This past week, the New Mexico Justice Department decided not to file charges against police officers after they went to the wrong house and killed the homeowner. Once again, officers killed an innocent civilian and there are no consequences for their actions. The reality is this story highlights, for me, the real problem with the 2nd Amendment, the current interpretation being pushed by conservatives, and the culture that it creates.
Gun rights advocates would have you believe that carrying a
gun is the best way to protect yourself.
They want every American carrying a weapon so that we are all prepared
to stop (read: kill) the next mass shooter before anyone dies. If we just make sure everyone has access to
quality gun safety education, then we’ll all be fine.
A brief recap of the scenario that happened. It’s 11:30 at night and multiple unidentified
individuals approach the house with high-powered flashlights. Gun rights advocates would say this is
exactly why you should carry a weapon. They
say you have a right to stand your ground and defend your castle. That’s exactly what Robert Dotson did. He grabbed his handgun to confront the unknown
individuals approaching his house – and was shot and killed by the police.
Now this is where the gun rights people lose the
argument. They are also the first to argue
that the police were entirely within their means to shoot first and ask
questions later. They saw a gun raised
in a potential firing manner and shot to kill.
I watched the video and the reaction is instantaneous. The gun is not yet fully in a position to
threaten the officers, but they see the gun and immediately start
shooting. No warning, no announcement of
police presence, nothing except gunfire.
The video shows officers questioning whether they are even
at the right house. It looks like an
officer knocks on the door and then backs away.
No one is at the door to announce themselves when Mr. Dotson opens the
storm door. No one is standing on the porch,
they’re all hiding behind their high-powered flashlights.
And the gun rights people want us to believe this is nothing
more than a tragedy. That their
arguments, their positions have nothing to do with this. It’s an unfortunate, but isolated event. There are no broader societal implications. Sorry for your loss, now let’s move on.
That is what I find so unbelievable. Everyone did exactly what the gun advocates
say they should do. And yet an innocent
person died. How is that even remotely
justifiable? How can such a belief
system that results in innocent deaths be good?
You cannot look at this situation and claim that everyone did the right
thing. When everyone does the right
thing, innocent people do not get shot and killed. When
everyone does the right thing, we all live.
If gun advocates are going to insist on a society in which
everyone is armed, then it is of the HIGHEST importance that law enforcement is
trained to not immediately respond to the presence of a gun. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot have a society in which everyone
is allowed to carry AND officers are allowed to shoot to kill at the first sign
of a weapon. It’s immoral, unjust, and a
greater violation of the 2nd Amendment than any rational, reasonable
gun control legislation would try to impose.
