SIMMONS: Bill Cosby weighs in on Trayvon Martin case

The Washington Times ^ | April 7, 2012 | Deborah Simmons

[Free ThinkerNY]

“The gun.”

Those two simple words flowed easily from the mouth of social commentator Bill Cosby during an exclusive interview Friday regarding the Trayvon Martin case, arguably the most high-profile, citizen-on-citizen U.S. slaying facing the Obama administration.

Trayvon was killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who told police that a “confrontation” with the unarmed 17-year-old led him to shoot in self-defense.

Mr. Cosby, a Navy veteran, said “the gun” empowered Mr. Zimmerman, whose actions have stirred a firestorm of debate, protests and remarks from President Obama.

“We’ve got to get the gun out of the hands of people who are supposed to be on neighborhood watch,” said Mr. Cosby, whose remarks were the first he has made publicly about the case.

“Without a gun, I don’t see Mr. Zimmerman approaching Trayvon by himself,” Mr. Cosby explained. “The power-of-the-gun mentality had him unafraid to confront someone. Even police call for backup in similar situations.

“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said.

[backwoods-engineer]

To the extent that the Watch and VCOP programs are riddled with them, I can’t say I disagree. And I’ll bet that as a result of the Martin case and the law suits that will ensue, Neighborhood Watches nation-wide will do exactly what Cos is saying. But make it a rule promulgated by the groups themselves, not by the gubermint.

You don't know what the hell you're talking about. Neighborhood Watch _IS_ a "gubermint" program, from stem to stern, top to bottom. Every group is registered on a .gov website.

I WILL NOT leave my home without being armed. If that means I don't participate in Goobermint Watch, I will quit right now.

Anti-self-defense jabbering on FR? Never thought I'd see the day.

[Logical me]

And Cosby, you ass, so is a knife, screwdriver, chain saw, drugs, piece of rope, hatchet, etc, etc. Just shut the hell up and go back asleep in your liberal world of fantasy.

[melsec]

You are correct _ I work in Security but we do not carry guns in Australia. I will approach people if I feel safe to do so - I normally will not approach a group of young males or anyone who rings alarms in my head. That being said there is always that one percent who will approach you. I wouldn’t mind having a gun as a deterent for them.

Mel

[JimRed]

I used to respect you Bill.

I respect his right to his opinion, even though I do not agree with it. Agree or not, he's a straight shooter.

[wtd]

Had Bill's son, Ennis, carried a weapon, he might be alive today. Pity Bill can't see the worth of self-defense.

[beandog]

We wouldn’t need “wannabe cops” if the real cops were actually doing their job. Don’t need to be a member of a “neighborhood watch” to carry a gun and watch your neighborhood. I watch my neighborhood all the time and don’t belong to any group.

[backwoods-engineer]

Don’t lose sight of the fact that Bill Cosby’s son was shot to death during a carjacking. He’s most likely thinking from that perspective.

Too bad "The Music" Cosby wasn't carrying that day, and couldn't give the carjackers a few extra holes. Oh, that's right, the state he lived in doesn't allow concealed carry, except when you pay off some sheriff.

FReepers (and Cosby) would do well not to "lose sight of the fact" of the SECOND AMENDMENT. It is in force. Get used to it.

[RoadTest]

This can’t be THE Bill Cosby we all knew and loved!?

[Darren McCarty]

“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said

How come in places like my old home of Roscommon we don't kill people. We all have guns. Only critters and deer need to worry.

[beandog]

He’s entitled to his opinion and I’m entitled to not respect him for that opinion.

I’m sure he voted for the idiot in the WH, which makes him anything but a straight shooter.

[JimRed]

It is not like Zimmerman was carrying the weapon, cocked and loaded, at the ready while stalking Martin.

Zimmerman's mistake. No situational awareness, and had he displayed the firearm Martin would have run off, and would still be alive.

[Daveinyork]

“I used to respect you Bill.”

I still do. He’s wrong this time, but he’s been right a lot of the time. I’ve seen his stand up routine, the one on Tv, and I saw him live, once. He had the audience in stitches, without once getting crude. No F word, and no N word.

[Darren McCarty]

Cosby’s always been a liberal. He doesn’t like thug culture, but that doesn’t make him a conservative.

[WashingtonSource]

STFU, Bill Cosby.

[yarddog]

I can’t remember the details but I am certain that Cosby was caught in some kind of sex scandal a few years back.

Of course what would ruin a Conservative white guy has just about no effect on a Black leader.

[brivette]

pink, is that you Floyd?

[Jack Hydrazine]

There a few token, Leftist FReepers that want to accuse Zimmerman that he murdered Martin and disarming the public is the solution!

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Senile old man who never came off the plantation.

Cosby’s liberal wife has poisoned his aging mind.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Didn’t the Australian government take the guns away from most Australian citizens some years ago like they did in the UK?

[eastforker]

They say there is a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN if you just WALK THIS WAY along the BLUE BAYOU but don’t stop of at the HOTEL CALIFORNIA, I hear you will never leave. I also heard you can WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS with ernie to get there