TexasCHLforum.com

Quote:
"..Zimmerman was in no way conceivable "standing his ground"...he was playing police...and pursued the boy even after being told not to...he does not represent most responsible CHLers and we have no moral or ethical responsibility to support him...
...as to the fight to preserve "Stand your ground"-type laws...certainly..."

To this I can only reply HUAH!!!

This reminds me of a purportedly true and documented old west story. A miscreant on a wagon train shoots and kills a squaw simply for the thrill of "killin' an Injun". The enraged Indians surround the wagon train and demand the settlers hand over the perp "or else". For the good of all minus one they surrender him to a grisly fate.

The above is my perception based on the "facts" as published. If it turns out that Zimmerman was indeed some kind of neighborhood Zorro righter of wrongs (i.e. a wannabe cop / vigilante) and pursued that kid - regardless of what happened in the last few moments, he deserves to go to prison or to a mental institution.

One day, years ago, in broad open daylight, I, a bright young college student, was walking down a PUBLIC thoroughfare, on my way home. Some old neighborhood vigilante type decided I looked "suspicious". He stopped his car, and in a very aggressive, confrontational, hostile, contemptuous, and demeaning manner, demanded that I produce my driver's license. I asked him to produce a police officer's credential. Once I confirmed that he was indeed not a peace officer I told him to have a nice day. At that he threatened to call the sheriff's office. I told him "fine" and went on my way. Had he exited his car and so much as touched me, I'd have come unglued. No citizen has the right to do what Zimmerman did, if indeed he did it, as reported.

If he did, I think he deserves to be thrown to the wolves. If he uses the "stand your ground" defense successfully, I regrettably would have to agree that the law NEEDS to be tweaked. So I hope it doesn't come to that. We can all learn from Teddy Roosevelt. Half of his motto was "carry a big stick". We who carry a big stick must NEVER forget or forego the other half: "Speak softly".

V