Posted on 03/28/2012 6:33:32 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I don’t want to sound ignorant, but what could be ‘unlawful’ about self-defense....no matter who the individuals are who are involved???
I think the question here is, if Zimmerman actively pursued Martin as reported, does the law still protect him?
Here in The Peoples Republic of CT if I, as a gun owner, take off after the perp, the police now consider ME the threat.
The laws here protect the bad guys.
The Florida “Stand Your Ground” law presents a clear and present danger to a reliable DemocRAT constituent group (i.e., criminals); hence, it must be eliminated.
The Florida “Stand Your Ground” law presents a clear and present danger to a reliable DemocRAT constituent group (i.e., criminals); hence, it must be eliminated.
I’ve seen several reports today that indicate that the MSM is toning down the rhetoric and starting to back away from their first rush to judgement.
Of course I still have many questions about the reporting and how it has been used to inflame the populace especially since the incident happened almost a month before the MSM started to pump their story and the politicians jumped on board.
If I might be forgiven here in way to many ways this is beginning to look like the stock market and how traders react to news. Most are a bunch of lemmings that feel and react versus examining and thinking through the reports that are used to influence the market. Frankly the lemmings tend to lose everything eventually and the thinkers are the ones that come out golden. With the caveat of the cheaters that manipulate and use insider information. What I think of them can’t be posted here.
Has anyone else seen any articles about Trayvon’s arrests for burglary?? Seems we have a blackout.
For now, it should be noted that neither the M narrative or the Z narrative has anything to do with a duty to retreat. The retreat issue would only be relevant if Martin were the aggressor, and Z had the opportunity to escape from Martin in complete safety. Then, and only then, would different state standards about retreat be relevant. Simply put, everyone who has claimed that Florida's retreat rule affect the legal disposition of the controversy is either misinformed or mendacious.Florida's self Defense Laws -David Kopel - March 27, 2012
RE: I don’t want to sound ignorant, but what could be ‘unlawful’ about self-defense..
The argument on the other side was that Zimemrman was the provocateur. He was specifically told NOT to follow Trayvon but he did anyway. The rest of the story is murky....
Trayvon noticed he was being stalked and then apparently asked Zimemrman why he was stalking him.... a fight ensued and Trayvon apparently got the better of Zimemrman, who then shot him.
Not sure if ‘self defense’ is called for here as Zimmerman was not in danger in the beginning. His pursuing Trayvon started the whole thing.
That depends on what "actively pursued" consists of. If Zimmerman is striving to maintain visual contact, and avoid close contact, confrontation, and and use of force, then he's nothing more than a passive observer. Some would call him a busybody.
But if he's in pursuit in order to make physical contact, then he's got a problem.
The media has painted an image of pursuit with intent to capture and detain. I believe that is a radically false impression, and that the evidence shows Zimmerman undertaking an effort to maintain visual contact, and ONLY visual contact.
“His pursuing Trayvon started the whole thing.”
Since Zimmerman isn’t a law enforcement official, maybe it’s debatable whether he started anything by contiuing to monitor Travon.
Just a thought
I guess this might affect hispanic voters? Ding dang.
You can't be "just a busybody" when you have a gun. There's also no need to maintain visual contact. You call the cops, and that's it.
When you take on the huge responsibility of carrying a gun (which, I do) there are certain things you must know.
That sounds an awful lot like, "She was wearing provocative clothing". Zimmerman may have been in the wrong following the individual. Having been in a similar situation I'd call it over-zealous in protecting his own, to the point of putting ones self in unnecessary danger.
If the story is true that Martin threw the first punch and began assaulting Zimmerman in the manner described (banging his head on the concrete), then Martin is the one that crossed that line, not Zimmerman. Add into the mix that no help came when he called for it (when you need help in second, the police are minutes away), then as far as I am concerned Zimmerman isn't guilty of anything other than protecting himself.
The statewide prosecutor appointed to this case was appointed to arrest for ANY excuse. She will arrest not exonerate. She already telegraphed this by stating she will bypass the grand jury process.
“That depends on what “actively pursued” consists of. If Zimmerman is striving to maintain visual contact, and avoid close contact, confrontation, and and use of force, then he’s nothing more than a passive observer. Some would call him a busybody.”
Still others would rightly call him a neighborhood WATCH captain.
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