The
headlines in the case were sadly familiar. An angry adult armed with a
gun used it to shoot and kill an unarmed black teenager he thought
seemed “bad”—this time, because the teenager and his friends were
sitting in a car listening to music the grownup didn’t like. In this
outrageous Florida case, a middle-aged white man, Michael Dunn, was
convicted of three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting a
gun into an occupied car. Jurors agreed he faced no threat after he was
annoyed by loud music -- coming from a car he had deliberately chosen
to park next to -- and then started an argument, pulled a gun on the
car’s black teens, and fired three shots at the young men inside the car
as they tried to drive away from him.
But
the jury could not agree on the most serious charge of first-degree
murder for shooting the first seven bullets at the stationary car and
hitting 17-year-old Jordan Davis in his lung, liver, and aorta.
Florida’s notorious “Stand Your Ground” law, which gives gun owners a
license to kill if they feel threatened, was allegedly enough for three
jurors to vote against conviction. At least one juror said she believed
Michael Dunn did get away with murder: “There is no longer a Jordan
Davis, and there is only one reason why that is. The boy was shot and
killed for reasons that should not have happened.”
In an interview with Good
Morning America Jordan’s mother, Lucia McBath, said she believed the
jurors in her son’s case did the best they could with the laws they had,
but also made it clear she believes our nation’s existing laws did not
protect Jordan or millions of other victims of gun violence in America.
When asked what justice for her son would look like she answered:
“Justice for Jordan will be,
ultimately, really when we change the laws. Because that will be not
just justice for Jordan, and justice for Trayvon, and justice for all
the children at Sandy Hook, and justice for Aurora, and justice for
Virginia Tech, and the Navy Yard -- it will be justice for everyone that
has suffered because of these laws, and will continue to suffer. So
once the laws are changed, that’s the ultimate justice for all.”
Researchers at Texas A&M
University studied the impact of Stand Your Ground laws, like the one
enacted in Florida in 2005, across the country and concluded in a 2012
study that “the laws do not deter burglary, robbery, or aggravated
assault” but do “lead to a statistically significant 8 percent net
increase in the number of reported murders and non-negligent
manslaughters.” Evidence is also clear that these laws have a disparate
racial impact. Researchers from the Urban Institute found that when
White shooters kill Black victims, 34 percent of the homicides are
deemed justifiable, while only 3.3 percent are ruled justifiable when
the situation is reversed.
Now researchers from the
Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research have released the
results of a new study on the effectiveness of another crucial segment
of our nation’s gun laws: those requiring background checks before
purchasing a gun. For this study the scholars took a close look at the
state of Missouri’s 2007 repeal of its permit-to-purchase law. Before it
was repealed this law required all handgun purchasers in Missouri to
obtain a license verifying that they had passed a background check. The
researchers wanted to know what happened when this requirement was taken
away -- and they learned that repealing that law has led to a 16
percent increase in Missouri’s murder rate. The study showed between
2008 and 2012 there were an additional 55 to 63 murders in Missouri each
year associated with the law’s repeal. During those same years, the
national murder rate dropped by over 5 percent.
The research controlled for
changes in policing, incarceration, burglaries, unemployment, poverty,
and other laws adopted during the study period that could affect violent
crime. The spike in murders only occurred for murders committed with a
gun and happened statewide, while bordering states showed no increase.
The number of handguns recovered from scenes of crimes or from criminals
quickly doubled after the repeal. In a press release, lead author
Daniel Webster, ScD, MPH, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun
Policy and Research, said: “This study provides compelling confirmation
that weaknesses in firearm laws lead to deaths from gun violence.”
Co-author Jon Vernick, JD, MPH, deputy director for the Center for Gun
Policy and Research, added:
“Because many perpetrators of
homicide have backgrounds that would prohibit them from possessing
firearms under federal law, they seek out private sellers to acquire
their weapons. Requiring a background check on all gun sales is a
commonsense approach to reducing gun violence that does not infringe
upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners.”
Requiring a background check
seems like common sense to most Americans -- and yet some lawmakers
refuse to make it happen. Others, like those in Missouri, are actually
moving backwards. The same press release noted:
“Only fifteen states require
individuals purchasing handguns from unlicensed sellers to pass
background checks, with ten of these states requiring all purchasers to
acquire a permit-to-purchase license. A 2013 public opinion survey from
Johns Hopkins found the majority of Americans (89 percent) and gun
owners (84 percent) support requiring a background check system for all
gun sales. The majority of Americans (77 percent) and gun owners (59
percent) also reported supporting requiring people to obtain a license
from a local law-enforcement agency before buying a gun to verify their
identity and ensure that they are not legally prohibited from having a
gun.”
