Wanted to start a discussion on this case. To me, it seems like the NRA has legalized vigilantism, having passed laws in many states greatly broadening the definition of 'self defense'. That said, even Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law, signed by Jeb Bush with an NRA lobbyist at his side, shouldn't protect this killer from a 2nd degree murder charge. I wonder how much latitude the cops in this small town in Florida would have given to an African-American who had chased and shot down an unarmed white teenager because he felt threatened.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
I think the question you should be asking yourself is "Why this case?" A few weeks ago in Kansas City, some black teens threw gas on a white kid and set him on fire. So what interests you about this specific case?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Well, first, Goth... This was an armed adult with a history of bizarre behavior. The story you mentioned is about teens. The shooter called 911 and the dispatcher told him to leave the young man alone and let the police handle it. He ignored them and shot anyway. He's claiming self-defense even though the whole neighborhood heard the kid yelling for help. He had a can of Arizona Iced Tea and a bag of Skittles for his little brother. Trayvon's girlfriend heard the whole thing over a cell phone connection. I assume the teens you mentioned are behind bars or at least awaiting sentencing. This man is walking around free.
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!
And until there was a national outcry, the response of the police was that the so-called Stand Your Ground law entitled this man to chase an unarmed teen, wrestle him to the ground, and shoot him dead--in the name of "self defense."
And make no mistake, there are folks on the right trying to justify this, most of the on Fox News. Hannity suggested that it may have just been an 'accident'. There was absolutely nothing accidental about this.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was."
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Geraldo Rivera's son Gabriel is "ashamed" of his controversial comments about Trayvon Martin and his hoodie from earlier in the day, the Fox News host admitted to POLITICO.
"Gabriel broke my heart. He's my oldest, 32, and he just told me that for the first time in his life he's ashamed of what I wrote on [Fox News Latino]," Rivera said in an email.
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But even despite his son's anger (Cruz, unlike his older brother, isn't mad at him about the comments, Rivera said), the TV and radio personality said he has no intention of taking back what he said. "No I don't retract a word of it because I'm concerned with saving kids lives," he said.
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Coach Bob knew it all along: you've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed. You have to keep passing the open windows. (John Irving, The Hotel New Hampshire)
Apparantly it was reported in The Orlando Sentinel that George Zimmerman got out of the car and that Martin attacked him first, so people who are so inclined will try to spin it to imply that it was Martin's fault. ABC News
This whole affair is absolutely disgusting. I don't see how anyone can say what Zimmerman did was self-defense when he was the one who ignored the 911 dispatcher's instructions and pursued and confronted Martin.
The fact that this overzealous 'neighborhood watch officer' is still walking around today without having been charged is deplorable.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
The Sentinel was just reporting what Zimmerman told the police. He's always said Martin started the attack. It's a shame the prosecutors seem to be backing off for fear of lack of evidence.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
And while we're encouraging self-reflection, Goth, you might ask yourself why you think a tragic occurence like this is worth discussing only if the victim is white.
Coach Bob knew it all along: you've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed. You have to keep passing the open windows. (John Irving, The Hotel New Hampshire)