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Has anyone been following this? This is the kid who was killed in Florida walking down the street. Horribly horribly tragic. Here's a recent article about it. link Trayvon Martin's Last Phone Call Contradicts Shooter's Claim, Attorney Says 12:10 pm March 20, 2012 by Mark Memmott George Zimmerman's statement to police about what 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was up to on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., "is completely contradicted" by the boy's cellphone records, an attorney for Martin's family just said during a news conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Attorney Benjamin Crump said the African-American teenager had been talking to friends all day and, as first reported earlier today by ABC News, was on the phone with a young girl when he was confronted by, in Crump's words, "neighborhood association loose cannon" Zimmerman. The girl, Crump said, says Martin was just trying to get back to the house he and his father had been visiting when Zimmerman came into the picture. She heard Martin ask "why are you following me?" Crump said. Another voice, according to the girl, asked at least twice "what are you doing around here?" Moments later, Martin was shot in the chest. The 28-year-old Zimmerman, who had called police to report seeing a "suspicious" person and was advised not to follow that person, has told police he acted in self defense. As we've been reporting, Martin's death has reignited a national conversation about race and racial profiling. And it has led to charges from Martin's family and their supporters that local police failed to adequately investigate. "Arrest killer. He killed this child in cold blood," Crump said a moment ago. Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime. The federal Justice Department is now getting involved, and the local state attorney announced this morning that he's asked a grand jury to investigate.
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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Has anyone been following this? This is the kid who was killed in Florida walking down the street. Horribly horribly tragic. Here's a recent article about it.
I have followed it pretty closely since it happened. A major issue with this is Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Law itself.
People are working the law in their favor as a defense strategy.
There's no definitive proof as to who attacked who first, and according to a prosecutor i was listening to today, it doesn't even matter that much. As long as the guy felt like his life was threatened he basically has the right to defend himself as he sees fit.
Sort of leaves the prosecutors and police in a tough situation as there's no way to prove that this Zimmerman didn't feel threatened. Even though he created the confrontation, he can still argue this Stand Your Ground thing. It's like a big loophole.
That being said, if this Zimmerman gets off, I hope that someone kills him.
The guy's trash, a total scumbag. This death is on his shoulders and he should have to pay for it. No reason to get shot because you're 17, black, wearing a hoodie, and quickly walking away from some guy who is obviously following you (because you're 17, black, wearing a hoodie)
I'm just worried he won't because of this stupid law. I'm all for people defending themselves or their property, but this is not the case here. Zimmerman is scum and should be put down like a dog. Hopefully they can prove the person screaming for help is the kid in that 911 call.
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If that's truly what that law is (that if you feel threatened, you can act however), then I'm surprised that you don't hear more about this.
Because who's to say that you didn't "feel threatened?"
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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Because who's to say that you didn't "feel threatened?"
That's exactly it. It doesn't even matter that this guy followed the boy, confronted the boy, or even if he pushed the boy.
What matter is the he-said she-said events afterwards. Does the guy actually feel in jeopardy of his life? When there's only two eye witnesses and one is dead, it becomes VERY tricky
That being said, I hope the guy rots in hell
Last edited by PeteyDangerous; 03/21/12 10:08 PM.
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Let's take "color" out of it. Please.
Castle doctrine means you do not need to first try to flee your home or car if someone is threatening you. That is a good rule/law.
Stand your ground is also a good law. If followed. Stand your ground does NOT mean follow someone - then claim self defense.
Stand your ground means, if out in public, you do not have to flee if someone is threatening you. You are allowed to stand your ground, hence, the name.
From everything I have read, Zimmerman did not stand his ground - he followed the kid. With reason or without reason, he followed the kid. He even admitted as much on the 911 call.
That is NOT "stand your ground". Stand your ground was designed to protect innocent civilians from danger if and when they were out and about, and something bad was about to happen.
From what I have read, again, this was a situation where what "might" have been a threat to someone..........was followed.
IMO - that flat out eliminates the "stand your ground" argument. Put it this way - if there is a threat to you, but that threat is leaving........you let the threat leave. ESPECIALLY if it is only a perceived threat - which, in this case, it was only a perceived threat.
S.Y.G. does NOT allow you to follow someone.
Zimmerman was wrong - from what I have read.
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Let's take "color" out of it. Please.
Fair enough, just saying why I felt the kid was viewed as suspicious by Zimmerman
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Stand your ground is also a good law. If followed. Stand your ground does NOT mean follow someone - then claim self defense.
