He followed the kid... the kid started beating the crap out of him... then he shot him claiming self-defense.

That is legal in Florida thanks to an ill-thought out law from the NRA. It is not what they were intending behind it but left a loophole for murder.

 

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I've read a few articles about the story and none of them mention the kid "beating the crap out of him." If that's true, the kid would've been acting in self-defense against the guy who was following him, so I don't see how a self-defense law protects the killer in that case.

edit: If the law is being interpreted like that, I would imagine it's not the spirit of the law being followed correctly. I doubt it was intended for situations like "I hit this guy who was minding his own business, then he hit me back, so I shot him in self-defense."

 

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The law is stupid so I am not going to try and defend it. It just says you are immune from civil and criminal punishment for using lethal force in public in self-defense. It is not even a question for the jury a judge rules based on facts.

Who knows about the facts with reports of police changing crap. But we know this dude is a nutcase... made dozens of calls of same behavior... was studying to be a cop... was the self-appointed neighborhood watch captain... when the police showed up he had head wounds and a bloody face... numerous witness saw a struggle.

It honestly looks like some nutjob with poor judgment wanting to be the hero of the community... actually looks like a pretty easy case for defense if the prosecutor ever do file charges... that is barring any new details.

 

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I don't know about anyone else, but I just want block wars.

 

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There are multiple reports that there was some kind of a fight prior to him being shot.


From the CNN article


"Shortly afterward, neighbors began calling 911 to report a fight, then a gunshot. By the time police arrived, Trayvon Martin was dead. Martin was unarmed."


There really is no one that witnesses who started the fight or if anyone was in danger during the fight, pretty much all they have to go on is what this guy is saying. While the situation sucks and the law is probably really stupid I just dont see where any laws are being broken or how this guy could possibly be charged with anything.

 

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without testing the shooter for drugs and alcohol there is absolutely know way to know if their mental state was impaired and that may have been the difference between this person being criminally implicated or walking away scott free, other laws aside. The people's business was not done by the police in this case and the leader of the police needs to be held accountable for the actions of his men.

I don't see why thats so hard to understand. I hope they oust this fker permanantly.

 

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Are they allowed to do that under Fla state law? At least here I dont think you can test a person for drugs and alcohol without cause. Unless the person seemed visably impared they arent allowed to test for that. I'm sure all the states laws are different though in that regard.

 

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No. The law in Florida is that if you feel your life is being threatened you can use EQUAL force on your attacker. It does not mean if someone punches you you can shoot them. The law permits force to be used instead of retreat. What it comes down to is what happened and proving one side. The guy who shot the teenager apparently was told by police to not pursue the kid. Pursuit would instantly negate any Stand Your Ground law because he's now putting himself in danger. The story I heard was that the kid ran away from the shooter and was chased. A scuffle ensued and that was when he was shot.

The picture I saw of the shooter looks like he is a huge burly guy. The teenager was very small in stature. Along with the 400 calls to police that the shooter made since January tends to make me thing he was a bit out of control. He also did not follow police instruction at the time of the incident.

 

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Zimmerman, a white hispanic....??

There are different "colors" of Hispanic. People will identify themselves as Black-Hispanics or White-Hispanic. I was told as per how I fill out forms that Hispanic is not necessarily a race. You can have a dad from Cuba and a Black mom and be Black Hispanic.

 

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