Oedipus Garner Research Paper

Garner had the basic human right to live and not be shot to death for the commission of a nonviolent crime. However, man-made law was in effect and was interpreted literally without any regard for severity of crime and ultimate outcome of actions. Garner had the right to due process; a right that was asserted to have been violated when he was shot to death. However, Garner chose to violate the law and commit burglary and not surrender himself when ordered to do so, thus subjecting himself the myriad of possible actions and events that fell upon him. I am not condoning the killing, but at that time and place in society, those were the risks he took and faced regardless of the practicality of the law.
Ultimately, Garner chose to defy the
law and commit a crime; chose not to comply with a lawful order from a law enforcement officer; and as a result, be subjected to the literal application of the current law in place that allowed for the shooting of a fleeing felon, which cost him his life. Though the current law at that time was found to be unconstitutional, the constitution did not forbid the shooting either.