Stand your ground means, if out in public, you do not have to flee if someone is threatening you. You are allowed to stand your ground, hence, the name.
From what I heard today on Ex-Gov. David Patterson's (of NY) Radio show, this district attorney from Tallahassee says that that isn't the case. That's the guy's real beef with the law. He was saying the law is written poorly, and that he felt like it's been used by people in an unjust way.
The DA basically said, you can start a fight with someone, feel your life is threatened during the fight, and protect yourself however you feel you have to.
Just repeating what the DA from Tallahassee said. And this DA wouldn't comment on the Martin case, just the law
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Well, I, ME - can leave color out of it. If you can't, bless your soul.
Apparently YOU see the world in color. That is your choice. I don't.
What I see is a person that shot another person. Color doesn't matter to me. Castle doctrine is not in play here. Stand your ground is not in play here - in my opinion.
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The issue isn't whether or not color matters to archbolddawg. It's whether or not it mattered to the guy who pulled the trigger of the gun that killed the kid.
I find it especially humorous the comments I read about this that say things like "how could it be a race issue? George Zimmerman is Hispanic." As if race issues only exist between white people and every other race.
I'm not about to say if it was or was not race related. Simply an unfortunate situation where a self-appointed pseudo-authority played vigilante and killed an unarmed kid.
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The issue isn't whether or not color matters to archbolddawg. It's whether or not it mattered to the guy who pulled the trigger of the gun that killed the kid.
No - what I think doesn't matter. And truthfully, color doesn't matter, does it?
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I find it especially humorous the comments I read about this that say things like "how could it be a race issue? George Zimmerman is Hispanic." As if race issues only exist between white people and every other race.
Exactly.
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I'm not about to say if it was or was not race related. Simply an unfortunate situation where a self-appointed pseudo-authority played vigilante and killed an unarmed kid.
Agreed.
Here's what we know - or THINK we know: Person A killed person B because he looked suspicious. Person A followed person B. Person A killed person B.
End of story. Color does NOT matter (except with the race crime law). Person A did not follow the law.......from what we know and suppose at this time.
Person A - in my mind, at this point in time - murdered. The color of who he murdered matters not in the least to me.
And I will state it one more time - according to what I have heard. Listening to the 911 tapes from Zimmerman - he was out of bounds, so to speak. Regardless - he killed an innocent person - whether the person was black, brown, yellow, red or white........does it matter?
Zimmerman does NOT have castle doctrine in his favor. He does NOT have "stand you ground" in his favor.
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To me this guy wasn't standing his ground, he was intruding into the ground of the kid he then murdered in cold blood. He called 911, and was told not to continue to follow the kid. He then confronted the kid. then he shot him. Hell, a person could get rid of every single person they don't like forever without legal consequence just by goading someone into taking a swing at them and then shooting them.  This guy (shooter) is a dirtbag and deserves either the death penalty, or life in prison. The law needs rewritten. It was, like so many other great sound ign laws, a poorly worded attempt to make people feel safer, without any concern for the long term consequences.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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hey arch, normally I would completely agree with you on keeping color out of it, however in this case I do not think you can.
if he "felt threatened" because of the color of the boys skin, then I think it actually opens up a possible loophole for the prosecution. can't they confront the SYG law that is poorly worded and prosecute Zimmerman with a hate crime? if they can clean up the sound well enough to hear what he truly said there, then I think they have a case and it would bypass the SYG law (as the only reason he felt threatened was due to race, then it can be a hate-crime).
just trying to think out of the box and figure a way to get this guy in jail.
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From the pictures I saw of this boy, unless he's changed drastically, I don't see how his looks could threaten any man. He was obviously a boy.
Now if he had a weapon he might be scary but physically not so much.
The shooter must have seen a gang banger image in his mind (which screams mentally disturbed) or is purely racist and just wanted to kill a black man.
Personally I hope he gets away with it, so the crowd that kills him can say they felt threatened by his presence.
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Zimmerman can rot in hell.
I hope the family take the city, county (my county) and state for everything they have. It amazes ne that nothing's been done.
I want the Cleveland Browns to be my pallbearers so they can let me down for the last time.
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I want Zimmerman arrested, tried, and convicted.
That's the way messages get sent. If the system works, and works for everyone, that's a good thing.
If the system fails, and the "justice" has to be meted out in dark alleys or in drive by shootings, that's just dangerous for everyone, and inevitably creates more victims. Plus, how does creating another murderer solve anything?
