The Trayvon Martin Case (updated title)

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I have the right to stand and say nearly anything on a public street. Why does Zimmerman have to justify anything.

Because no one has the right to stop anyone from walking on a public street.

Clearly though Zimmerman saw someone who he thought looked suspicious and went to investigate.. Nothing wrong with that.

Yes there is.

That's what neighborhood watch is supposed to do.

Not really.

The only two questions important here are

• Was Martin walking towards Zimmerman when he was shot?
• Was it reasonable for Zimmerman to fear for his life as he stood next to his car wathcing Martin walk towards him?

There are a ****load more questions than that. Like, I dunno, who initiated the confrontation?

[DM72]

That's another thing people aren't getting. Why even have a gun in the first place. I am not an expert when it comes to gun laws, but I don't think it is right to willingly approach somebody why you are packing.

Thank you. I don't care who you are. When you're just casually carrying a gun, you're looking for trouble.

[Kilmer17]

That's another thing people aren't getting. Why even have a gun in the first place. I am not an expert when it comes to gun laws, but I don't think it is right to willingly approach somebody why you are packing.

Actually it is. There are rules and regulations that need to be followed. But Zimmerman was well within his rights and had a concealed permit.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

And IF that's what happened, then Zimmerman probably could justify the "stand your ground" defense. And the brouhaha and accusations of racism and police misconduct will be shown to be unwarranted.

The question is, what will happen next? Will people accept the result and the law as it is applied? Or will they escalate?

It's kind of convenient to have a month to concoct your story when the the time to gather useful information in an investigation has passed.

I think Zimmerman probably ends up walking because the police did not properly investigate the crime.

Zimmerman has had a long long time to a) prepare a story and b) talk to any witnesses well in advance.

[Kilmer17]

Thank you. I don't care who you are. When you're just casually carrying a gun, you're looking for trouble.

The law says otherwise.

---------- Post added March-26th-2012 at 03:35 PM ----------

It's kind of convenient to have a month to concoct your story when the the time to gather useful information in an investigation has passed.

I think Zimmerman probably ends up walking because the police did not properly investigate the crime.

Zimmerman has had a long long time to a) prepare a story and b) talk to any witnesses well in advance.

Thats not accurate, the police DID investigate the incident and determined it was NOT a crime.

[JMS]

Yes. Because it speaks to intent.

No it doesn't. Walking up and asking why someone he didn't know is walking around in a gated community doesn't suggest Zimmerman intended to shoot him dead.

More or less true. He had no right to stop anyone from walking though. I would also be very curious to know where his gun was during this conversation.

He has no right to stop anybody... He certainly has the right to walk up and speak to them. They have the right to ignore him.

What happens after that is kind of important, no? Zimmerman has a right to "talk" to Martin. He has no right "question" him. He certainly has no right to detain him.

Zimmerman has the right to ask a question or say pretty much anything he wants.. just like any citizen. No right to detain, no right to stop. But again after the phone with the girlfriend cut off, all we really have is Zimmerman's word. Nothing anybody else heard refutes his story.... Dead men tell no tails.

I don't believe that Zimmerman was a bona fide neighborhood watch person and I don't remember reading that he was ever in that training program. So yes, it was illegal for him to walk up to someone and ask them what they were doing.

I don't believe he needs to be "bona fide"... I've worked neibhborhood watch before, and I didn't have any training. Coarse that was in Virginia...

Bottom line though, the stand your ground law, which is the problem here doesn't apply only to neighborhood watch folks with trianing (bona fide)... It applies to any citizen and Zimmerman certainly fits.

[DjTj]

On what grounds?

Because, if that was his plan, his plan going in was "commit a crime while armed."

I would not make that argument in court.

Good thing he has a right to remain silent. Only God knows what was in Zimmerman's mind when he got out of his car.

And IF that's what happened, then Zimmerman probably could justify the "stand your ground" defense. And the brouhaha and accusations of racism and police misconduct will be shown to be unwarranted.

Unfortunately, unless there are multiple eyewitnesses that saw the entire incident from beginning to end, this will remain a big IF. Only two people know everything that was said and done, and one of them is dead.

The question is, what will happen next? Will people accept the result and the law as it is applied? Or will they escalate?

I think it depends a lot on how organized the gun control lobby can get on this issue. If they can seize the moment, all of this rage can be channeled into legislative reform. If not, it will be channeled into random directions, like Skittles and hoodie sales.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

He has no right to stop anybody... He certainly has the right to walk up and speak to them. They have the right to ignore him.

Wouldn't it have been nice if the police bothered to investigate this so we aren't guessing like *******s?

Coarse that was in Virginia...

Virginia is rough. Word play!

[Kilmer17]

Wouldn't it have been nice if the police bothered to investigate this so we aren't guessing like *******s?





Virginia is rough. Word play!

The police did investigate.

[DM72]

The law says otherwise.

---------- Post added March-26th-2012 at 03:35 PM ----------



Thats not accurate, the police DID investigate the incident and determined it was NOT a crime.

Surrrrre they did.

[Zazzaro703]

Orlando Sentinel reporting that Zimmerman says that Martin followed him back to his SUV, then Martin punched him in the nose (after words were exchanged) and knocked him to the ground, and then began slamming Zimmerman's head into the sidewalk.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...ated-community

This has been reported for awhile or events similar. The media has just chosen to mainly ignore those inconvenient reports. There is a witness that collaborates this account as well.

[JMS]

Because no one has the right to stop anyone from walking on a public street.

I can walk up to you and say "stop"!... and you are free to ignore me. Nobody is suggesting Zimmerman even did that much.. He challenged Martin asking "what are you doing here".
That's all the GF statement says.

Yes there is.

Not really.

Neighborhood watch isn't supposed to watch the neighborhood?

There are a ****load more questions than that. Like, I dunno, who initiated the confrontation?

Zimmerman initiated the confrontation.. that's not in dispute and is irrelivent.

I can walk up to you and wave my arms frantically and quote Dr. Sues. If I later shoot you for trying to kill me, my lawful behavior wether provokative or not is not really at issue... You were not justified in killing me because you don't appreciate Dr. Sues.... Nor was Martin justified in killing Zimerman for challenging him as he walked through Zimerman's neighborhood.

The issue in florida would solely be was it reasonable that I feared for my life before I shot you, and were you walking towards me representing an escalating threat.

[MLSKINS]

Thank you. I don't care who you are. When you're just casually carrying a gun, you're looking for trouble.

Actually it is. There are rules and regulations that need to be followed. But Zimmerman was well within his rights and had a concealed permit.

If that is the case, then the gun laws suck.

Man all I know is this:

Race played a factor, but it wasn't the biggest factor.
Maybe Martin could have had a cooler head about the situation, but how would you feel if somebody was following you for what you think is no reason?
The gun was unnecessary. I don't care what the law says, carrying a gun in a situation like this is asking for trouble.

But the main thing, this police force needs to shut down and start over because they dropped the ball on all of this. Proper investigation would have answered a lot of questions that we had.

I am mad at them, I am mad at Zimmerman. I am also mad at these celebrities who always voice their opinion on the hot-button topics and is nowhere to be seen when the heat goes away. This whole situation is just ridiculous.

[GoSkins561]

The stand your ground law is stupid, technically people could start having duels and there isn't a thing Florida could do about it, as long as both people feel threatened.

[Kilmer17]

Surrrrre they did.

More proof that you arent interested in facts and evidence that doesnt support your predetermined mindset of what happened.

It's inconvenient to your narrative that the police did investigate.