As of 2014, California has become the first state to ban the panic defense. This defense basically states that someone can use a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity as a justification for murder if they can say that they were panicked enough to react in this sort of "self defense." While it's nice to see that California is eliminating this awful stance, it's terrifying to think that there are still 49 states, 98% of our country, where someone can be "justly" killed just based on the shock value of their identity.
~Alex Duncan
Just recently, Michigan actually shot down a law that would protect LGBT students by making bullying literally illegal. I actually wrote letters to my congressmen about the law and how it would benefit all students, not just one community. While I received all positive remarks about it, the law still was not passed. t is a scary world when you think about the protections some people do not get from the government. It just shows that there is still a lot of work to be done.
ReplyDelete-Erin Lucas
The fact that a law like that exists is just disgusting. I am very happy that California was able to ban that law and it is a great step forward, but the fact that there is still 49 states still using this law is ridiculous and scary. I hope that more awareness can be brought to this issue and that people will realize how wrong it is and hopefully more states will follow the example of California.
ReplyDelete- Ashley Compton
Living in one of the 49 states that allow the panic defence is certainly frightening. It's weird to see a community come so far for all these years only to be pushed back to square one. I don't know if you've heard also that Michigan had passed a bill that allows EMTs to deny the treatment of a gay person based on religious belief and really it's just like the whole ordeal with Hobby Lobby all over again. It's discomforting to see discriminatory laws being passed, but hopefully we can change it and do better as a state and as a nation.
ReplyDelete-Tarryn Priestly
Hopefully California repealing this law is going to set a precedent for the other states in this nation. Discriminatory laws like this are unconstitutional, and soon we will see other laws alike to this one being repealed, as well. It's still scary to think that someone could be killed in "self-defense" simply based on their appearance.
ReplyDeleteAnthony