I hope that this guy is arrested, tried, and convicted ... and then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. That truly is what he deserves.
I pray that Trayvon Martin's family knows that the country is with them, and I hope that God gives them some sort of comfort is what has to be the most horrible time any parent or family member could imagine.
I thought I saw something about the police chief being removed with a vote of no confidence or something, but i can't find it now.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Really?
I want the people down there to work it out and if he's guilty of murder they should give him what's coming. The news sure make it look like he's guilty.
I don't know enough about it to say one way or the other. I do know that if it was a race crime and he killed the kid just because he was black, they should put him down. And IF that's the case I don't care who puts him down.
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I just don't think it does any good for a good person to be turned into a murderer by this scumbag.
Besides, if he is a racist, he should have a great time in prison. (Not to mention the "warm reception" he'll get as the murderer of a young black kid)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Sounds like Zimmerman is a cowboy if all facts are correct. He was El Supremo neighborhood watch man and took it too seriously to the point of death!
If Im threatened in this situation I draw, maybe the situation is defused and the perceived attacker withdraws. Fine, you then go about your way, you've accomplished what the law has allowed. Otherwise, you hold him there until law enforcement arrives. Option three would be shoot him and he had better have been a threat or YOU are toast!
I personally have defused two situations by just reaching to my side as a person approached asking for money or saying they needed to talk to me. This was after a few verbal warnings that I was not interested and they kept walking towards me.
Situation over, no need for me to follow them.
The use of force is a split second decision and you as a shooter had better be correct!
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Haven't paid much attention to it really.. have heard about it..
On the Today show this morning,, people are blaming the police in Sanford Fl for not conducting a strong investigation... beyond that,, a young kid who by all accounts was a good kid, is dead.. that's sad..
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The police didn't conduct ANY investigation, that's the problem.
The guy said he felt like he was in danger so he shot the kid. Case closed to them. They didn't even question him beyond that. I'd say it was ridiculous except that it is really disgusting.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Yep. I mean, I would think that in any case where there's a violent death like this, you treat it as a crime until you are 100% sure that it isn't. When someone says self-defense, you make them prove it, not just take their word for it. Now, it might not take much to prove it at all if there are witnesses, etc. But it seems that in this case, he said "it was self defense" and the police said "ok, that's good enough for us."
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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Even when the Castle Law is applied here you will be proving yourself justified in your action before being released.
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It might even be different if the kid was armed .... or something ........ but he was just a kid, walking home.
It is such a sad case. I feel awful for his parents. No parent should have to bury a child ... especially for no reason other than the self appointed neighborhood watch guy wanted to be a tough guy with a gun.
I hope that kid haunts him for the rest of his life.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Yep. I mean, I would think that in any case where there's a violent death like this, you treat it as a crime until you are 100% sure that it isn't. When someone says self-defense, you make them prove it, not just take their word for it. Now, it might not take much to prove it at all if there are witnesses, etc. But it seems that in this case, he said "it was self defense" and the police said "ok, that's good enough for us."
Wow, that's a slippery slope. The burden of proof should not lie with a person who had to defend himself from being killed or seriously injured. What if there is no proof? Criminals usually don't attack victims in public areas in plain view of witnesses. IMO any shooting should be investigated by law enforcement, and it's up to the officers to provide the proof if they want to prosecute the shooter.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
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You and I agree. Shootings should be investigated. All I'm saying is that if you claim self defense, you should have to prove it. Like I said, that doesn't mean you have to go through crazy steps. Investigators can likely tell very quickly if you acted in self defense.
I just worry that if the police just take a person at their word, then we have a situation like we have here. The slippery slope is the other way, that you can act with impunity, then claim self defense.
I'm not saying we need to place the people under arrest, but I think they need to do a little more investigating than they did here.
And, frankly, that's probably usually how it happens if there aren't telltale signs of self defense. The person who kills the other one in self defense is likely going to be questioned pretty extensively to prove that it was self defense. And, I think that's how it should be.
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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JK Quote:
776.013 Home protection; use of deadly force; presumption of fear of death or great bodily harm.—
(1) A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if:
(a) The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person’s will from the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle; and
(b) The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.
