Letters to the Editor

Self-defence as a ploy to kill

Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Stand-your-ground laws are frequently criticised and called "shoot first" laws by critics, including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. In Florida, the law has resulted in self-defense claims tripling. The law's critics argue that Florida's law makes it very difficult to prosecute cases against people who shoot others and then claim self-defense. The shooter can argue that he felt threatened, and in most cases, the only witness who could have argued otherwise is the victim who was shot and killed. Many states have some form of Stand Your Ground law including California. The Hate Crime Statistics Act defines hate crimes as acts in which individuals are victimised because of their "race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity." Why is there anti-Americanism? Because of American policies toward other nations and people! They were under-developed in war, weapons, brutality, cruelty, selfishness, and the desire to dominate others! Actually they were over-developed in some of the world's most beautiful and peaceful cultures, which the White came to destroy, and to make slaves of them.