This latest Johns Hopkins
study is another key step in finding out what works to reduce gun
violence. The available evidence is clear: Stand Your Ground laws do not
reduce gun violence. Background checks do -- just one part of a network
of solutions that can help. We need a robust commitment to much more
research on the epidemic public health threat of gun violence to
identify all of them. And when we know what works, we need leaders who
will listen to and act on the research and public opinion to preserve
lives. We do not need any more suffering families. Jordan Davis’s father
Ron said:
“All the other 17-year-olds
out there -- they shouldn’t have to fear the adults with the guns that
are running around here shooting them at will. If you throw popcorn in
someone’s face, they want to shoot you because you threw popcorn in
their face. That’s what we’ve come to. But we have to stop.”
We really do have to stop!
I first heard about the Jordan Davis case a few months back. Scrolling through Facebook, you always come across random articles that don't seem to get very much attention. With the recent birthday of the deceased Trayvon Martin having just passed, this case received a lot more notoriety and America is back in a place that it was just one year ago. I fear for my nephews because of instances such as these. I can pray that things get better, however, I must agree with Jordan Davis's mother when she says that the laws must be changed. The antiquated language and situations to which the laws apply are not keeping up with society. Clearly something is wrong and it is up to the lawmakers to realize this. Too many people are getting away with murder and this is not okay. As a Christian woman and a human being, I do not find it okay to take the life of someone else. I have the notion that my life is not mine to begin with, so who on the Earth can take it away? Laws must be changed in order for our country to move forward.
ReplyDelete"The available evidence is clear: Stand Your Ground laws do not reduce gun violence. Background checks do --"
ReplyDeleteThis quote alone sums up my thoughts: Stand Your Ground laws are promoting gun violence. There's nothing about this law that establishes gun violence is against the law; in my opinion, it suggests that gun violence is perfectly fine and acceptable. Background checks will help eliminate many people that are not fit for guns due to any criminal activities or previous careless gun action history. It presents itself as if lawmakers and sellers are more concerned with profit and not the lives of innocent people. If background checks are enforced to purchase a gun as they should be, gun sellers will be missing out on millions of dollars because that will eliminate people from the pool of gun purchases. What's more important-- profit or life? You decide.
Like Neffie I first heard about this case a few months back Its crazy how many similar cases dealing with acts of violence are happening. The court case of Michael Dunn again shows the weakness in the stand your ground law. Jordan Davis mother said that the only way she feels justice would be served is if there is something done about this law so that we won't have anymore Trayvon Martin's, or Jordan Davis. There are currently sixteen states in the US that have a stand your ground law. There is something that must be don by law makers to make this law better. This law kind of gives some people with a crazy thought process lead way to go out and cause trouble yet while "standing their ground" they kill people in the act of what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteCraig Logan
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis case along with the case of Trayvon Martin and Sandy Hook just sickens me! Innocent lives are being snatched away all because of a gun. The most ridiculous part is that in these two cases who involve young black males the racial undertones and stereotypes are both shared by Dunn and Zimmerman. "Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers 'sons, We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes..." We as a community need to ban together and do everything we can to protect our babies. If we don't stand up for ourselves we cannot expect anyone else to stand up for us.
ReplyDeleteLeslie,
DeleteI agree with you whole heartily. The moment we decide to stand up for ourselves and one another, we can become the protection that our babies need.
We who believe in FREEDOM cannot rest until it comes!
“So once the laws are changed, that’s the ultimate justice for all.”
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this quotes serves as the answer to this column and those who are wondering why such crimes are still happening. It is amazing that crimes such as Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin are still happening. As both begin to unravel, I begin to research the stand your ground law and the dynamics of it. I think it is unacceptable to grant individuals the right to utilize deadly force to defend themselves in the event that they “feel” threatened. This law and current cases have shown that people are able to get away with murder as long as they stated that they were standing their ground.
This article also made me think of the Marissa Alexander case. This woman was sentenced to twenty years in prison for firing a warning shot in the air against her abusive husband, however, those who are actually killing teenagers are not being charged with first degree murder. It’s ridiculous and unfair. Until we, as a community, can stand up for ourselves, we will continue to be victims and the accused.
