"The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." – Constitution for the United States of America
Chicago is a city with some of the strictest gun control laws in the US. Besides that, it may be no coincidence it’s considered by some to be the murder capital of the country.
It's easy to see why one would want to own and carry a gun in Chicago as self-defense is paramount if one wishes to preserve their life in dangerous situations.
That said, Harith Augustus was minding his own business one day while traveling on a sidewalk in Chiraq. He walked by some police officers who then approached and questioned him about the bulge around his waistband.
Harith was armed with a hidden pistol in his waistband. Why he was armed is anyone's guess.
If you illegally own a handgun in Chiraq, it's serious business. In fact, one may be put in a cage and treated like an animal for up to three years if convicted of a Class 4 Felony.
If you place yourself in Haraith's shoes; he must be under considerable duress if he knows the consequences for bearing arms in Chicago. Had the police taken him into custody, he would most likely go to jail for years.
Some would say that Harith was defending his liberty, yet, this is only if you view the situation from a Constitutional perspective of law, as opposed to the legal system itself.
The other side of this encounter would be from the police officers point of view. It's possible that they might not care as much about the Constitution, as they do about the codes they enforce.
So from a cop’s point of view, they want to uphold city code whether or not the code is in alignment with the Constitution.
From the point of view of the police and many bystanders, Harith attempted to draw his weapon and therefore when police killed him, it may be considered justifiable, this is because they were defending themselves (from a man who was defending his liberty).
Do you have a unique take on this incident? Do you know the right way in which it should be viewed? If so please sound off in the comments below.
