the head. Who wouldn't do that? Nearly every man and woman would do the same in that situation. You catch a guy in the act and incensed with the rage of seeing your child hurt, you have at him. From what I understand, the man's intent was not to kill but to punish. The police understood and agreed with his actions too and it is doubtful he will be prosecuted. I agree with that...
However, that was the initial official police reaction to the Trayvon Martin killing. Under Florida's law, George Zimmerman had a right to stand his ground and use deadly force to preserve his life. He wasn't charged with anything until public outcry called for further investigation. Then we began to get the rest of the story....
The rest of the story is what we need everytime someone takes another's life. The father in Texas most likely killed that man righteously. I'd like to see more investigation, something beyond it being covered by Castle Doctrine. Again, the deceased was caught in flagrante delicto and the father acted as any parent would in that circumstance. It wasn't vengeance after a not-guilty verdict as has happened in the past. It didn't seem to be pre-meditated either. I'm 99.9% certain he righteously killed that man as reported. I would just like to see more than a perfunctory investigation, paper-work to satisfy a vague law.
Currently, also in Texas, a man is on trial for killing one man and wounding two others. His defense is the "stand your ground" Castle Doctrine law that Texas has, as well. In this case, angry at a loud party near his home, he left his house armed with a gun and a video phone to confront the partiers. While on the phone with the police, he started shooting *in fear for his life* as he stated. Under the law, and facing a Texas jury, he may very well get off. I don't think he should. The partiers did not confront him. He confronted them. with a gun.
I understand that people are fed up with crime. I understand the intent of Stand Your Ground type laws. I just think they are being taken advantage of. It's tough enough to empower trained police officers with the taking of lives, how can we empower average (and below-average citizens...) willy-nilly with the same powers? In my eye, the Texas shooter went looking for trouble and found it. Same with George Zimmerman. In flagrante delicto partying or walking is not to be equated with caught-in-the-act child rape. If the Texas shooter stays in his castle, no one gets killed. What possible good could come of yelling at drunk people? It's a police job. Though it might not be a priority for them on a weekend night, a shooting is. It should not have gone down this way. The shooter set the stage for this when he left his home armed and angry. This has to be taken into consideration and not shined on by a broadly written law.
The likes of him and Zimmerman shouldn't *ruin it* for folks who are actual crime victims trying to save their own lives or those of others, either. People who applaud such shootings should consider that. They should consider they could be on the receiving end of such justice. How much cheering would they do then? You could be the party goer or the person walking home from the store. Would you be proud to die for extrapolated Second Amendment rights?
Not enough people think these things through. The internets are full of folks applauding the killers. It's what they would do. And each of these cases, if adjudicated *properly* will empower them to maybe one day do their own killing. "If only..." they might dream.
Sheesh. On the internet, people like the openly-idiotic "Oki" regularly fantasize about killing. There are scores of thousands like him and they constantly remind everyone they have guns and will use them. Hopefully, they never will. Also hopefully, if they ever do, things they've posted on the internet will be considered by the legal system. I'd sure hate to think some weasel could come up from Kentucky and shoot a Ferrerman for having his stereo too loud...
6 comments:
I find that to be the problem with most everything. It's there for a reason but someone, somewhere is going to take advantage, cross the line, take it too far. It's obscene.
I don't condone violence however I feel like if I could catch the guy who broke into my house and stole my grandmother's wedding ring I would pound him in the head with a hammer. Most likely I'd just cry.
I understand that feeling. I'm glad you weren't there when the thief was though! Much of life is being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Hell- you could be at the RIGHT place at the wrong time.
I'm so glad we are not allowed to bear arms here. Yes, your criminal classes can still get hold of them, but your local unbalanced loony with anger management issues can't, and they are the ones you have to worry about.
I can understand that Texan father's reaction - it would be anyone's - but I agree with you about the party guy.
A friend of ours had a problem with a noisy party that went on after midnight. He went over twice and asked them to turn down the music. They did for about 10 minutes each time. The third time he just opened the meter box (located outside the front door) removed all the fuses and threw them into the garden. That shut things down pretty quick.
LOL! Well, that worked! I tended bar for 15 years though and I know how combative drunk people can get and how *persecuted* they may feel at the time. They're rarely rational. Sometimes, as Marian said in "Shane"; "We'd all be better off if there were no guns in the valley." I saw later where the NRA here is offering insurance for people who shoot others to help with court costs/legal fees. I would think they have a vested interest in seeing that others do not abuse the laws. But, they are hardline, unyielding people themselves who see every restriction as *taking away their freedom*. It's not going to get any better, anytime soon.
and lets not forget about Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville Florida.
she fired a shot into the air to scare off her abusive husband, didn't harm anyone.
she got 20 years in prison, and was told that the stand your ground law didn't apply to her.
even though she had a restraining order against him, and she was in her own home.
.
weird huh?
xoxo
Annie
Yep. If I'm thinking of the right case, she's a black woman. Could be a factor...
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