17y/o Killed By Neighborhood Watch/CHL

[Cedar Park Dad]

This situation is a glaring example of how utilizing our right of self defense can save our lives but ruin them at the same time. This whole deal makes my stomach turn. If they manage to convict Zimmerman, does this set a new standard for proving self defense in Florida? Al Sharpton made a stupid comment alluding to how it will be open season on all young black men if Zimmerman is acquitted. I wanted to ask him if the inverse were also true. A conviction means all young black men have a free pass to assault innocent people?

I have been forced to shoot in self defense twice in my life. The first time was scary but no real legal issues. The second time ended up costing me 17,500.00 and a month of extreme concern about being tried for AM and AA. I realize now I got off easy. Defending our lives with deadly force has consequences that go far beyond what I believe most of us consider.

Zimmerman does not deserve what is happening and may end up serving time to placate the real racists in our society. I feel horrible for him.

In answer, I don't think any precedents are set until the appeals are over. If he's convicted here, surely his appeal will be successful. Assuming, of course, that he can afford one...

Does this mean every man and woman has to wear google glasses to record someone about to assault/attempt to rape them?
maybe it does in Florida.

[Beiruty]

Google glass would help you there.

[texanjoker]

I don't remember it if it's in here somewhere. When GZ saw TM walking through the neighborhood and decided to call the police, was he "on duty" as a neighborhood watch or was he just driving by and noticed him? Does it make a difference as far as the whole "shouldn't be armed in the neighborhood watch" thing goes?

There is no "on duty" for neighborhood watch. At least not when I spoke at NW meetings. The idea is to be a good witness and report suspicious activity.

[03Lightningrocks]

Google glass would help you there.

It is a sad statement about what our country has become. I have always understood the premise that the scales of justice have to swing in the opposite direction momentarily for them to balance in the middle but this reverse discrimination situation has gotten COMPLETELY out of hand. The moment it takes for balance has long passed. At this point we have the likes of Sharpton, Obama, Holder... placing a thumb on the scales!

[sjfcontrol]

I don't remember it if it's in here somewhere. When GZ saw TM walking through the neighborhood and decided to call the police, was he "on duty" as a neighborhood watch or was he just driving by and noticed him? Does it make a difference as far as the whole "shouldn't be armed in the neighborhood watch" thing goes?

There is no "on duty" for neighborhood watch. At least not when I spoke at NW meetings. The idea is to be a good witness and report suspicious activity.

He was on his way to Target for his weekly shopping trip, when he saw TM wandering around.

[texanjoker]

I don't remember it if it's in here somewhere. When GZ saw TM walking through the neighborhood and decided to call the police, was he "on duty" as a neighborhood watch or was he just driving by and noticed him? Does it make a difference as far as the whole "shouldn't be armed in the neighborhood watch" thing goes?

There is no "on duty" for neighborhood watch. At least not when I spoke at NW meetings. The idea is to be a good witness and report suspicious activity.

He was on his way to Target for his weekly shopping trip, when he saw TM wandering around.

..and by calling the PD he was being a good witness..... the issue is what happened next.

[Beiruty]

Google glass would help you there.

It is a sad statement about what our country has become. I have always understood the premise that the scales of justice have to swing in the opposite direction momentarily for them to balance in the middle but this reverse discrimination situation has gotten COMPLETELY out of hand. The moment it takes for balance has long passed. At this point we have the likes of Sharpton, Obama, Holder... placing a thumb on the scales!

Of course, I would say the plan was:
1) Arrest him at any cost to cool down the protestors and buy up time to build up response teams and anti-riots forces.
2) I expected that the charges would be dropped before the trial for lack of evidence. The presiding judge had a different conclusion.
3) At the end of the trial, GZ would be acquitted for failure to prove beyond reasonable doubt the self-defense claim.
4) This weekend, I would expect marches and limited riots and some defiance. Anti-riots would deploy in large numbers where preplanned marches would take place.

A) 6-months from now, a book and a movie deal would be offered to GZ to rebuild his financial life.
B) GZ would may, I repeat may, be an advocate of armed self-defense, regardless of the race of armed citizen.

[03Lightningrocks]

[mojo84]

I get this feeling in my gut this whole trial is just a way to manage and manipulate the mere citizenry in order to help control their reactions. If there weren't those that continue to exploit and fuel the racism fire, this disgusting misuse of our justice system wouldn't happen.

[howdy]

I think I'm going to hurl. The procecution rebuttal started off saying this was a confrontation being an adult man and a child. He continued to use the world child. He has used it three times since I started tying this. (Make that 4 times)

[Teamless]

I think I'm going to hurl. The procecution rebuttal started off saying this was a confrontation being an adult man and a child. He continued to use the world child. He has used it three times since I started tying this. (Make that 4 times)

Same here! 17 is NOT a CHILD
Maybe SOME 17s act that way, but wow, he is portraying him as an innocent little child.

I just want to scream at the live feed , and if I were a juror, a defense attorney or even GZ himself, I am not sure if i could bite my tongue,

[texanjoker]

I think I'm going to hurl. The procecution rebuttal started off saying this was a confrontation being an adult man and a child. He continued to use the world child. He has used it three times since I started tying this. (Make that 4 times)

I caught that as well. This "angry attorney" just doesn't work for me. I have dealt with attorneys like that off and on since the 80's and this style just rubs me wrong. I usually expect it from a defense attorney and not the prosecutor .

[Dave2]

OH MY WORD "STAND YOUR GROUND" HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!

[Fangs]

Who's responsible for Trayvon Martin not being here to give his side of the story?

Uh... TRAYVON MARTIN, because he chose to attack someone.

[03Lightningrocks]

Next thing you know they will be claiming that he is genetically inferior to GZ and simply thought he was playing with GZ. any other time, if you were to tell a 17 year old black man he was a Boyee, he would knock all your teeth out. But today, it is OK. This crap makes me sick!