Guns don’t insure a safer community

Guns don’t insure a safer community

Much has been written about the right of George Zimmerman to stand his ground and defend himself, thus justifying his shooting and killing of Trayvon Martin when Martin held him down. Less has been said about Martin’s right to defend himself when stalked by an unknown assailant. Had he no right to stand his ground and defend himself when being approached?

The issue is not whether one should be able to stand his ground and defend himself when attacked but what weapons should be permitted for this purpose; The more lethal the weapon the more risky the outcome. Martin was innocent of wrong doing and Zimmerman, in spite of not heeding instruction from a police dispatcher, apparently thought he was a law-abiding citizen protecting his neighborhood. This tragic event make a lie of the argument that guns in the hands of law abiding citizens make for a safer community.

Don Sutherland

Glen Ellyn