- NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 14/Aug 02:42

Stand-your-ground reckless, misguided

THE EDITOR: The proposal to introduce stand-your-ground legislation in TT is both reckless and misguided. While it may appeal to the fear and frustration of citizens overwhelmed by violent crime, a deeper analysis reveals that such laws have failed elsewhere – and would be downright disastrous in our local context. International experience, particularly in the US, shows that stand-your-ground laws have not made communities safer. Instead, they have led to an increase in gun-related deaths, encouraged vigilante justice, and worsened social divisions. In many cases these laws have protected aggressors rather than victims and have been disproportionately applied in racially and economically biased ways. Unlike countries with a long and regulated culture of civilian gun ownership, TT has no legacy of responsible gun use among the general population. What we do have is a grim track record of illegal firearms, gang warfare, and a police force already strained under the pressure of containing violent crime. Introducing stand-your-ground laws in this environment is akin to throwing gasoline on an already raging fire. Moreover, these laws will not benefit all citizens equally. The high cost of legally obtaining and maintaining a firearm – between licensing, training, storage, and equipment – places gun ownership out of reach for the average citizen. What we are left with, then, is a society where the wealthy can afford to arm and defend themselves under the cover of the law, while the poor remain as vulnerable as ever. This is not justice – it is the privatisation of public safety, reserved for those with means. Instead of pushing policies that encourage a shoot-first mentality, we should be investing in smarter policing, community programmes, judicial reform, and real strategies for disarmament and prevention. Security should not depend on who can afford to pull a trigger. A BENNETT San Fernando The post Stand-your-ground reckless, misguided appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.