One of our vocabulary words for this week was shield. I ask think, pair, share questions to asses my students ability to apply the vocabulary words to their lives. I asked this question:
ReplyDeleteWhat things can be used as a shield?
After students discussed in their groups, I asked a speaker from each to share what they discussed. I got typical answers such as; an umbrella can protect you from the rain, a building can protect you from a naturaly disaster etc... Then I started getting answers like; a bulletproof vest can protect you from a bullet etc... The last statement that was made scared me the most though. One of my more quiet students said " Sometimes teachers shield kids from bullets". All I could think was wow, this should not be a thought our children should be faced with. This should not be something that I start my day off with. However, this is the reality.
I had heard of the Jordan Davis case, while sympathizing for the family, I immediately thought to myself... "This is a no brainer". I automatically thought that this sounded like an open and close case in which this man would simply go to jail and serve a murder and several attempted murder sentences. I never thought that this case would have turned in such a tragic way. Claricha posted a profound statement on her instagram page that has resonated with me as I hear about this case and other cases similar to this one. I cannot remember the exact quote, but it basically said is that these so called legislations were not created for everyone, so how can we all be treated fairly? I continue to think about that statement as I hear more details about the case. It truly saddens me. Each time that I think about it I am in total disbelief that this could happen to our children.
Yea Myah I also thought that this was going to be an open and shut case. It just seemed so obvious to me that if you shoot and kill an unarmed person who is not physically attacking you that your actions would yield some sort of jail time. It is hard to see that although we have progressed so much as a society, yet we have so much farther to go. I am hopeful that we will get is right one day.
DeleteI also thought the same! I think everybody did! Unfortunately, in this case there were jurors who felt differently. Shooting and killing an unarmed person in any situation is ethically and morally wrong! I truly believe that had Jordan Davis been a 17 year old white male, the results from this case and countless others would have been different; this all comes with being BLACK in America.
DeleteIn the last couple years, there have been entirely too many innocent young black men being killed and their deaths have not been brought to justice. Unfortunately, it did not surprise me that once again, the African-American community has been failed by the justice system. Although the justice system is flawed, I do believe that part of the problem is that not enough people are taking action to make a change. A lot of people only care for the moment. When these stories are in the news, everyone wants to express their opinion and post "Justice for Jordan Davis" or "Justice for Trayvon Martin" on their social networks. However, two weeks later after the dust has settled, it's like nothing ever happened. All has been forgotten and it makes me question whether people ever cared to begin with.
ReplyDeleteBy doing nothing, we are implying that it is okay for our future's to be killed off for things as simple as playing music that others do not like too loudly, or walking in a neighborhood with a hoodie on. Society assumes that black people with guns are gang members or using those guns to commit crimes. What are we saying about the people of other races that are killing black people with their guns? The justice systems protects them by saying "oh it's just self defense" but there is no proof of a need to "defend" themselves and leaves the victim and those alike to fend for themselves. As a part of the freedom schools movement, I feel like we are changing the mindset of how people view minorities but we cannot do it alone. More supporters need to get involved in order for us to accomplish change. The lives of our children depend on it.
By all accounts, in today's society, there is a common concern for the responsible use to exercise ones' right of the Second Amendment; the right to bear arms. However, the current climate of gun laws are extremely problematic...but to whom? The people of color, traditionally those hailing from impoverished communities are victims of police brutality, black market gun violence, and poor resources for learning and/or social services. Imposing more rigorous gun laws goes against the true mission of those in power; maintain power through economic wealth and social capital.
ReplyDeleteAs long as Rupert Murdoch controls media outlets, what we will see on our local television are continued negative depictions of people of color. This keeps America subconsciously (some would argue consciously) in fear of the black man. Thus, it is liable, reasonable and almost expected for White America (those in power) to portray and confirm, in any instance, that Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Emmett Till, and black men alike are indeed predators who need to be punished, locked away, and striped of their pride and dignity. The laws enacted and subsequently systematized through judicial discourse are examples of these means of reasoning.
The real truth of the matter is, from my perspective, when I watch “the news” and see victims of senseless mass bombings, school shootings, and vicious premeditated acts of violence in public settings (i.e. the mall and movie theater) the individuals (who are not people of color) are not framed and painted as negatively or with as much contempt as African-American boys and men. The general frame of reference or news spin, takes the narrative of “someone in need”, “a cry for help”, or “medical issues lead to…” and etc…, all of which suggest that the person committing the crime is the true victim.