(2) The presumption set forth in subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) The person against whom the defensive force is used has the right to be in or is a lawful resident of the dwelling, residence, or vehicle, such as an owner, lessee, or titleholder, and there is not an injunction for protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order of no contact against that person; or
(b) The person or persons sought to be removed is a child or grandchild, or is otherwise in the lawful custody or under the lawful guardianship of, the person against whom the defensive force is used; or
(c) The person who uses defensive force is engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity; or
(d) The person against whom the defensive force is used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person entering or attempting to enter was a law enforcement officer.
(3) A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
(4) A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter a person’s dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.
(5) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Dwelling” means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed to be occupied by people lodging therein at night.
(b) “Residence” means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as an invited guest.
(c) “Vehicle” means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, which is designed to transport people or property.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2005-27.
LINK
(5) Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks a minor under 16 years of age commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
The highlighted part is the only part that pertains being outise, your home or vehicle etc. It clearly says "A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked " Which the prosecutor will probably push on the stalking aspect as defined by law.
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784.048 Stalking; definitions; penalties.—
(a) “Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such person and serves no legitimate purpose.
(2) Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of stalking, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Last edited by FloridaFan; 03/22/12 10:09 AM.
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With your reasoning, an innocent person who exercised his right of self defense could be prosecuted because he's unable to provide proof of his actions and intent. What if there are no witnesses? The burden of proof should lie with those that investigate and prosecute.
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jc..
I don't even see how Zimmerman felt threathened in a non-weaponed fight, if you see the kid he looks about 130-150 tops, and zimmerman looks 200+ easy, went through the police academy so he should have had some training on subduing a suspect and self defense.
Unless the kid produced a weapon( knife, gun, tree branch, club, etc) and then I don't see how Zimmerman is even slightly threatened by this kid.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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link Since his tragic death on February 26, Trayvon Martin — an unarmed 17-year-old African-American shot by “neighborhood watch volunteer” George Zimmerman — has become national news. Martin, a good student with no criminal record, was killed by Zimmerman on his way home from the 7-11. Zimmerman was carrying a 9 millimeter handgun. Martin was carrying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. (If you are unfamilar with the story, check out our primer on what everyone should know about Trayvon Martin.) Martin has merited coverage by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today. The story has been covered by all three broadcast networks and extensively on cable. But there is one outlet that has barely mentioned Trayvon Martin — Fox News. Here’s a breakdown of the coverage of Trayvon Martin on the three major cable networks from the day of his death through today at noon: CHART IS IN LINK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't understand why Fox is not reporting on this issue. It's not a Democrat vs Republican issue, it's a major news story that is worthy of reporting. Just found this odd....
![[Linked Image from i190.photobucket.com]](http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z33/booger52/phpGGRdhwAM.jpg)
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If this were a white 17 year old who was just walking down the street and ended up murdered by some lunatic would the story be as sensational ? IMO color does matter at least in this story . Bottom line is there is a mother and father who no longer have a child and who also have to deal with their lives both past and present being held under a microscope by the media all this while still coming to grips with the loss of a child . My heart hurts for these people and I can only hope they get justice for their son.
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link
Since his tragic death on February 26, Trayvon Martin — an unarmed 17-year-old African-American shot by “neighborhood watch volunteer” George Zimmerman — has become national news. Martin, a good student with no criminal record, was killed by Zimmerman on his way home from the 7-11. Zimmerman was carrying a 9 millimeter handgun. Martin was carrying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. (If you are unfamilar with the story, check out our primer on what everyone should know about Trayvon Martin.)
Martin has merited coverage by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today. The story has been covered by all three broadcast networks and extensively on cable. But there is one outlet that has barely mentioned Trayvon Martin — Fox News.
Here’s a breakdown of the coverage of Trayvon Martin on the three major cable networks from the day of his death through today at noon: CHART IS IN LINK
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I don't understand why Fox is not reporting on this issue. It's not a Democrat vs Republican issue, it's a major news story that is worthy of reporting. Just found this odd....
Anyone that think Fox News is legitmate news to begin with is probably not fit to make life choices. Fox News is not much different than Entertainment Tonight or Extra. I know some on here like to claim that anyone that doesn't see politics like they do claim that the person is a Fox News junkie, but I'd bet hardly anyone on here watches Fox News for anything length of time.
Although I will say I stopped at McD for lunch 20 mins ago, and on the TV in the dining room was none other than Fox News.  of the full dining room only 1 person was noticably paying attention to it, and he looked more like he was amazed by the small box with moving pictures than the show itself.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Really?
I want the people down there to work it out and if he's guilty of murder they should give him what's coming. The news sure make it look like he's guilty.
