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Shoot First, Claim Self-Defense Later
The Loyal Opposition ^ | March 20, 2012 | andrew rosenthal

Posted on 03/20/2012 1:25:45 PM PDT by Fawn

In late February, 28-year-old George Zimmerman called 911 to report that a “real suspicious guy” was walking down the street in Sanford, Fla. He decided to follow the “suspicious guy,” and later that night Mr. Zimmerman shot and killed him with a 9 mm handgun. The “suspicious guy” was a black 17-year-old named Trayvon Martin. He was unarmed, carrying only a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea.

(Excerpt) Read more at loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: georgezimmerman; standyourground; trayvonmartin
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To: wtc911
Tell your own kids who are out walking after dark (or any time) that they should stop and talk to any grown man who wants them to....

What could possibly go wrong?


41 posted on 03/20/2012 4:37:49 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel - Horace Walpole)
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To: Jonty30
I don't disagree with any of that, and yes, it's apparent Zimmerman got out of his car to confront Martin.

It's what happened then that's not quite clear.

Is there evidence Zimmerman had his gun drawn, or are you speculating?

42 posted on 03/20/2012 7:07:39 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass
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To: Trailerpark Badass

I think it’s called descriptive action.

It doesn’t matter much if it was drawn, if you were the aggressor. You can’t credibly claim self defense if you’re the one who iniated the whole thing.

Zimmerman iniated it, that is without dispute.


43 posted on 03/20/2012 7:44:33 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Uncle Slayton

The encounter was off property and, according to the 911 call, not doing anything unlawfully.

Not much of a defense here.


44 posted on 03/20/2012 7:47:52 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: freedumb2003

I thought I read that Zimmerman was following him and was attacked before shooting the kid? Were there any reports of injuries or evidence of self defense or was he not allowed to watch people in the neighborhood. I think we may want to leave this one up to those that have access to the facts and not start building the gallows.


45 posted on 03/20/2012 8:02:38 PM PDT by BOBWADE (RINOs suck)
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To: Jonty30

Florida has no duty to retreat. On or “off property”.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0776/Sections/0776.013.html


46 posted on 03/20/2012 8:31:10 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Democrats love direct democracy until it's time to vote on something. Then they scream for a judge)
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To: Jonty30
Speculation, got it.

Not arguing with you. Your scenario is totally plausible. So are several others.

47 posted on 03/20/2012 8:51:03 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass
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To: AppyPappy

Meanwhile, Zimmerman’s father delivered a letter to the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday saying the way his son is being depicted in the media is cruel and misleading. He also says his son has received death threats and moved out of his home. George Zimmerman is Hispanic and grew up in a multiracial family, the statement says.

“He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever ...,” the letter says. “The media portrayal of George as a racist could not be further from the truth.”

The letter Zimmerman’s father gave the Sentinel says George Zimmerman didn’t get out of the SUV to confront Martin.

“At no time did George follow or confront Mr. Martin. When the true details of the event became public, and I hope that will be soon, everyone should be outraged by the treatment of George Zimmerman in the media,” the letter said. — (AP)

http://www.phillytrib.com/newsarticles/itemlist/tag/Trayvon%20Martin.html


48 posted on 03/20/2012 8:53:41 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: wtc911

My kids don’t walk around after dark, My kids don’t leave the view of my front door once the street lights go on. If my kids need something from the store or go some where after dark I or another adult is with them. During the day they are in school and must come home afterwards I do not permit my children to walk the streets.


49 posted on 03/20/2012 9:09:39 PM PDT by KingNo155
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To: wtc911
My kids don't walk around after dark, My kids don't leave the view of my front door once the street lights go on. If my kids need something from the store or go some where after dark I or another adult is with them. During the day they are in school and must come home after wards I do not permit my children to walk the streets.
50 posted on 03/20/2012 9:10:06 PM PDT by KingNo155
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To: KingNo155
You don't let your 17 year old walk to the store or be outside after dark in the neighborhood?

Either you live in a truly shitty place or you have no trust in your kids.

