Gun control

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/opinion/shot-to-death-in-florida.html?scp=7&sq=gun%20control&st=cse

Summary
Waiving the “duty to retreat” for shooters who has reasonable belief that their livelihood is harmed, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law has incited national outrage by giving shooters the claim of self-defense. Recently, during the trial for the shooting of Trayvon Martin, a teenager who was shot because George Zimmerman felt threatened, the judges ruled the shootings justifiable on the basis that Zimmerman was standing his ground to defend himself. Florida was the first to pass such laws in 2005, backed by heavy National Rifle Association and support from Republican governor, Jeb Bush.

Connection
When coupling the National Rifle Association, a large interest group of gun-lovers, with Republicans, who have long defended the second amendment, the right to bear arms, the result is the “Stand Your Ground” law. In the past, people who felt threatened are always encouraged to first retreat and then use force if the offender instigates violence, but with the “Stand Your Ground” law, it allows anyone with reasonable suspicion of endangerment to employ violent force. With national attention brought to this law, it seems that its constitutionality might inevitably be judged.

Reflection

The Zimmerman case, inciting national outrage over the “Stand Your Ground” law, will most likely bring the issue to the forefront of the presidential election. While both President Obama and Republican candidates have condemned Zimmerman, it is uncertain yet the exact position of the Republican candidates regarding “Stand Your Ground”. For the present-being, the Republican candidates are more focused on separating themselves from the man that many citizens are condemning, but whether or not they agree with the law itself, will be interesting to see.