As a man raising two black boys (and a lovely girl, but that's sorta another story), I can't help but worry about the world I send them into every day. My sons are still very young (6 and 4) but even now, I find myself concerned about what will happen when they become teens and regularly venture outside the house without our supervision.
You raise your kids to be smart, respectful, and aware of their surroundings. As a black parent, you arguably have an even more complex job, as you have to teach them that how you behave in certain situations and environments can be a matter of life and death. Kids here in DC are literally being stabbed to death by random packs of Negroes for outdated jackets.[1] How you look at a bama could determine whether or not he tries to jump you. And of course, you have to choose your friends wisely. Show me your friends, I'll show you your future, and all that jazz.
Sadly, sometimes, just being a respectful kid can still end in tragedy. A slowly developing story out of (where else?) the state of Florida has eerie echoes of familiarity.
A Florida gun collector has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge alleging that he opened fire on a car full of unarmed teenagers, killing one, in an altercation that police say stemmed from loud music.Damn. I've heard of Driving While Black. But now you gotta teach your kids about Driving While Listening To Chief Keef too? Argghhh. All these rules!
Michael David Dunn, 45, acted "as any responsible firearms owner would have," his lawyer said of the Friday evening incident at a gas station outside a convenience store in Jacksonville, Fla.
Dunn and his girlfriend were in Jacksonville for his son's wedding when they pulled up in their car next to the teens. Police allege that while the girlfriend was in the store, Dunn told Jordan Russell Davis, 17, and his three friends to turn down their music.
"It was loud," Jacksonville homicide Lt. Rob Schoonover said of the teens' music. "They admitted that. That's not a reason for someone to open fire."
After an exchange of words, Dunn began shooting with a handgun, Schoonover said.
Davis was in the back seat and was struck twice, reported The Orlando Sentinel.
Dunn and his girlfriend drove off and spent the night at their hotel, according to Schoonover, but witnesses took down his license plate number. Police arrested him Saturday morning at his home in Satellite Beach, Fla., on one charge of murder and three charges of attempted murder.
"His side of the story is he felt threatened and that is the reason he took action," Schoonover said.
On Monday, Dunn — a gun collector who shot at local gun ranges, according to authorities — pleaded not guilty in Brevard County court, with his attorney describing his actions as self-defense.
I love how this guy can just empty and entire clip into a car, then casually drive back home and watch The Voice, as if nothing even happened. Sadly, Mr. Davis didn't have such a luxury. You know, being dead and all.
I hate making light of such stories, but sometimes you gotta laugh to stop from crying.
I pray for justice for Davis' family. I hope you do too.
Question: Is this case eerily similiar to the Stand Your Ground aspect of the Trayvon Martin tragedy? Does Dunn's "defense" make any sense at all?
[1] Or did Helly Hansen come back in style? I'll admit, I'm clueless about this stuff.
