Editorial | Self-defense laws need to be clearer

Gun News

[ad_1]

The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse ended with him walking free on essentially a technicality. Even after shooting three people at a racial justice protest last summer with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle, Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges earlier this month because of vague self-defense laws. 

Rittenhouse was 17 at the time of the shooting, and in the state of Wisconsin, minors are allowed to carry a rifle if it is a “sufficient” size. A loophole in the self-defense legislation allowed Rittenhouse to walk free. This should not be the norm, but it unfortunately is.

Laws around self-defense need to be clearer. Gun legislation should be set in stone, not something that can be easily maneuvered around. When a 17-year-old can obtain a gun, shoot three people and walk free, there is something deeply flawed. This system must be changed before more lives are lost.

Self-defense laws, such as stand-your-ground laws or an expanded castle doctrine, are notorious for being vague and give people an easy-out after killing someone. Currently, 34 states have these kinds of laws in place in some form. Many of these laws extend outside of the house — including in Pennsylvania — making the line between defense and homicide even murkier.

The National Rifle Association and its lobbyists drafted many of these gun laws that benefit the organization financially as gun laws become easier to sidestep. Self-defense legislation should be for the protection of the people. People shouldn’t fear that they will be killed at any time by a gun and that their killer will walk free because of loopholes created to make the NRA money

By creating federal legislation that makes self-defense laws crystal clear and eliminates loopholes, Rittenhouse and those like him won’t get off without legal consequences in the future. The murkiness of state laws means that anyone can get off on an unfair technicality. By creating a uniformity to these laws, we can ensure that justice will be served to those who have been killed and their families. 

banner

Unfortunately, right now it’s extremely difficult to pass federal legislation around gun control as it is a deeply polarizing issue. The NRA funds many GOP politicians who won’t budge around gun legislation as long as their pockets are lined by those who create the loopholes in the first place. Congress needs to put a stop to the NRA and focus instead on keeping its people safe.

[ad_2]

Source link

Articles You May Like

Publix Super Markets Confirms It Will Allow Open Carry in Florida Stores
Child Shot and Killed in Chicago’s Washington Park
Across the aisle: shootings, safety and the Second Amendment
America’s gun violence crisis
No Open Carry in Winn-Dixie Despite Florida Law

18 Comments

  1. 928426 623523I was suggested this blog by way of my cousin. Im no longer confident whether or not this put up is written by him as nobody else realize such detailed about my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks! 712188

  2. 320000 809098Very good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that Ive truly enjoyed surfing about your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write once again quite soon! 997688

  3. 135802 99620Maximize your by how a large amount of gear are employed internationally and will often impart numerous memory making use of that your is also fighting that is really a result from our team rrnside the twenty very first centuries. everyday deal livingsocial discount baltimore washington 561622

  4. 937672 401612I added this post to my favorites and strategy to return to digest more soon. It is effortless to read and realize as effectively as intelligent. I truly enjoyed my 1st read by way of of this post. 528662

  5. 498436 533683Keep in touch whilst functioning from your own home office with out all of the hassle of purchasing or procurment costly workplace equipment. Debtors are allowed to apply with their a bad credit score background whenever. 344009

  6. 750826 298201Oh my goodness! a great post dude. Thanks a great deal Nevertheless I will likely be experiencing trouble with ur rss . Dont know why Not able to sign up for it. Is there everybody acquiring identical rss problem? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 288484

  7. 295858 866994You completed certain good points there. I did searching on the topic matter and found most persons will go together together with your blog 905068

  8. 957463 86161Oh my goodness! an exceptional article dude. Thanks a great deal Even so Im experiencing problem with ur rss . Do not know why Struggle to register for it. Can there be any person locating identical rss issue? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 110890

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *