Trayvon Martin aside, ’stand your ground’ law is stupid

Let’s acknowledge from the beginning that there are no grounds to believe that Florida’s “stand your ground” law can be blamed for the events leading up to the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin.

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch fanatic who shot Martin, may have had no idea that Florida even had such a law. And even if he did know, that knowledge might not have changed his behavior in any way. The only thing we know for certain is that Sanford police cited the law in explaining why they lacked probable cause to arrest Zimmerman.

So setting aside the Martin tragedy, what possible purpose does a “stand your ground” law serve in the first place? What good can it possibly achieve, particularly when implemented outside the home?

Dealing with an intruder inside the home is quite a different matter. And every person of course has the right to defend themselves and others from bodily harm. That right existed before passage of “stand your ground” laws around the country; it exists today in states that did not pass “stand your ground” laws.

We’re dealing instead with something very different than mere self-defense. “Stand your ground” laws state that if an armed person faces a choice between safely withdrawing from a scene or standing his or her ground and killing someone, that person “has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force,” as Florida law puts it.

That’s what I don’t get. I understand that there are macho fools out there who believe that backing down from a fight is a worse outcome than shooting and killing another person. I just don’t see why in a civilized country the law should validate and even encourage that mentality.

– Jay Bookman

905 comments Add your comment

Midori

March 27th, 2012
10:21 pm

Debbie,

bottom line — they’re just scared.

Brosephus™

March 27th, 2012
10:22 pm

Time for me to get away from this place…

I’m out!!

The Kid

March 27th, 2012
10:24 pm

Rick in Grayson, where are your facts coming from, Fox News? No pictures of Zimmerman shows what you state to be a fact. There were no eye witnesses . These are the facts; so where are you coming from? But I guess if you are a white conservative, then you may come up with conclusions where there are no witnesses, but the shooter, with the victim being a young black male.’ And I do’ think the police actions were racist! Everyone knows of the racial injustices of this particular police department and police departments all over this nation. There are very good people in America but the racist element is a strong backlash since Obama won the presidency. This is a racist country. That’s a fact.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
10:26 pm

“Any other time, Zimmerman would be facing manslaughter charges, at least.”

I’m not sure of that bro. I guess it depends on the state but that’s a pretty broad statement.

“Whether he’s convicted of murder or not, he still killed Trayvon.”

Of that there is no doubt. And regardless of the judicial outcome he’ll have to live with that the rest of his life- along with walking around in shame, probable harassment in the future, and a very real danger of being murdered in the way of payback.

“Did people still not call OJ a murderer, even though he was found innocent?”

Jury nullification doesn’t change murder.

In the case of Zimm and trayvon regardless of the stand your ground law a lot of people would consider it self defense if in fact Trayvon was on top pounding Zimmerman’s head into the concrete and Zimm was honestly in fear of his life. That is where it gets murky and we don’t know a whole lot except for the eyewitness and of course the phone call from Trayvon’s girlfriend.

Don't Forget

March 27th, 2012
10:26 pm

Bro, yup but I still believe there are a lot more good people than bad. It’s just that the bad behavior is so much more memorable.

DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman

March 27th, 2012
10:27 pm

Bro: The grieving family gets the appearance that their loved one’s life didn’t meant enough to perform a decent investigation into their death. I don’t think that any American should ever have to feel that

Yes – and the truly sad part is that if they (the police) at least did their job, a lot of controversy would be solved right away.

Jm: Try Clorox bleach. It’ll work wonders for your sheets; and as an added benefit, it’ll get those skid marks outta your draws; then perhaps you can finally get some action and not have to depend on the services of Misty. :lol:

Jm

March 27th, 2012
10:29 pm

Bro, yeah. But while his friend offered it as relevant, I don’t think it is. I’m glad he’s sorry, I also hope he’s prosecuted for anything they can get on him.

I also happen to think Trayvon didn’t help himself either. Sad.

Frog,

yeah, I try. He’s survived the small toads so I just keep a good eye on him. Big toads are the bad ones. bad dog.

quedawg12

March 27th, 2012
10:30 pm

Thulsa,

Seriously!??!!??! Would you agree that dispatch told Zimmerman to retreat? At that point if Travon was whipping his behind, would that not be Travon, STANDING HIS GROUND since he also had a right to be there????

quedawg12

March 27th, 2012
10:31 pm

JM
Interesting comment, what did Trayvon not do to help himself?????? Try to get away?

DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman

March 27th, 2012
10:31 pm

911 call from Zimmerman said that Martin was RUNNING AWAY. Now what? He was aggressively running away? Running away aggressively? Running away so that he could aggressively attack later on? Please. :roll:

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
10:32 pm

JamVet

March 27th, 2012
9:58 pm
George (W)orst ever Bush could not win an election for dogcatcher. In Texas!

JamVet,

Ya got me chuckling again. I’m glad your humor is on both dayshift and nightshift. It lightened up the day earlier when this whole Trayvon thing got emotionally heated.

barking frog

March 27th, 2012
10:34 pm

Jm,
Have you talked with
getalife about this
frog-dog thing?

Jm

March 27th, 2012
10:34 pm

que

“what did Trayvon not do to help himself?”

See top of page 12. He clearly did not “retreat / run away” when confronted by his own girlfriend’s admission. And if one eye witness is to be believed, beating someone up is usually asking for trouble. Call me crazy if you want.

Jm

March 27th, 2012
10:36 pm

frog, I haven’t. Do you think I need to?

Was he a dog trainer? :)

Jm

March 27th, 2012
10:38 pm

frog,

I know my dog is anti – toad. But he’s not anti-frog. And there is a substantive difference….. hopefully you’ll forgive him, even if he was a relative.

The toad was not wearing a hoodie….

barking frog

March 27th, 2012
10:38 pm

Jm,
Not sure but he’s smart.
couldn’t hurt.

DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman

March 27th, 2012
10:38 pm

D.F. :Bro, yup but I still believe there are a lot more good people than bad. It’s just that the bad behavior is so much more memorable.

You’re right. And you’re also right about good people. History tells us about the good people during WWII who lived in Germany and hid Jews in ther farmhouses etc. even though they could’ve been killed too.

I gotta keep remembering that. There are good people out there who take a stand everyday and dont get any publicity but they do the right thing anyway.

JamVet

March 27th, 2012
10:39 pm

Yeah, Doomy, good call.

Emotions run high on some of these topics.

I just try to tune out the trolls and keep the needy one on permanent ignore and it’s all good…

quedawg12

March 27th, 2012
10:40 pm

JM,

Exactly, he stood his ground!! Its obvious that he was headed opposite of Zimmerman, Zimmerman was running towards him as he stated he was tired of the “aholes getting away!” It is about perception here. If he runs, first thing the cops would have asked him was why did he run, automatic guilt implication!!!! I would have been a little nervous if I saw someone “following” me for no reason.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
10:40 pm

quedawg12,

The dispatcher I don’t think is an officer but merely a dispatcher. Now according to Zimmerman he confronted Trayvon, they exchanged words, and he headed back to his truck. Trayvon then attacked him. Whether you believe that or not Zimm was lacerated “in the back of the head” and suffered a broken nose. And the only eye witness to the scene stated that Trayvon was on top of Zimm pounding his head into the concrete. And he stated that it was Zimm who was pleading “help me, help me”. Now I suppose you are going to say the eyewitness was lying also.

There are 2 sides to every story and what I find so shocking about this whole thing is the absolute refusal by anyone to acknowledge certain facts such as these in the case. They find it easier just to say Zimm callously murdered the young man for some racist motive. Its a little more complicated than that.

Zimm is at fault for zealously pursuing the young man but if in fact Trayvon did attack him Zimm and was pounding him as an eyewitness observed then Trayvon wasn’t without fault in the whole incident. He could have just walked away himself after being confronted IF what Zimm said is true about being attacked from behind is true.

barking frog

March 27th, 2012
10:41 pm

Jm,
Good, then the toad
wasn’t suspicious.

DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman

March 27th, 2012
10:43 pm

See top of page 12. He clearly did not “retreat / run away” when confronted by his own girlfriend’s admission. And if one eye witness is to be believed, beating someone up is usually asking for trouble. Call me crazy if you want.

Hey crazy – 911 call from Zimmerman said that Martin was RUNNING AWAY. Now what? He was aggressively running away? Running away aggressively? Running away so that he could aggressively attack later on?

DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman

March 27th, 2012
10:48 pm

Oh yea, and we all know that Zimmerman, violent history, arrests and all; wouldnt LIE now would he? Only the dead kid and/or his girlfriend would Lie.

violent people….with a HISTORY of violence, NEVER lie. :roll:

quedawg12

March 27th, 2012
10:50 pm

Thulsa,

What disturbs me is the lack of facts. Everything you stated came from Zimmermans statement and the “lone eye witness” a 13 year old boy. You are absolutely right in saying there are two sides to every story but the one with the happy ending would have been if Zimmerman had let the real police do their jobs. Based on the 911 tapes, he was dead set on vigilante justice (in my opinion)

They BOTH suck

March 27th, 2012
10:51 pm

TD

I was on you a good bit today…….. Hope you know I was just busting your balls a little

have a good night and better tomorrow

quedawg12

March 27th, 2012
10:52 pm

Thulsa,

ps………………….It also looks bad that police did nothing. Maybe because Zimmerman’s dad was a retired judge????????

just a thought.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
10:54 pm

“If he runs, first thing the cops would have asked him was why did he run, automatic guilt implication!!!!”

Um. No. That’s just your biased assumption that you can see into the future nostradomus and tell us what the cops would have done. Had the cops been there they would have questioned him and asked who he was to which he would have replied who he was, the home he was staying at, and shown them the tea and skittles he bought and brought home from the store. ANd that woulda been it.

Don't Forget

March 27th, 2012
10:55 pm

Debbie, I’m in awe of the people who risked their lives to save hiding Jews in Germany. Similar feelings for the underground railroad folks.

I also loved the the story of Schindler. A lot of people miss the fact that he started out as a womanizer and war profiteer but when it really mattered he did things most of us wouldn’t have the courage for. Keep the faith!

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
10:55 pm

TBS,

I didn’t realize you were on my azz today. Payback is hell TBS!

bman

March 27th, 2012
10:55 pm

Those who are in charge of the investigation have the white hot spotlight on them. I’m pretty sure they have some details that haven’t been shared with the public. Trying to figure out this case using google maps won’t really work…..in my opinion.

I don’t need to know anymore about this case to know that both of the guys acted foolishly. I think Mr. Bookman has ot right this time…the debate should be about the law. A lot of people are murdered. Many of the murdered are innocent. Why is this case so much more deserving of attention than others?

The media is powerful….wickedly so

quedawg12

March 27th, 2012
10:58 pm

Thulsa,

WRONG! Do you watch cops? The first thing they ask is why did you run. Where I grew up officer friendly was not always friendly!!!

Google “man shot in back running from police and read the plethera of articles about this subject”

You are living in white man’s utopia dreams my friend!!!

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:00 pm

Based on the 911 tapes, he was dead set on vigilante justice (in my opinion)

That’s your opinion. You’re not a mind reader. I listened to them also and what I heard was a guy frustrated that possibly another burglar was going to get away scot free. What I did not hear was a man dead set on going out and killing someone that night and getting some a that “vigilante justice”.

Oscar

March 27th, 2012
11:02 pm

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

———-

I just got back on and read your question to me. I have read several places that he was six four, and one place said six three, and showd his weight as 180, but don’t save those articles and don’t really remember where I saw them. But it is from three or four different sites. I have read over a dozen reports and seen interviews on tv.
One interview was with a reporter and a black kid about twelve who saw the fight and said that Z was on the bottem getting beat pretty badly.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:03 pm

quedawg12,

Wrong! The cops ask why did you “run from the cops”. They probably wouldn’t ask why are you running from a strange man following you. And if they did and Trayvon answered “Because I don’t know who the eff this man is following me” then the cops would have seen his skittles and tea, seen that he was staying with his mom, and let him go on his merry way. And then probably got onto Zimm about getting out of his car and harassing people.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:05 pm

Oscar,

He is 6 foot 160 according to the police report. One thing I do think that is misleading is for the media to keep showing a pic of a 5 foot tall 12 or 14 year old when he is much bigger and much older. They make it seem like a little kid was shot as opposed to a 6 ft tall nearly full grown young man.

Jm

March 27th, 2012
11:07 pm

“You are living in white man’s utopia dreams my friend!!!”

A. Um, no
B. White man have different utopia than other white man
C. Stop looking at this through a racial lens, even though many in the country aren’t color blind
D. Start looking at this through a legal lens

Frog, my dog needs help. He keeps asking when he can play with his purple dinosaur.

Jm

March 27th, 2012
11:08 pm

“6 ft tall nearly full grown young man.”

Hm. Not fully grown. Didn’t have the Freshman 15 yet.

Granted, he didn’t appear headed on the college track…. (sadly)

Oscar

March 27th, 2012
11:08 pm

RGB

March 27th, 2012
11:11 pm

There should be a law the prohibits Democrats from owning guns.

Did you know that George Zimmerman is a registered Democrat?

This is a case of Democrat-on-Democrat crime (no matter who ultimately is found at fault).

No pizza, no justice.

Oscar

March 27th, 2012
11:11 pm

Oscar

March 27th, 2012
11:12 pm

Sorry, they have changed the picture back to the young one.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:13 pm

Oscar,

I just thought of something. I doubt that the police weighed a dead kid and measured him. They probably got the 6 foot 160 from his driver’s license from when he was 16 which would have been anywhere from 1-2 years earlier. If that is the case it suddenly seems he may have well been much bigger and heavier than that in 1-2 years of prime growth. For now we have to go by the police report but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was bigger than the official story says so far.

JKL2

March 27th, 2012
11:14 pm

DDR- There are good people out there who take a stand everyday and dont get any publicity but they do the right thing

I have some friends that work at Walter Reed. Bush stops by on a regular basis to spend time with the troops. Obama shows up once in awhile with an army of photographers, takes some happy snaps, and runs back out the door.

Some people care, some are publicity hounds looking to further their career.

barking frog

March 27th, 2012
11:17 pm

Jm,
Give the dog his toy.
You don’t need it.
Or do you?

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:18 pm

Oscar,

It looks like that pic in your link shows a smiling 14 year old childlike Trayvon that evokes a lot of sympathy but it also shows the other pic of a much bigger non-smiling 17 year old Trayvon. Big difference.

Oscar

March 27th, 2012
11:18 pm

[...] a fight and are losing, even if you started it, you can stand your ground by … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) Make Moneyblogs, Lastest, News ← Kitchens of the Future SRI CHAKRA AMIBROKER AFL FORMULA [...]

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:21 pm

“You are living in white man’s utopia dreams my friend!!!”

Really? White man’s utopia consists of shooting people in the back when they are running away? Who knew?

JKL2

March 27th, 2012
11:24 pm

quedawg- You are living in white man’s utopia dreams my friend!!!

The man who considered himself hispanic and volunteered to teach under-privledged children in his spare time is a racist. Your last name isn’t Sharpton is it?

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:25 pm

Oscar,

Interesting. He didn’t look like a 14 year old child in the wifebeater photo on the left. And as has been said he wasn’t exactly an angel at his south Florida high school. Suddenly the idea that he jumped on and attacked the 5′9 Zimmerman seems pretty plausible.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:26 pm

JKL2,

I wondered if anyone else saw Zimmerman’s black friend talking about the fact that Zimmerman and his wife had both tutored underpriveleged kids- mostly black, on saturdays and sundays.

But of course he’s still a racist.

Don't Forget

March 27th, 2012
11:27 pm

JKL2 – wanna know why many of us defend Obama on everything? It’s because you guys and your buds in DC will take EVERY cheap shot you possibly can. If you really had something you’d focus on it and cut the low blows. Did Bush go to Walter Reed every week when he was in office?? Duh, of course not. He was the president and if he was doing that he wouldn’t be doing his job. So with that I’ll leave you with

http://humour.200ok.com.au/image_nicebigcup.html

JKL2

March 27th, 2012
11:28 pm

RGB- This is a case of Democrat-on-Democrat crime (no matter who ultimately is found at fault).

Trayvon was black. It’s clearly Bush’s fault.

William

March 27th, 2012
11:31 pm

“Oh yea, and we all know that Zimmerman, violent history, arrests and all; wouldnt LIE now would he? Only the dead kid and/or his girlfriend would Lie.”

Everyone lies or has lied, including you and me. I don’t necessarily believe or trust any of the published evidence since it is all being released a month after the fact. I can’t say with any degree of certainty what actually happened. There are a lot of unanswered questions.

