You
must have heard about Trayvon Martin. He was shot dead at close quarters
because he was perceived to have presented mortal threat to someone. Well, I am
too far from the scene of the crime, Florida, USA, to comment on what all
happened there, including the judgment in the court case.
But,
I do know that the case hinged on, among other things, a Florida law called “Stand
your ground.” This allows a person who feels endangered to use mortal force
when he feels threatened. No questions asked.
There
has been a spate of shooting in public spaces that resulted in many people,
including children in schools, dying in recent times in the US. There have been
calls to regulate gun buying and selling. But the powerful gun lobby which
calls itself the National Rifle Association (NRA) is up in arms (what else did
you expect) against any restriction, citing the constitutional guarantee of the
right to bear arms.
All
of this came to my mind when I read that our erstwhile cine-artist Ms. Shilpa
Shirodkar, who also happens to be co-owner of the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, asked women [1] to
carry a knife when in a crowd. I have a problem with this, indeed many
problems.
One,
do we have an Indian Knife Association?
And, is Ms. Shirodkar an office bearer of that, with authority to talk on its
behalf? From her statement, “Women should be self-reliant and carry a knife
when they are in crowd,” it definitely appears so.
Two,
her statement formed part of her speech at a safety and security awareness program
organized by police in the context of the ten day Ganesh Chaturthi festival starting on September 9th. The
few good words she said about Maharashtra police force can thus be set in their
context. The intent was to reduce the burden on the police – “Police are doing
their best to protect us, but how much they would do?” Well meaning, of course,
perhaps a deserved a pat on the back too, and the politicos must have been
thrilled that their protection will not be diluted in the cause of protecting
the women folk.
Three,
Ms. Shirodkar did not say whether women should carry a knife when not in a
crowd, like walking back home from a bus stop in late evening hours. In such
situations one does not have to be self-reliant, as I understood her message. I
conclude that women should always carry a knife. I like to be tagged a male
chauvinist pig as I go on to say that she can cut the vegetables for dinner as
she walks back home from the suburban train station, keeping it in sight and
ready for its intended use.
Four,
she did not say what should a woman carry the knife for. If her plea to women is
to ape the “Stand your ground” law, then that is dangerous. Let us face it, on
average, men are bigger than women and are typically stronger too (when not potbellied).
Knife is hardly a defence, as one has to let the potential assailant get close
enough.
It
may have been better for Ms. Shirodkar to go all the way and adopt what NRA
says, “Guns do not kill people; people do!” Carry loaded guns. Also, give full
immunity to women against prosecution once she claims self-defence. I am not
sure I agree. The self-defence claim has to be defended.
Five,
how would society avoid misuse or worse, abuse of such a provision, if it came
to be?
Six,
what if a woman did follow this suggestion, taking it as endorsed by the police
(after all, the event has been organized by the police), and something untoward
happens? All of us are in trouble.
A
knee-jerk reaction leads to no solution but has the potential to create
problems. That is exactly what Ms. Shirodkar’s suggestion is, I conclude.
References
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