The color of my skin, makes me a threat no matter how much education I empower myself with. This scares me truly. Moreover, I am deeply sadden by the verdict of the Jordan Davis case, yet not utterly surprised.
I feel like the problem with most laws or any written document is the varying interpretations that can be read into them. A law that was meant to protect law abiding citizens is now protecting those individuals who are maliciously harming our most innocent and vulnerable. I find it difficult to understand how this law has been used to justify the murder of innocent lives. When I teach reading comprehension to my students, we discuss how our own experiences and background knowledge play a role in how we interpret and make sense of what we read. When I think about the jurors of these tragic cases, I can’t help but wonder if their past experiences have allowed their judiciary responsibility to have been clouded. This is why it is so important to register to vote and actually show up when asked to do jury duty. We have to take responsibility for some of these cases if we are not doing our part to change these pieces of legislation that harm our communities.
ReplyDeleteI distinctly remember hearing about the most recent case in Florida a couple of years ago and still to this day am completely speechless as to how simply listening to loud music can justify taking another person’s life. To then hear the verdict in the Dunn case was truly sickening. I cannot fathom the amount of anger, bigotry, recklessness, and senseless that could lead to those acts, and for Dunn to not be convicted of what is one of the most textbook murder cases is a disgrace to this country’s judicial system. I understand what our second amendment is, but what about the 14th? What about equal protection under the law for all citizens? At what point do lawmakers stop scrambling to bring up the second amendment in order to ensure the votes of the NRA and start actually caring about the citizens that have elected them? Sadly, I don’t know if that end is in sight. Despite overwhelming public support for increasing background checks and other measures to limit gun violence, little seems to be done.
ReplyDeleteI try to be open minded and not flat-out blame a political party, but on this issue I have to firmly point my finger at the Republican Party. They claim to oppose stricter regulations on the basis of the second amendment and being against “big government,” yet they favor banning the teaching of evolution in school, denying rights to same-sex couples, and are pro-death penalty. It is just absurd hypocrisy at the highest level. They hide behind an ideology when in fact they are simply looking to stay in power through any means necessary. Until we have lawmakers that are serious about changes that benefit their constituents and not themselves, I fear we will have more cases such as this one.
I live in Compton where stand your ground doesn't exist and "standing your ground" will either make you the prey or you are looking for prey. we have to stop making this a racial epidemic. folks are being killed left and right by people of their own color so it is not a surprise that whites will deem it ok to go out and kill blacks because we do it to our own kind. lets not ignore this thing called white supremacy and the systematic attack it has on black people. WE as a people have to do better. We have to think smarter and ahead of the system. that's one of the ways we will come out on top. we have to respect ourselves and educate ourselves more on the laws. they only get accepted because we don't ask questions about nor fight them. it doesn't make sense to break rules and we can't justify why we broke them in the first place...
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement with you Korlah and you hit it on the nail. We have been killing each other since my brother sold my other brother into slavery we have been hurting each other so from the outside looking in it does seem okay because we have allowed it to become okay. How can someone respect of if we don't respect ourselves.
DeleteMy issue on the "Stand Your Ground" law is not about race its about the audacity that someone can interpet an unarm man as dangerous. If Trayvon or Jordan was white youth I would of still been irked by both situations. I think more so for me its the fact that they are youth being gun down by grown men. For me, its like who do I turn to for help- an adult but, out of fear of how I may look I can be gunned down. That's scary.
I've grown tired of adding to the narrative that tells Black boys that they are dispensable. I spend a lot of time talking to my little male cousins building them up because the odds are stacked against. It's sad that there are laws in place that protect the aggressor even when they are not really in danger or when they're the starter of the commotion.
ReplyDeleteIn high school i couldn't understand my school's zero tolerance for fighting rule. No matter who started the fight, they were both expelled and sent to their neighborhood high school. I can understand now because regardless of who starts it, both parties lose privileges. However, Stand Your Ground doesn't do that. The only person punished is the one left standing to speak for himself.
It is also interesting Claricha that in the latest cases of "Stand Your Ground" situation the individual who is dead is ofter framed as the one who committed the crime. The one surviving is the victim. That is very disturbing and it speaks to how we as a society value life. It is a scary world out there and nobody is safe! Better have JESUS!
