Death Wish Rules
In 1974 the movie “Death Wish” was released - with the hero a vigilante who sought out violent confrontations with criminals. In the movie the audience was able to see that the people who Jack Kersey murdered were actual criminals, and unlike the George Zimmerman trial the victims weren’t just suspected by the Hero. So when Charles Bronson shot Denzel Washington in the movie the audience cheered.
America has a love affair with fictional self-appointed vigilantes who kill extra judicially so it’s not a surprise that some would take vigilantism from fiction to reality. Life’s no movie however, and the chances of finding a real criminal committing a real crime are pretty darned slim for our modern day Death Wishers. This is why it’s incredible that so many states (25) would have enacted vigilante enabling legislation - in those states if you look threatening your life is at higher risk in many places than it is at risk from criminals. [see Mother Jones article & and map here] These laws essentially amount to might makes right - because if you are carrying a gun you have more rights than someone who isn’t.
So the next question you have to ask is that if your life is at more risk from self appointed “good guys with guns” when you go to those places, then why would you? Why would you visit, move, take your business, or take a convention to a Death Wish Rules state?
A number of House Democrats are lining up behind the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s threat for an economic boycott of Florida following the not-guilty verdict in the death of Trayvon Martin.
The lawmakers, all members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are fierce critics of the process that led to George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the fatal shooting last year of the Florida teenager. Exerting pressure on Florida’s economy as Jackson is suggesting, they said, could help overturn the state’s controversial stand-your-ground laws that many contend contributed to the tragedy.
“That’s probably the best strategy, because people understand dollars and cents,” Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) said Friday. “And they understand, if there’s a significant drop-off in revenues - at conventions, at Disney World and Universal Studios - that that will get the attention of the powerful.”
Clay said he’d like to see “a multi-pronged strategy” that includes legislation, “getting laws overturned by courts, as well as an economic boycott.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson echoed that message. The Mississippi Democrat called the verdict “a travesty” that “does not speak well for this country,” and said he would “absolutely” support an economic boycott of the state.