I don't know enough about it to say one way or the other. I do know that if it was a race crime and he killed the kid just because he was black, they should put him down. And IF that's the case I don't care who puts him down.
Like YTown said -- the problem isn't whether he is found guilty or not - the problem is that the investigation wasn't even done.
"I followed the kid and then when i confronted him he turned violent, so I stood my ground and shot him" -- that's a courtroom defense, used by a defense attorney.
That's not a legitimate enough defense that the police just say "OK, you're free to go".
I've seen enough evidence to say that he needs to be put in front of a Grand Jury at least.
One other point - the race factor matters a bit (in a legal matter) - if it is viewed as racial motivated, then the Federal Government can prosecute Zimmerman for Murder even if the state refuses to (under the 1964 Civil Rights Law)
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:33-34
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I don't understand why Fox is not reporting on this issue. It's not a Democrat vs Republican issue, it's a major news story that is worthy of reporting. Just found this odd....
May be Fox feels that it's viewers are more concerned with other issues. I have seen articles on it, as I read foxnews. But nothing like CNN or Yahoo/Google (I don't follow MSNBC so I dunno)
For example, my father's a Fox viewer. I tell him about the Martin story, and he says it's sad but it's one kid.
He then gives me a speech on abortion and how the catholic church is being forced into paying for contraceptives.
Overall he feels the catholic church contraceptive issue is a much bigger deal to him. My father's not racist or anything at all. He just is focused on other things that the murder of Martin
UCONN HUSKIES 2014 Champions of Basketball
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Legend
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In any other situation this would be a local issue, but since it's becoming a "Stand Your Ground" case, it's getting national exposure as gun rights are increasing through many states.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Zimmerman said before the release of the 911 call that he was out of his vehicle "checking a street sign" and the kid jumped him and it was self defense. Now they get the police call where Martin was talking to his girlfriend and Martin tells his girlfriend that he is being stalked; she tells him to get away and he puts on his hoodie and begins walking fast. Zimmerman is on the phone with the police and they tell him to not pursue the subject the police are on their way. Zimmerman still pursues Martin and catches up to him and the kid is dead.
Why is a block watch guy carrying around a loaded gun in a gated community? I understand that there were some attempted break-ins but he is not a cop.
Zimmerman has also made about 46 "suspicious persons" calls to the police in the last year. Somebody needs to convene a grand jury quickly; things are not adding up.
Also, this is the kind of story where the protests could get ugly very quickly if Florida says that under the law, there is nothing that they can charge Zimmerman with.
Some other issues from Think Progress
What Everyone Should Know About Trayvon Martin (1995-2012)
By Judd Legum on Mar 18, 2012 at 6:19 pm
On February 26, 2012, a 17-year-old African-American named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida. The shooter was George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old white man.* Zimmerman admits killing Martin, but claims he was acting in self-defense. Three weeks after Martin’s death, no arrests have been made and Zimmerman remains free.
Here is what everyone should know about the case:
1. Zimmerman called the police to report Martin’s “suspicious” behavior, which he described as “just walking around looking about.” Zimmerman was in his car when he saw Martin walking on the street. He called the police and said: “There’s a real suspicious guy. This guy looks like he’s up to no good, on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around looking about… These a**holes always get away” [Orlando Sentinel]
2. Zimmerman pursued Martin against the explicit instructions of the police dispatcher:
Dispatcher: “Are you following him?”
Zimmerman: “Yeah”
Dispatcher: “OK, we don’t need you to do that.”