DeleteWhat touched me most about this article is the response that Lucia McBath, Jordan Davis’ mother, gave during an interview with Good Morning America when asked what justice for her son would look like:
ReplyDelete“Justice for Jordan will be, ultimately, really when we change the laws. Because that will be not just justice for Jordan, and justice for Trayvon, and justice for all the children at Sandy Hook, and justice for Aurora, and justice for Virginia Tech, and the Navy Yard -- it will be justice for everyone that has suffered because of these laws, and will continue to suffer. So once the laws are changed, that’s the ultimate justice for all.”
I feel that her response was quite amazing giving that a parent’s worst nightmare had become realized through the death of her son. At that moment, she could have been pro Jordan, emotional, and militant. Instead, with grace, she responded selflessly. Her reply was not for or about herself or her son, it was for and about everyone. It is amazing to me when in a time of obvious personal tribulation one can be willing to become an advocate for others so that they may not endure the same distress. Though I personally would have, Lucia McBath did not blame the jury and their personal resentment or prejudices against her son. She blamed the gaffe within the laws. In my opinion, that certainly takes courage, strength, a loving heart and opened mind. She’s a rock star for that.
As Jessica mentioned "Stand Your Ground Laws" does not protect anyone, it promotes gun violence. I don't think there is a definite answer on how to protect the public because even with background checks, private sellers can sell their guns to those who do no pass the background checks.
ReplyDeleteWho is "Stand Your Ground" protecting? It is protecting those who purchase the guns. "Researchers found that when white shooters kill black victims 34% is justifiable, while 3.3% is justifiable when the situation is reversed". Why is there such a large percentage of whites being justified to kill blacks? When I read this statistic all I thought about was " Until the killing of black men, black mother's son is as important as the killing of white men, white mother's son". This reminds me that our work is not done.
I just wonder how many more innocent lives must be taken from gun violence in order for gun laws in America to change. The fact that Missouri once had background checks as a requirement to purchase firearms and then removed it is absurd. Clearly, if an individual can't abide by the law, they don't need a firearm to create more havoc. Even more startling is the research that has been conducted proving that the Stand Your Ground laws aren't protecting citizens. Clearly, they are just being used as a means to justify killing innocent Black children. It breaks my heart and scares me to think that at any moment a child's life can be taken from them because our gun policies aren't adhering to simple common sense procedures.
ReplyDeleteGun violence. I don't mean to pessimistic but it is a vicious cycle that I do not see ending any time soon. I think the only thing we can do on a individual level is be responsible for how we encourage a gun culture. I went to a shooting range one evening and posted a picture on Instagram. Initially, I did not see an issue with my choice of fun. It was not until Omore mentioned that I was contributing to a gun culture. He also mentioned that the target that I was shooting at was a silhouette of a human being. That in itself is an issue. It made me rethink my choice of hobbies!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think about how me going to a gun range was in a sense encouraging a gun culture. I was just talking to my friends about how for my birthday I wanted to go to the gun range. Never did I think that me going to a gun range and posting a picture on instagram is promoting in a way gun violence. Its amazing that something that can seem so small and not really a big deal can truly speak volume. I have to agree I too don't think that this vicious cycle is going to end anytime soon and it makes me sad. I want to have a positive attitude and think that gun violence is going to go away but at the rate things are going its just hard to have those feelings. I agree with Evetty and Collins in saying we have to change our actions and we need to act the way we want things to be in the world. With us being leaders in our communities we need to fight for these changes!
DeleteI am in complete concurrence with Evetty. Not even with gun violence, but violence in general. This country has a brutal history of violence and it never seemed to diminish. The most we can do is be responsible for our own actions and try to spread as much love as possible and not encourage the gun/violent culture. I was talking to one of my students about UFC because I'm such a UFC fan. Started to ponder is this an appropriate conversation because it is so violent. This article also made me contemplate about my choice of hobbies.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of violence as Collins said is something that needs to be erased. We have allowed to be displayed so freely throughout the world and country that no wonder violence has steadily increased over the years. If you ever honestly analyze what not only people are exposed to but children you'd be amazed. Television, video games, Internet, social media, and magazines. We need to as a country take a stand and not expose our children to so much violence.
