SHOOTING: Unite to avoid tragedy

Unless you live under a rock, or in the woods far, far away from civilization, you have likely heard about the death of Trayvon Martin. The tragic incident happened over a month ago in Sanford, Fla. The night was dark and it was raining when 17-year-old Trayvon was fatally shot by a neighborhood resident, George Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman saw the teen walking down the street, “looking suspicious,” with “something in his hands.” Mr. Zimmerman called 911 and followed the young man. When the police arrived, Trayvon was dead.

This event is tragic not only because a young man is dead and will never have the opportunity to achieve his potential, but it is tragic because it appears mistakes were made by public safety employees who failed to follow investigative protocols dictated by a fatal shooting. It is tragic because the reason there was no investigation appears to be due to a Florida law dubbed the “stand your ground law,” which removes the “duty to retreat” from imminent or perceived danger if at all possible. Finally, it is tragic because such an event should unite reasonable and responsible citizens in an effort to shed light on such laws that have provided lethal vigilante justice to anyone, instead, has become distorted and politicized by the media and by activist groups on both the right and the left.

We may never know what really happened in Florida on that dark, rainy night, but let us not be distracted by hyperbole and ad hominem attacks on both victims. Let us unite in viewing the death of anyone by the hand of a citizen who stands his ground with a gun instead of avoiding violence as a horrible tragedy. Let us pay heed to the fact that this event was indeed a tragedy made more horrific because of a codified license to kill in the state of Florida. Thankfully, we do not yet have such a law in Idaho. Let us unite to insure that we never do.

THERESE TURK

Post Falls