Gun Control

nytimes.com
March 20, 2012
Andrew Rosenthal
http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/shoot-first-claim-self-defense-later/?scp=2&sq=gun%20control&st=cse

Summary-
    A widely publicized case currently being investigated in Florida involves the shooting of a seventeen year old boy by a man who is now claiming self-defense. It seems unlikely at this point that an unarmed teenager was threatening the life of the man, who followed the teen because he says he found him suspicious. The murder might have been racially motivated, as the teen was black. An odd twist to the story is that it may be difficult to prosecute the man, since Florida has laws that do not require people to retreat from threatening situations when possible, as most states do. Discussions on whether these laws allow people to potentially get away with murder unless the motive is absolutely proven have started to spring up.

Connection-
    This links to class through the unit on interests groups. Interests groups must react to public events such as this, and the National Rifle Association has been mentioned more than a few times in relation to the murder. Loose gun control laws are pointed to as a possible factor of the crime, and the NRA may experience some negative media from it.

Personal Reaction-
    The laws that do not require a person to simply run from danger instead of fixing the problem are not to blame, as every rule and law can be exploited, but rather the problem lies with a terrible man who decided to become a vigilante and shoot someone for no reason. The victim should not have died the way he did, but it does not seem reasonable to blame the problem on the laws or loose gun restrictions in Florida.