BCT Editorial – 8/16/06

This page was last updated on August 26, 2006.

History lesson; Editorial; Beaver County Times; August 16, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“If history has taught us anything, it is that laws often have unintended consequences.

“Such is the case of a bill that is being considered by the General Assembly that would permit people to use deadly force to defend themselves when threatened or endangered.

“The Associated Press reported current law states that when people are attacked or threatened in public, their responsibility is to retreat.

“This bill, which is similar to one now in place in 10 other states, would allow people who are licensed to carry concealed guns to use those weapons if they are threatened with death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or rape.

“State Rep. Steven Cappelli, R-Lycoming, who is sponsoring the bill, denies the proposal would allow murderers to claim self-defense and get lighter sentences. He said his bill wouldn’t provide criminals with that defense because only people with concealed weapons permits - who have gone through criminal background checks - would be allowed to shoot in self-defense.

“Cappelli is being incredibly naive.

“To quote Don Michael Corleone in ‘The Godfather Part II:’ ‘If anything in life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it’s that you can kill anyone.’

“This bill could have the unintended consequence of allowing more people to get away with murder. It’s simply not worth it.”

[RWC] Where’s the “history lesson?” If the editorial considers a fictional character’s line a “history lesson,” that’s sad. That’s almost as bad as when in 1985 a Democrat-controlled Congress asked four actresses to testify about a farm bill. These women had no farm-related expertise at all; they had only played farmer wives in movies.

What’s amazing is that any law requires victims to run away. Rather than generate an exception only for “people with concealed weapons permits,” the law should be changed such that anyone threatened should be allowed to stand their ground and defend themselves by any means necessary.