When will enough be ENOUGH?  The recent acquittal of George Zimmerman in the case of Trayvon Martin brings to light a most serious issue plaguing our country today: local Stand Your Ground and "Shoot First" laws actually exist, and this is a prime example of the worst that can happen when this type of law is voted in by the local public and upheld. It's not only time to rethink how we vote, but also to understand the important role local elections play and to show up when they are held.

Across the country, there will be many local primaries after Labor Day.  Often times there are measures on the ballots which ask the voter whether or not s/he wants this specific measure to take effect.  It is wonderful that we have the freedom to be able to decide local laws with a "yes" or a "no", unencumbered by an Electoral College.  But the problem is this: do people show up for local elections?  The sad truth is many do not. 

The "Stand Your Ground" law was the main law that the defense used to keep George Zimmerman from being jailed.  Would the public have voted "yes" for this law if they could have foreseen the outcome of the shooting of Trayvon Martin and subsequent case?  If the community knew that an unarmed teen from their own neighborhood would be shot and killed by a man with a gun, would they have voted "no" instead?

The outcome of this case was earth-shattering to many across the nation.  Will the same people that are infuriated by this outcome connect the dots and show up to all future local elections?  In addition, are there local laws that make it hard for working people to come out and vote?  We pose these questions because we are gravely concerned.

The ENOUGH Campaign and its volunteers charge you with the task of not only making sure you vote in your upcoming local elections, but making sure your neighbors and friends do, too.  In addition, find out more about your local voting laws and make sure that the entire community has access to voting.  Zoning laws can be tricky and voting places often change from election to election, making it harder for people to cast their vote and have their voices be heard. 

The fact remains that George Zimmerman is a free man after he shot and killed an unarmed, underage Trayvon Martin.  What he did was deemed legal by the court.  America's love for guns has gone too far - that we, the public, have voted in Stand Your Ground laws that protect the killer and not the victim.

Vote in your next local election.  Vote in all future local elections.  Get others to vote.  And make sure that you and everyone you know has access to voting.

I'd like to end this by saying, "Let's not let this happen ever again," but the truth is, as long as there are Stand Your Ground laws, it most certainly will.

It's time to end "stand your ground" and other such laws that undermine public safety, senselessly put people at risk, and enable the kind of tragedy we've witnessed in the case of Trayvon Martin.
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/end-stand-your-ground?source=homepage

Since 1993, Connecticut Against Gun Violence has focused on reducing gun violence through public education and legislative advocacy. Please mark your calendars for September 28, 2013.  The conference will be held at Wesleyan University, 279 Court St, Middletown, Connecticut 06457.  See you there!

We'd like to know what you think of this song.