Jm

March 27th, 2012
11:34 pm

frog
not his toy. I think he’s hallucinating. Keeps asking for brownies too, even though he knows he can’t have chocolate. (DDR will be accusing me of being a Klan member shortly because I don’t let me dog have chocolate)

I love my federal taxes….. /sarc

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:34 pm

I’ll second that. Clearly its W’s fault.

JKL2

March 27th, 2012
11:38 pm

don’t forget- JKL2 – wanna know why many of us defend Obama on everything?

A combination of cluelessness, willingness to believe a media that will do anything to promote their liberal agenda, and your wonton racism in judging our president based on the color of his skin rather than the content of his character.

I could care less if he was purpla as long as he did his job. I forgot who said it, but there was a saying about “putting lipstick on pig” that really applies here.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

March 27th, 2012
11:41 pm

JKL2

March 27th, 2012
11:43 pm

-don’t forget- Did Bush go to Walter Reed every week when he was in office?? Duh, of course not. He was the president and if he was doing that he wouldn’t be doing his job

All the time. Still goes on a regular basis to this day. Normally with a few other people and no photographers. It’s part of his job as Commander in Chief. Bush really cares about Soldiers, while obama hates the military. What is hard for you to understand?

barking frog

March 27th, 2012
11:47 pm

Jm,
Your dog needs help.
If you give him chocolate
he may die. Call detox.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

March 27th, 2012
11:47 pm

Headline: “Holder loses again: Charges against Michigan militia members thrown out… ”

Holder will do anything to try and come up with white militia terrorists but Black Panters intimidating/threatening voters are o.k.

MamaSays

March 27th, 2012
11:47 pm

Hey Keep it Real, if you are here,

Here is your statement. I do believe that the start of your second paragraph says he broke the law in the chase, right ? I thought so. The 911 operator did not cite law and tell him he could not chase, he suggested that he not do it.

keep it real
March 27th, 2012
6:36 pm

Hey when will some of you stupid idiots white people get it, Zimmerman was not a cop or security guard, the law does not apply to you when you are chasing after someone like the 911 tape confirms.
Take the black face of Travon out of it and put your own dam kids in it, would you believe that hog wash zimmerman said?
He broke the law on the chase, white people bigots of Georgia, so travon the angery black man, punched him for no reason and tried to take his gun, some of you white people can not be this stupid or this hateful

Midori

I don’t need you to worry about my son, he will be fine, because I watch him.

I watched him attend a school that was 30 % black and rated the highest in the county, in his first year. By the third year black thugs accounted for 83% of the school, my son had a knife pulled on him twice, his friend was jumped by 5 gang bangers and the black gangster deciples (a gang in case you dont know) ran the school. The state has now declared the scool as a failing one and most white kids have left because the thugs are out of control. In an attempt to fix the school the district is on its 4th principal in 3 years, it is not working.

The funny thing is we live in a middle class district in which most of the blacks, being denied their rights and all, wear preppy clothing, drive nice cars and look to have parents that are typical middle class.

I have every reason to be concerned for his safety given the fact that his life has been threatened twice, because he is white.

Now go back to your middle class dream world in which everyone is at the will of the evil white man.

aladawg

March 27th, 2012
11:49 pm

Hey you liberal ass hole, the stand your ground law is less stupid than you are.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:50 pm

The main question in this whole fracas seems to me to be is Zimm telling the truth about Trayvon attacking him? Hmmm. I dunno. But I do know this. Travon isn’t the angel people are trying to portray him as with the pics of a 12 or 14 year old. From the Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html

3 suspensions, a burglary tool in his backpack along with women’s jewelry and wedding bands, pot, graffit, etc. This sure as hell aint no angel.

SANFORD — As thousands of people gathered here to demand an arrest in the Trayvon Martin case, a more complicated portrait began to emerge of a teenager whose problems at school ranged from getting spotted defacing lockers to getting caught with a marijuana baggie and women’s jewelry.

The Miami Gardens teen who has become a national symbol of racial injustice was suspended three times, and had a spotty school record that his family’s attorneys say is irrelevant to the facts that led up to his being gunned down on Feb. 26.

