To recap, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black high-schooler, was allegedly confronted while returning from a munchie run in Sanford, Fla., by an armed neighborhood watch volunteer named George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012. The encounter left Martin dead of a gunshot wound, with Zimmerman claiming self-defense. Local authorities determined that the state's Stand Your Ground gun law protects individuals in Zimmerman's situation from prosecution and did not charge him. Federal investigators are now reviewing the case.
Information is being leaked in dribbles, so we must refrain from passing judgement until all the facts are in. I can only hope there will be enough of them to prove unequivocal innocence or guilt -- in court.
Possibly what disturbs me most about this case is the vigilantism combined with firearms.
'The Bible says "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'" (Exodus 21:24), says Sister No. 1.
Often quoted to justify revenge, this verse has several subtle meanings. However, SYG undermines one essential interpretation of this ancient legal standard: An eye for an eye -- not a head for an eye.
To further quote our erudite sibling:
'The story of Jesus being executed with two thieves is an example of punishment under Roman law that did not fit the crimes. The Code of Hammurabi [Babylonian law code dating from 1772 B.C.] is similarly strict. "If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death" is just one example of the death penalty for crimes that do not involve the taking of a life.'
Since the Hebrew religion emphasized humans as made in the image of God, capital punishment according to Mosaic law was reserved largely for murder cases, writes Josefine Cole, a scholar and Yahoo contributor.
So if we think Islamic fundamentalism's cutting off the hand of a thief is barbaric (yet through due process), then how do we feel about sanctioned death for alleged assault?
Consider justice meted out in the Wild West: Horse thieves were hanged. Is that the modern-day equivalent of car thieves getting the chair?
Which justice system would you prefer to live with: Ancient Babylonian, Ancient Roman, Wild West, or eye-for-an-eye Ancient Hebrew?
... Take the gun out of the Martin-Zimmerman confrontation and the courts might give either man (or both) probation, or a jail sentence, and/or maybe mandatory battery classes. Add the gun and someone gets a peremptory death sentence.
Dead men tell no tales. So if you draw your weapon in SYG territory you had better shoot to kill, because otherwise it is one person's word against another, right? This kind of gun-carrying law seems to take the courts, the judicial system, and personal responsibility out of the equation. Two lives were ruined; one, ended .... Can't we do better?
... When I was a teenager I accompanied my Dad to a local gun club, where he showed us how to use a .22 handgun. The recoil was so powerful my shots never came anywhere near the target let alone its center. I realize I was young and inexperienced, but to this day I have serious qualms about stray bullets hitting bystanders. If you aren't trained and experienced with firearms -- and even if you are -- your actions can have horrific unintended consequences. Just ask George Zimmerman ....
Look, I know plenty of respectable, responsible hunters and gun collectors. Got no problems with them. Unfortunately there are too many gundamentalists out there -- men who are so passionate about their guns it makes me second-guess their trustworthiness with them.
Not a month goes by, it seems, without another massacre. We are all at risk here! Is this what we want? Americans like to say we export freedom, but in reality, we export guns. Are we Ok with that?
In Massachusetts, an SYG-type bill was introduced several years ago. Gov. Deval Patrick has indicated he would not sign it. A license to carry here can be issued by a local authority such as the Chief of Police after a background check, training certification, and an interview. Commonwealth gun laws apply to visitors.
The last massacre of innocent citizens I know of around these parts is The Boston Massacre in 1770. Ok, there was the Boston Strangler in the 1960s but that was different ....
'The New York Times' ran an in-depth piece on the Martin shooting in its April 2, 2012, edition. Here's a link:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/trayvon_martin/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=trayvon%20martin&st=cse
Here's a link to a site listing the states where 'Stand Your Ground' is legal:
http://www.alternet.org/story/154683/23_states_with_%22stand_your_ground%22_gun_laws_like_the_one_that_let_trayvon_martin%27s_killer_go_free
You can explore the Code of Hammurabi starting here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_hammurabi
Wikipedia also has info on the law of Moses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic_Law
And you can also consult Bible books Genesis through Deuteronomy.
Pass it on and remember, It's all (c)opyrighted(c)2012(c)(c)
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