Stand your ground’ is only part of story

7/22/13
 
   < < Go Back
 
from CNN,
7/22/13:

The fact that President Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain and other elected officials have said that they believe Americans should re-evaluate “stand your ground” laws in response to the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin no doubt plays well with those who want strict gun laws.

But regardless of the merits of that argument, that discussion shouldn’t prevent people from considering other issues Americans should be wrestling with in the aftermath of the George Zimmerman verdict.

Here are 10 such issues that deserve a hearing. We should be talking about:

1. How the media handle, and often mishandle, the touchy topics of race and ethnicity.

2. Why an individual who was not a trained law enforcement officer but instead a volunteer monitoring his surroundings for what he considered suspicious activity, was carrying a loaded weapon and felt justified in using lethal force.

Read More: