[Nfbf-l] Stand your ground and s2188

[Tara Prakash]

Dear all. It is not directly linked to accessibility, but it is still 
relevant to the blind. In my opinion We must have a collective opinion on laws like "Stand Your ground."

Last week I was stopped by someone to ask me why I was carrying this. I 
realized with some difficulty that 'this' referred to my cane. This guy said 
that he thought I was carrying a weapon in my hands. It's a law in Florida 
that you can shoot someone if you suspect an individual to be dangerous. He 
did not shoot me, but he could have and law enforcement wouldn't be able to 
do anything to him. National Rifles Association is using its clout to force 
similar laws everywhere in the US. They are using their stooges in the 
Congress to bypass all state laws about guns so that guns are uniformally 
allowed everywhere. Such laws are obviously disadvantageous to the blind and 
those who cannot afford guns, as law enforcement is sent a signal that an 
individual can/has to protect himself. Please call your senators to stop 
this madness from happening. These laws will certainly not pass, and will be hopefully vetoed  if they do, but you 
should still make your voices be heard. The information to contact them, and background to s2188 and 2213 follows.

Americans are demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, the 17-year old boy who 
was shot and killed by self-appointed "neighborhood watchman" George 
Zimmerman.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress is responding by working to let Trayvon's 
killer and other people with violent arrest records and a history of 
domestic abuse carry concealed, loaded guns in all 50 states.

Allies of the extremist gun lobby, led by Senators Begich, Manchin, Thune 
and Vitter, just introduced bills (S.2188 and S.2213) that would gut state 
laws that determine who can -- and more importantly, who can't -- walk our 
streets carrying hidden, loaded guns. In the wake of this tragic shooting, 
these bills are irrational and unthinkable.

Send a message to your Senators: "Don't authorize George Zimmerman and 
others with a history of domestic violence to carry hidden, loaded guns in 
any state in the country."



Long before he shot and killed an unarmed teenager, George Zimmerman was 
arrested for attacking a police officer and was the subject of a court order 
to prevent domestic violence. But thanks to Florida's deeply flawed gun 
laws, law enforcement officers have never been able to revoke his license to 
carry a loaded gun.

These controversial bills before Congress would make Zimmerman's gun permit 
and permits from every other state valid anywhere in the country -- even 
though many states have robust standards that would be completely scrapped.

That's why we need to make sure our senators know we expect them to vote 
these reckless bills down -- because when it comes to OUR LIVES, it should 
be OUR LAWS.

Thanks for speaking out,