by Grace Schlimpert
Two controversial gun bills are up for debate in the Indiana Statehouse. One would expand the rights of gun owners in self-defense shootings and the other would arm teachers in Indiana schools.
The Stand Your Ground Law or No Duty to Retreat Law states that one can defend themself or others against threats or perceived threats, even to the point of applying lethal force. This law states that an individual has no duty to retreat from a place they lawfully have a right to be, regardless of whether safely retreating from the situation was possible.
Many feel that this law is a license to kill, but that is just not true. This law is a right to live, it is the right to defend yourself and others without fear of repercussions.
There is a difference between Stand Your Ground and self defense. Self defense is the right to defend yourself which includes the right to meet deadly force with the threat of deadly force, these rights are protected under the “Castle Doctrine.” Stand Your Ground is usually outside your home and includes “no duty to retreat,” according to U.S. law.
House Bill 1284 could be approved by the Indiana senate to provide protection to gun owners who shoot to defend another person.
This law is extremely necessary. As an American citizen, I have the right to defend myself and others from the threat of imminent harm.
As the debate continues about Stand Your Ground, another debate had been reignited: the debate on arming teachers.
I was a strong believer in arming teachers until a recent conversation with Deputy Adams. He was able to change my perspective on the topic.
In the event of a school shooting where the shooter is a student or former student, would the teacher be able to shoot and kill someone they know, someone they had in class for a year?
I believe that with specific instructions and procedures some teachers could be armed, but to have an entire school of armed teachers would be chaos. What would happen if a teacher left their students to pursue the shooter? There would be no one to protect the students, especially if the teacher was killed.
The debate will no doubt continue as lawmakers make these difficult decisions.