[Orlando Sentinel]
3. Prior to the release of the 911 tapes, Zimmerman’s father released a statement claiming “[a]t no time did George follow or confront Mr. Martin.” [Sun Sentinel]
4. Zimmerman was carrying a a 9 millimeter handgun. Martin was carrying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. [ABC News]
5. Martin weighed 140 pounds. Zimmerman weighs 250 pounds. [Orlando Sentinel; WDBO]
6. Martin’s English teacher described him as “as an A and B student who majored in cheerfulness.” [Orlando Sentinel]
7. Martin had no criminal record. [New York Times]
8. Zimmerman “was charged in July 2005 with resisting arrest with violence and battery on an officer. The charges appear to have been dropped.” [Huffington Post]
9. Zimmerman called the police 46 times since Jan. 1, 2011. [Miami Herald]
10. According to neighbors, Zimmerman was “fixated on crime and focused on young, black males.” [Miami Herald]
11. Zimmerman “had been the subject of complaints by neighbors in his gated community for aggressive tactics” [Huffington Post]
12. A police officer “corrected” a key witness. “The officer told the witness, a long-time teacher, it was Zimmerman who cried for help, said the witness. ABC News has spoken to the teacher and she confirmed that the officer corrected her when she said she heard the teenager shout for help.” [ABC News]
13. Three witnesses say they heard a boy cry for help before a shot was fired. “Three witnesses contacted by The Miami Herald say they saw or heard the moments before and after the Miami Gardens teenager’s killing. All three said they heard the last howl for help from a despondent boy.” [Miami Herald]
14. The officer in charge of the crime scene also received criticism in 2010 when he initially failed to arrest a lieutenant’s son who was videotaped attacking a homeless black man. [New York Times]
15. The police did not test Zimmerman for drugs or alcohol. A law enforcement expert told ABC that Zimmerman sounds intoxicated on the 911 tapes. Drug and alcohol testing is “standard procedure in most homicide investigations.” [ABC News]
16. In a cell phone call moments before his death, Martin told a teenage girl that he was “hounded by a strange man on a cellphone who ran after him, cornered him and confronted him.” “‘He said this man was watching him, so he put his hoodie on. He said he lost the man,’ Martin’s friend said. ‘I asked Trayvon to run, and he said he was going to walk fast. I told him to run but he said he was not going to run.’ Eventually he would run, said the girl, thinking that he’d managed to escape. But suddenly the strange man was back, cornering Martin. ‘Trayvon said, ‘What, are you following me for,’ and the man said, ‘What are you doing here.’” [ABC News]
17. Police have Trayvon Martin’s cell phone but never contact his girlfriend.[Miami Herald]
18. Zimmerman told the police “he had stepped out of his truck to check the name of the street he was on when Trayvon attacked him from behind as he walked back to his truck.” “He said he feared for his life and fired the semiautomatic handgun he was licensed to carry because he feared for his life.” [Miami Herald]
19. The incident occurred in a tiny gated community Zimmerman patrolled regularly. [Miami Herald]
20. Zimmerman was not a member of a registered Neighborhood Watch group. Zimmerman also violated basic Neighborhood Watch guidelines by carrying a weapon. [ABC News]
21. The police reports were amended to bolster Zimmerman’s claim of self defense. “Initial police reports never mentioned that Zimmerman had a bloody nose or a wet shirt that showed evidence of a struggle.” [Miami Herald]
22. Police ignored witness whose account was different from Zimmerman’s.“One of the witnesses who heard the crying said she called a detective repeatedly, but said he was not interested because her account differed from Zimmerman’s.” [Miami Herald]
23. Zimmerman still has a permit to carry a concealed weapon in the State of Florida. [ThinkProgress]
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See I missed the gun rights angle completely ! Honestly the race overtones were what came first to my mind ( other than the murder of an unarmed child ) as to why this event became a national story .
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In any other situation this would be a local issue, but since it's becoming a "Stand Your Ground" case, it's getting national exposure as gun rights are increasing through many states.
Every news story I've watched has turned it into way more of a race issue then a gun issue.
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See I missed the gun rights angle completely ! Honestly the race overtones were what came first to my mind ( other than the murder of an unarmed child ) as to why this event became a national story .
Legally I think it's more of a gun's right issue - it will also become a states rights issue if the state refuses to charge Zimmerman, and then the FBI steps in and charges him with a federal crime anyway
Emotionally it's more of a race issue.
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:33-34
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It's about a guy who cannot follow police instruction and thinks he's something more than the neighborhood watch captain.
Regardless who you are, if the police say, "Do not follow"...you don't follow!
Had he done so, the kid would be alive and he would'nt be in question.
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It's about a guy who cannot follow police instruction and thinks he's something more than the neighborhood watch captain.
Regardless who you are, if the police say, "Do not follow"...you don't follow!
Had he done so, the kid would be alive and he would'nt be in question.
Agreed - it will become a test of the "stand your ground law" - when the defense attorney argues that at the time Zimmerman fired his weapon, he was standing his ground and felt threatened -- the law is very vague on whether anything that happens before that (e.g. Zimmerman following the suspect despite being told not to) actually matters in this case.
The travesty is that - that defense tactic is a courtroom tactic, it's not something that the police should just accept because the defendant told them he felt threatened. Especially with all the evidence contradicting that.
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:33-34
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