EnduringEagle
Enlightened
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 307
Not quite. Quite honestly, this is a thread topic that would be best discussed on the Underground, but since it's here:
The Stand Your Ground law is, in my opinion, quite a necessary law. When one is attacked, one should not be expected to be required to tuck tail and run, especially when one has the means to defend themselves. The SYG law allows for the common-sense legal defense that you were met with violence outside your home, and because of this, you felt the need to defend yourself with counter-violence. Mr. Zimmerman shot Martin once, and only once. His testimony matches that of several witnesses-from-afar, that Martin had him on the ground, on his back, and was punching him and slamming his head into the ground. Records show that Martin was bleeding from the back of the head at the scene, and that he had facial bruising such as one would get from being punched repeatedly. Fists are quite deadly, and there has been more than one case where a fist fight has resulted in the death of one of the parties involved.
So Zimmerman, having followed Martin, to determine what was going on, and keep track of his whereabouts to inform the police when they eventually arrived, was met with physical violence from a physically aggressive teenager. [Backstory: according to reports, this community had suffered a large increase in the number of break-ins in the last months. A neighbor noting suspicious activity and following up on it, while contacting the police is not a bad thing] Placed in a situation that was further escalated, Zimmerman shot Martin, killing him.
The whole situation is FUBAR, and the media, as usual, is not reporting all information, or all information without bias, which is definitely not helping the situation. Martin was not, as the media likes to portray, a nice, sweet and caring youth. He was a tall, strong and well built "yoot" who had been in trouble at school on multiple instances for his antics. And zimmerman is not the neo-nazi he was originally portrayed to be, either.
Also:
-Zimmerman was not told explicitly to remain in his vehicle, it was reported that way, but the dispatcher actually only suggested remaining in his vehicle.
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We are a nation of laws, with a legal/justice system meant to interpret and investigate. This system must take its time, noting that public scrutiny will highlight their actions. In the end, I cna only hope that the court of public opinion, which requires no basis of fact, does not affect the investigation and trial proceedings.
+1 on this. I live in FL and the SYG law is not a license to kill and these problems are very infrequent. Retreating in the face of peril does not work. Think of it in the reverse. At what point in time is NOT retreating satisfactory? Some one breaks into your house, you try to retreat. The person starts to pistol whip you, you try to retreat. You are half unconscious and he starts raping your daughter, you try to retreat?? The laws in NY, NJ, MA are preposterous. Having statutes on the books that favor the violent criminal just produces more of what you don't want. Bottom line: Zimmerman was attacked, his life was in peril and he defended himself. It is completely event driven and that is how the laws are written in and around the country. The kid had opportunity, proximity, means and exercised a disparity of force. That is all the law requires. Zimmerman was in fear of his life and took action. Do not buy into the media circus.