If SYG laws protect a guy who used deadly force after getting popcorn thrown in his face, then all those Trayvon supporters are right about the law needing to be repealed.
However, I have confidence that the jury will send this ex-cop to prison for a long, long time while upholding the integrity of Florida's self-defence and SYG laws.
I don’t think SYG is going to cover popcorn attack.
Absolutely.
I get extremely tired of those who have not a clue about what SYG means and does.
It does not say that anybody can use lethal force whenever they claim they felt threatened or in danger.
It says they can do so IF they had a "reasonable fear" of death or severe injury.
I think it highly likely, as you say, that a jury will find popcorn throwing is not a reasonable cause for fear of imminent death or severe injury.
Its hard for me to say because I wasn’t in the theater... I don’t know either individual or thier personal character... I am not in the courtroom... I haven’t seen the defense’s evidence or the prosecution’s evidence. So I cannot judge.
SYG and (leathal) self defense are for eminent threats. I am a fairly good-sized healthy 40ish yearold man so popcorn in my face does not constitute a life threatening situation. I could probably take the guy or at least go toe-to-toe.
In that case... I would tell my wife, “here, hold my gun cause me and him fixin to fight”
If I were 80 years old, I know I cannot defend myself against a young buck so I would have to pull a weapon because I would have no other way to defend myself.
So, I don’t know, I wasn’t there so I can’t say what should happen.