DeleteI definitely agree with Collins and Antonio. Violence in general must come to an end and it start with us as individuals. Like Antonio stated we must expose our children, students, little brothers and sisters to different outlets other than video games, internet, social media. I can remember growing up going to the local rec center right after school let out each and every day. The rec center played as a safe house for my community and really kept me out the streets from violence. I got my homework done, played all kinds of different games, went on all kinds of educational fieldtrips, and most importantly had fun being a kid. Today parents don't even want their children to leave the house, porch, or street because of the violence that in our communities and neighborhoods. Its like children cant even be kids anymore because violence has become the new "cool thing to do and be apart of" seeing this only insure me that what I do on a day to day basis which is teach and work at an afterschool program is where I'm suppose to be. One day I will partner up with Antonio to open a rec center to serve as a safe house for children and teens so they could have fun, feel safe, and become kids again.
DeleteI definitely agree with Collins and Antonio. Violence in general must come to an end and it start with us as individuals. Like Antonio stated we must expose our children, students, little brothers and sisters to different outlets other than video games, internet, social media. I can remember growing up going to the local rec center right after school let out each and every day. The rec center played as a safe house for my community and really kept me out the streets from violence. I got my homework done, played all kinds of different games, went on all kinds of educational fieldtrips, and most importantly had fun being a kid. Today parents don't even want their children to leave the house, porch, or street because of the violence that in our communities and neighborhoods. Its like children cant even be kids anymore because violence has become the new "cool thing to do and be apart of" seeing this only insure me that what I do on a day to day basis which is teach and work at an afterschool program is where I'm suppose to be. One day I will partner up with Antonio to open a rec center to serve as a safe house for children and teens so they could have fun, feel safe, and become kids again.
ReplyDeleteResearchers at Texas A&M University studied the impact of Stand Your Ground laws, like the one enacted in Florida in 2005, across the country and concluded in a 2012 study that “the laws do not deter burglary, robbery, or aggravated assault” but do “lead to a statistically significant 8 percent net increase in the number of reported murders and non-negligent manslaughters.” Evidence is also clear that these laws have a disparate racial impact. Researchers from the Urban Institute found that when White shooters kill Black victims, 34 percent of the homicides are deemed justifiable, while only 3.3 percent are ruled justifiable when the situation is reversed.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this is not surprising. I am somewhat cautious when it comes to being in the presence of authority figures especially the police or law enforcement officers. I become extremely cautious about what I say, how I look and any perceptions that may be being made about me. The other day I saw two white males on my campus relatively young (not extremely unusual for an HBCU campus but definitely noticeable) with bullet proof vests and guns in holsters on their hip. I immediately assumed they were police officers who had a right to be there. They told me they were probation officers. I didn’t contest them because I assumed they had authority. They followed a student into the building because they could not gain access alone and at that point I questioned how much authority they had. Once they crossed through to another building an eerie feeling came over me and I just felt like they were up to no good.
Now, I have no idea how it turned out but, the fact that two college aged looking men could come onto campus with unconcealed weapons and enter a dorm so easily was extremely alarming and it seemed as if no one gave it a second thought. I’m not sure when enough will be enough to prompt elected officials to stand up and vote for stricter gun regulations, but I sure hope its soon.
I agree with Jordan Davis’s mother. The laws, particularly those that deal with guns. On a national level, it is obvious that laws like the “Stand Your Ground” law do not, and were not meant to, protect persons of color. This points to a larger issue over the value of black and brown bodies. I agree with Mrs. Edelman that backround checks for gun purchase would be a better way of monitoring who possesses firearms but I think that it is our responsibility to push for this type of reform. It is a travesty that our children, in some ways regardless of race, are the victims. It is voting adults who have more power than we realize and have to use it to help give voice to our young people, living and dead.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Sharde' that this is a matter that is up to us and currently in our hands. It makes absolutely NO sense that we have we have been allowed to have our current gun laws. Its archaic, but I suppose this isn't the first or only time we encountered this "larger issue" that Sharde' mentioned in her comments. Although we still have so far to go, I think it is important that we focus on the fact that we finally do live in a time that we can create policy reform. It comes from us voters, the parents of these victims and children like them everywhere. It comes from organizations like CDF and the work that we do as Ella Baker Trainers. If we don't put in the work now, we may never make it beyond a Nation that is stuck in its' ways .
