Posted on 03/22/2012 5:14:46 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass
I realize there are many here who would agree with this depiction, as well as many who would not.
Regardless, I would hope that no one would accept or condone such an example of journalistic irresponsibility, to use such a term before the shooter has been arrested, charged or convicted.
I am not sure why I am writing this here, perhaps it is an opus of a kind (a sadly weak one, to be sure), but this has scared me. I will file a complaint with the FCC, for whatever good that will do, but this, along the discussion of this case here has changed me in a way that I'm not sure I understand.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the many posters who have taught me alot, made me think, made me bite my tongue, and helped me grow up. I've gotten far more from FR and Freepers than I've given, and that's humbling.
Especially Salvation and her Catholic ping list, which has been a wonderfully enriching resource.
Again, not sure why I'm posting this; I just feel compelled to. Good luck and God bless to everyone here.
When police officers arrived, Martin was lifeless, face down on the ground, while Zimmerman was bleeding from his head and his back was covered in grass, as if he had been on the ground, the police report said.
Sanford police issued a statement Wednesday defending their decision not to arrest Zimmerman. They said that when officers arrived, he claimed self-defense, “which at the time was supported by physical evidence and testimony.”
The police chief said Zimmerman claimed he was attacked by Martin after he had given up his chase and was returning to his truck.(my emphasis)
A man who witnessed part of the altercation contacted authorities.
"The guy on the bottom, who had a red sweater on, was yelling to me, 'Help! Help!' and I told him to stop, and I was calling 911," said the witness, who asked to be identified only by his first name, John.
John said he locked his patio door, ran upstairs and heard at least one gun shot.
"And then, when I got upstairs and looked down, the guy who was on the top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point."
LINK
I have seen it described as a “murder” in Miami, too.
The media: amplifying one political opinion.
Murder is a crime, and rightly so is determined in a court of law. WSB has decided to be that court. The concern you have is justified.
I have no idea what happened on that day. They have held it for a month to get the plan together to attack guns and class.
People without badges and uniforms should not be allowed to accost others and walking should not be considered “suspicious” by anyone. Neighborhood watch should be doing only that, watch. Not follow, not confront, and certainly not create the conditions for a shooting - justified or not.
The news keep showing the pic of the dead kid as a 120 pound 12 year old boy. Mentioning he was carrying a coke and candy, and you can see where they are going with the story.
Reality is this was no child. He was over 6 foot tall and 200 pounds, and a football player. He was shot as he was trying to beat the neighborhood watch person to death. He didn’t just punch him and leave, he had the NW guy pinned down and was beating the snot out of him.
The news folks believe if there isn’t a riot to cover, they can stir one up.
I’m trying not to convict the guy before he’s been arrested, but I was just thinking about what my not nearly as tall son would do if someone were following him in an unfamiliar area in the rain. It would all depend upon his mood and whether he ate the Skittles and drank the Arizona Tea before the confrontation. If he had already started eating the Skittles and drinking the tea, he would probably be nicer and less hostile to a stranger following him. But if he were hungry and tired, he could very well lash out and end up dead. He’s a teenaged boy. He’s very, very much of Scottish descent. He’s white though he can pass for Hispanic. Hubby will have to have a talk with son about how to make sure he doesn’t end up shot. Hubby at the same age was an angry teen. He probably would have beat the guy following him to a pulp and taken the gun from him. When I think of hubby and his survival instinct, I think of The Patriot when Mel Gibson’s character takes out all those Brits like he’s a madman. I really think it is an inherited trait though it must’ve skipped my f-i-l because he is the nicest person. His father, on the other hand, was one mean son of a gun. He was the kind of man who you didn’t cross or you would be taken on a hunting trip and never be seen again. And then there are the stories of ancestors who fought in various battles/wars.
160 lbs according to the police report. Still not the little kid the news portrays.
You have to read FR to find out the facts of this incident. None of the witness reports posted here have been reported on any of the news I’ve seen. Locally (Oklahoma) newsies are also calling it murder. Zimmerman better have a good lawyer, and let’s hope they stop the community from intimidating the witnesses. Maybe he shouldn’t have followed the guy in the first place, but once he was being beaten up, he had the right to defend himself. (And yes, Fox news is on the “murder” bandwagon too—Judge Jeanine Pierro was preaching that particular gospel this morning.)
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