51 posted on 03/21/2012 5:45:55 AM PDT by wtc911 (Amigo - you've been had.)
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To: AppyPappy

It said so in the numerous reports in other news sources. Not my job to teach you how to read.


52 posted on 03/21/2012 9:14:16 AM PDT by Jack Burton007 (This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's listenin' out there.)
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To: Jonty30

I read in earlier reports that the guy was a security person who worked for the gated community. Now they write it up as a “neighborhood watch volunteer” so I don’t know if he had a uniform or not. Neither do you unless you were there. Were you?

I read a lot of people on here who have become judge, jury and hangman for this Zimmerman guy. So many FReepers appear to be closet liberals willing to hang someone because the victim was black. Playing in with the race card players who are stirring up other blacks and building up a lynch mob.

I admitted I didn’t know much about the case other than what I read in the various news reports and we all know which side of the race card the media likes to side with.

I find it interesting that so many on FR are willing to believe everything the media is saying about this case. I know that kid was on the phone to his girlfriend, but if I were in his shoes I would be calling the cops or my dad who was just a few houses away and not calling my girlfriend and looking for her advise on what I should be doing.

It does sound like Zimmerman was playing Rambo, but until all the facts come out in the investigation I will side with the non lynch mob group and say innocent until PROVEN guilty.


53 posted on 03/21/2012 9:22:05 AM PDT by Jack Burton007 (This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's listenin' out there.)
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To: Red Badger

I remember numerous accounts of police dispatchers telling people not to shoot the intruders in their homes. One recent one was an older woman who shot and killed a guy after he returned to her window and was chased away minutes before by her shooting at him. So if you think that we should all do as the dispatchers say then you’ll have a very short life waiting for the cops to arrive after the dispatcher tells you not to defend yourself.

The SYG law applies to either party if they are in fear of bodily harm and feel the need to defend themselves. It could extend to either party in this situation actually if applied equally.


54 posted on 03/21/2012 9:27:19 AM PDT by Jack Burton007 (This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's listenin' out there.)
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To: Jack Burton007

I am more than happy to allow the guy a trial.

But my personal statements have been based on the known, and agreed upon, facts that have come out. There haven’t been any stories that Zimmerman was uniformed and, even if he was, Martin was under no obligation to submit to questioning to this man, who wasn’t a cop.

Even if Zimmerman was a cop, Martin still wouldn’t have been obligated to submit to anything unless he was under suspicion by a uniformed police man.


55 posted on 03/21/2012 9:30:56 AM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Jack Burton007

This was not in a home, it was out on a sidewalk.
The dispatcher told him NOT to approach or follow the young man, which he did both..........


56 posted on 03/21/2012 9:55:02 AM PDT by Red Badger (If the Government can make you buy health insurance, they can make you buy a Volt................)
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To: Jack Burton007

The victim’s race is not the reason people here are asking questions and/or siding with the victim’s family. Race isn’t even the point here. The real point is: The story just doesn’t add up: (1) the teen was running from the man; (2) the man was pursuing him; (3) the teen was unarmed; (4) the teen is now dead after the man shot him.

No one knows exactly what happened, yet, but no one here is calling for a lynch mob, either. A more in-depth investigation, charges, a trial - those are not the makings of a lynching; that’s how our judicial system is supposed to work.


57 posted on 03/21/2012 10:08:40 AM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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To: Jack Burton007

Oh yeah. You can trust the news. They have no agenda.


58 posted on 03/21/2012 10:19:03 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
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To: AppyPappy

Yet so many here are reading the same reports from the very same news organizations and appear to be believing them when it says what they agree with on Zimmerman.

You said what I was trying to point out. So many on FR don’t believe the media yet in this case they are swallowing the story hook line and sinker.

While some say that they are not joining in the lynch mob of Zimmerman I would have to say I see too many posts saying Zimmerman is guilty and they are willing to believe what the media says about the situation.


59 posted on 03/21/2012 11:08:37 AM PDT by Jack Burton007 (This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's listenin' out there.)
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To: Jack Burton007

If the media wants you found guilty in public opinion, they will drop the word “alleged”.


60 posted on 03/21/2012 11:18:10 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
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