Gun Culture = Blame-the-Victim Culture

[Straw Man]

11. Potential for harm.

However, erpowers is right that insuring oneself against such events with a gun do lead to a scenario where a person shoots first and only after finds out that they shot someone unarmed, who meant no harm and only "looked" threatening. Again, in such cases, the victim is to blame. And think there-in is the comparison with Martin. It is less about the circumstances (a man going after a kid he was sure was criminal) as it is about the assumption (Martin wearing a hoody = criminal).

I agree that the potential for abuse is there, but no law -- even "Stand Your Ground" laws -- permits one to shoot someone just for looking threatening. There is always some kind of stipulation about a reasonable fear of physical harm, etc. That's why education is essential, and that is a key component of training classes for CCW permits in most states.

Oddly, New York has no training requirement for a handgun permit, despite its current claim to having the toughest gun laws in the country. Some NY judges are using their discretionary powers to impose such a requirement, but it's not written into state law. One wonders why.