The Anger Blog-Homicide, Self-defense, & Laws
Published on the date shown and kept as written. This is opinion about politics and public life, not clinical guidance.
The shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin shows us once again that racism is still prevalent in the 21st century. What amazes me is that a southern state like Florida would pass the Stand Your Guard law, knowing how it might impact a society where racism still exists. Or maybe the passage of these "right to carry" laws is not so amazing, when you consider that, in Florida, you have the confluence of the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) and a conservative legislature. Also, Florida has no limits on handguns purchased in bulk, has no requirement to report lost or stolen guns, and still allows the gun-show loophole.
It's not just Florida where the NRA has a powerful influence. Twenty-three states now allow people to carry guns in bars (where alcohol is served). Kansas allows loaded guns in K-12 schools, while Wisconsin, Utah, and Mississippi allow them to be carried on college campuses. Not to be outdone, the states of Alaska, Arizona, Vermont, and Wyoming permit you to carry your "hidden" handguns in public; and, for the icing on the cake, you don't even need a permit.
How many innocent people will have to die before these legislatures see the error of their ways?
Related reading on this subject: Therapy for anger management.