In October, a school police investigator said he saw Trayvon on the school surveillance camera in an unauthorized area “hiding and being suspicious.” Then he said he saw Trayvon mark up a door with “W.T.F” — an acronym for “what the f—.” The officer said he found Trayvon the next day and went through his book bag in search of the graffiti marker.

Instead the officer reported he found women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that he described as a “burglary tool,” according to a Miami-Dade Schools Police report obtained by The Miami Herald. Word of the incident came as the family’s lawyer acknowledged that the boy was suspended in February for getting caught with an empty bag with traces of marijuana, which he called “irrelevant” and an attempt to demonize a victim.

Trayvon’s backpack contained 12 pieces of jewelry, in addition to a watch and a large flathead screwdriver, according to the report, which described silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds.

Trayvon was asked if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend.

“Martin replied it’s not mine. A friend gave it to me,” he responded, according to the report. Trayvon declined to name the friend.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html#storylink=cpy

aladawg

March 27th, 2012
11:52 pm

How about you stupid dumb blacks that are making a big deal about the punk being killed. Yes, the thug that the stinking media chose to only print his perfect middle school picture. I saw what he really looks like today and hell yes, he looks like a stupid thug.

Thulsa Doom with his boot on liberal throats

March 27th, 2012
11:54 pm

Looks like Zimmerman thought he was tracking a burglar. I think he was right about trayvon being a burglar- Just not that night.

JKL2

March 27th, 2012
11:56 pm

Thulsa- 3 suspensions, a burglary tool in his backpack along with women’s jewelry and wedding bands, pot, graffit, etc. This sure as hell aint no angel

Nothing a neighborhood watch would be interested in. Why are you trying to tarnish this little angel’s legacy? Accept the brown man is a racist.

Jm

March 27th, 2012
11:56 pm

Doom. I hate the IRS. And phase outs. I am getting cremated on taxes.

Jm

March 27th, 2012
11:57 pm

frog

I didn’t give him chocolate. the wacko keeps asking for it though.

Rockfish

March 27th, 2012
11:59 pm

Bookman is stupid. Don’t listen to this tired, worn-out, radical.

barking frog

March 28th, 2012
12:00 am

Jm,
Romney is on Leno.
Let the dog watch.
Maybe he will learn
to like white bread.

JKL2

March 28th, 2012
12:07 am

obamacare getting laughed at in the SC. Jay might have to dig deep tomorrow.

Tom(Independent-Viet Vet)

March 28th, 2012
12:12 am

Thulsa@11:50 – Certain people on this blog do not want to hear what you just said. Would it not be ironic if the 12 pieces of jewelry were determined to have been taken from Zimmerman’s neighborhood where 10 burglaries have occured in the past 18 months. He should have been charged with Theft by Receiving Stolen Property when it was discovered by school police. Some Dude gave it to him just does not fly! Only when Zimmerman was on the ground getting his head pounded into the pavement did he chose then to shoot. That became a life or death situation for Zimmerman and he choose to survive by the only way available but some bloggers will never accept that. As a retired 60+ yr old lawman, I would have done exactly the same thing to survive. Most all these bloggers have never been in a life or death struggle and know the fear going thru your brain when it is occurring. No one wants to shoot anyone but if it is a choice between him or me, I’ll do anything to survive.

Tom(Independent-Viet Vet)

March 28th, 2012
12:14 am

Additionally 17-18 yr old young men are generally much quicker and stronger than most adult males, having experienced it many times during my career.

getalife

March 28th, 2012
12:19 am

drudgey is a joke now.

The con activists on the sc will not say no to corporate welfare.

You will be disappointed.

Jm

March 28th, 2012
12:24 am

frog, wish I’d seen it. doing taxes though. don’t have cable either (I’m cheap) :)

Jm

March 28th, 2012
12:26 am

getalife

frog says you’re smart :)

care to prove it? :)

willie lynch

March 28th, 2012
12:26 am

How do you determine who was standing their ground when one of the people is dead? Since you have to come to some reasonable conclusion in this case, it would seem that the person who was pursued by an armed citizen, not a uniformed law enforcement official, but a stranger with a gun, had no choice but to defend himself (once he was accosted by this armed individual on a public street) and stand his ground.

This law is ridiculous.

JKL2

March 28th, 2012
12:27 am

getalife- The con activists

ROFL! It’s your story, make it up as you go along. We know facts mean nothing to you.