DeleteThis headline is sad and I hate to read it. Just hearing of anyone being killed by a gun does on sit well with me. Then to continue to read and learn that children were killed by guns makes it 10 times worse. Like Neffiee and others, I heard about the case a while ago. I think it is crazy that all theses incidences are taking place and they are all similar. The stand your ground law is very weak and it needs to be looked at and changed. Jordan Davis’ mother said that the only way she feels justice would be served is if there is something done about this law so that we won't have any more Trayvon Martin's, or Jordan Davis. Knowing that 16 out of 50 states still use the stand your ground law is crazy. Something needs to be done with this law.
ReplyDelete"A 2013 public opinion survey from Johns Hopkins found the majority of Americans (89 percent) and gun owners (84 percent) support requiring a background check system for all gun sales." It astounds me that numbers are this high, and yet, nation-wide, we still don't have laws in place that make this mandatory. And is it just me, or doesn't make sense to have mandatory background checks in states where the "Stand Your Ground" laws are in place. This way, we know that those who own guns don't have any priors and can at least be seen a bit more trust-worthy in the eyes of the nation?
ReplyDeleteIn the United States, stand-your-ground law states that a person may justifiably use force in self-defense without an obligation to retreat first When speaking on stand your ground laws I cant help to think of Trayvon Martin. As the law states, a person can use force in self defense without an obligation to retreat. Of course in this case we know that Zimmereman had the chance to retreat. There are so many cases that end in tragedy, but are "acceptable" under the stand your ground law. Gun violence is horrible and to make matters worse, people in certain areas of the country are not full protected by the "law."
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I can’t help but ask who are laws meant to protect. Especially in the case o f Jordan Davis, Treyvon Martin and countless others. Are morally and ethically unjust actions protected under law when race is involved? How can we truly call this justice? Far too often we see the same events unfolding and each time we have the same results. I am truly saddened by the events in this case and send my prayers out to the family. I pray that common sense find its’ way home in the judicial court rooms of Florida and everywhere else it has fled. Right is right and wrong is wrong. There should be no contemplation.
ReplyDeleteI heard an idea once from a friend about boycotting the state of Florida. As radical and improbable as it sounds, it reminded me of the enormous (though dispersed) power rests with the people, even when they are unwilling to accept it. Like a sleeping giant, concerned citizens will have to rise up against the lobbies, and institutions that have led the push to keep America an unregulated, gun-loving community. Each day, we are greeted by some new and horrific act of gun violence; and polls suggest that the majority of the populace desire increased gun-regulation, yet nothing seems to be happening on the Hill. However, things may still be changed and our course as a nation can be altered, by none other than the masses themselves. What is needed is more unity on the issue. If there's one thing that the capitalist government and institutions are responsive to it's "capital" and thus we really ought to rethink the ways in which we apply our buying power, so that we each send a clear message that we will not contribute any longer to institutions that are complicit in the daily destruction of lives and families.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the crime rate if the fifteen states that do have gun regulation laws versus those that do not? Education around gun safety is a priority. Before issuing or licensing a gun, education and a mental status exam is needed to assess what their knowledge is that they consider self defense. The cases of Stand Your Ground are completely immoral. Not only due to the fact of the being able to shoot the person in the first place, but the number of times that the victim was shot shows that it goes beyond "self defense."
ReplyDeleteMy reverend, "We live in a system that was not create for us." I refer back to the Trayvon Martin case and the many others like it that solidify that statement. the system that we are all trying to survive in is unjust and designed for us to fail. We throw around the " word" justice like it truly exists in this system and it is said that people believe that our system can deliver true justice. We need to understand that this system was constructed to oppress us, instead of trying to adapt, we need to work to abolish it.
ReplyDeleteFlorida’s notorious “Stand Your Ground” law, which gives gun owners a license to kill if they feel threatened, was allegedly enough for three jurors to vote against conviction. This is what hits the hardest for me, that an entitled person can take someone's life if they feel threatened! A 75 year old woman was shot to death on my block in front of her grandchildren BY A POLICE OFFICER all because she held a small BUTTER knife and was standing more than 20 feet away from the officer. But he felt threatened and fired 5 shots in her back...never went to trial and just had to take a short leave of absence from the force. There IS something we can do about this! It rests in the word of Paulo Freire from his wonderful book Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Our freedom lies in us overtaking the system without dehumanizing our oppressors, we have to liberate the system! But where do we begin?
ReplyDeleteI hate talking about the shootings and deaths of students due to the replay continuing in Washington DC city schools. I love my DC children but this is out of control. From Chi-Raq to West Coast gangs the war is right here in our own back yard. Freedom Schools makes a great difference to students we reach but there are so many left.
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