JKL2

March 28th, 2012
12:27 am

getalife- The con activists

ROFL! It’s your story, make it up as you go along. We know facts mean nothing to you.

William

March 28th, 2012
12:28 am

“Word of the incident came as the family’s lawyer acknowledged that the boy was suspended in February for getting caught with an empty bag with traces of marijuana, which he called “irrelevant” and an attempt to demonize a victim.”

It is not irrelevant, but theft is deserving of death. This incident should never have happened the way it did.

William

March 28th, 2012
12:28 am

Correction: It is not irrelevant, but theft is NOT deserving of death.

Jm

March 28th, 2012
12:28 am

JKL2 has a stutter :)

barking frog

March 28th, 2012
12:28 am

Jm,
I get over the air.
Taxes are tough.
I did mine in Jan.
Haven’t filed them yet.

getalife

March 28th, 2012
12:31 am

jm,

Frog is smart.

William

March 28th, 2012
12:31 am

“This law is ridiculous.”

I guess that is until you (in some states) defend yourself against certain bodily harm but fail to make every effort to follow the “duty to retreat” and are being charged with 2nd degree murder.

willie lynch

March 28th, 2012
12:33 am

Tom(Independent-Viet Vet)

The problem Tom, is Trayvon never threatened Zimmerman. Trayvon Martin didn’t pursue him with a gun. If Zimmerman didn’t want to escalate the situation why didn’t he just stay in his car after he disobeyed the directive of law enforcement? Zimmerman has a history of violence and now someone is dead.

getalife

March 28th, 2012
12:34 am

The sc just gave us unlimited corporate donations.

Hard right con activists.

It will be ObamaCare forever.

v

March 28th, 2012
12:35 am

As a florida resident i will say the problem is not in the concept of the stand your ground law, the problem is that the law needs to be amended to say that if you provoke a confrontation stand your ground does not apply.

barking frog

March 28th, 2012
12:36 am

Jm,
JKL2 is two people who
say the same thing
simultaneously. It’s
why he is JKLtoo.

willie lynch

March 28th, 2012
12:37 am

William
March 28th, 2012
12:31 am

As this law is written I could kill you after we had a car accident and claim you were aggressive (being upset at the damage to your vehicle) so I shot you while standing my ground. My proof? My word.

JKL2

March 28th, 2012
12:38 am

I remember a time when profiling used to be called good police work. Thanks to the left, we have the TSA searching old ladies and kids in wheelchairs because we need to make sure everyone is equal. Maybe if we gave them all participation ribbons they would feel better about getting strip searched…

barking frog

March 28th, 2012
12:42 am

Jm, getalife,
goodnight.

JKL2

March 28th, 2012
12:43 am

President gave a joke for a budget. House getting ready to pass one. When is the Democrat Senate of No going to get with the program?

getalife

March 28th, 2012
12:48 am

gop house bill doa.

rw garbage.

Jm

March 28th, 2012
12:59 am

frog, you and getalife have a lot in common….. :)

jays brain

March 28th, 2012
1:00 am

The law is only stupid if you are SCARED TO STAND YOUR GROUND. Otherwise, it is a realistic way to say that it is ok to stand up to the thugs and idols of the left. I know pwople like Jay celebrate
the criminal element. If they had their way, the prison system would be even better than it is today
with it’s free tv and weight rooms etc. People like Jay should have to visit the families of murder victims on a daily basis. But then he isn’t brave enough to do so. Maybe he will go to Trayvon’s grave because that might get jay an award. But to do the right thing, the brave thing, the stand up thing……hell no. Not in this lifetime. Dead people have NO RIGHTS and the leftists along with the current judicial system loves taking a crap on the deceased of violent crimes on a daily basis.
Aggravated manslaughter,……LOL yeah take your ignorant arse to the graveyard and tell that to the MURDER victim.
We need more people standing their ground and taking our the garbage.

Jm

March 28th, 2012
1:28 am

i hate taxes…….

to quote william wallace: freeeeeeedom………..

ugh. america is a mess

Jm

March 28th, 2012
1:39 am

curses

America’s tax code needs to be scrapped wholesale. along with the state tax codes in NY and MA and IL

Jack

March 28th, 2012
5:58 am

Likely those against stand your ground have never been mugged.