Zimmerman Trial

[Manatee]

Libertarian: Thanks for the support. Evidently you understood internet shorthand better than others.

As to what was in Zimmerman's mind that night...we'll probably never know. I doubt a Federal case will be made. This government does not appear to be able to hit it's collective a** with both hands.

 

[kiddchaos]

I agree with Libertarian01.
Why wasn't any neighbor out there with Zimmerman?
And was the apt. complex too cheap to get a security guard or a few cameras?

Oh well...on to the next crusade.

 

[churchmouse]

So if somebody got within 21 feet of you at night you'd shoot them?

The 21 ft. rule.
If someone is within 21 ft. of you with a knife in hand....you spot them as they start to move towards you not yet up to speed. They (the assailant) will most likely be on you and have you disabled before you can draw and bring your gun to bear. This is a part of hand to hand training (sorry...force on force. I am an old guy) so give it a try. I know a corner that will get you some real world results if you wish.

If I saw some one in that range of me looking to do me harm then yes, I would have my weapon drawn. If they moved towards me, depends but yeah, at the risk of being flamed like manatee, I would bring my weapon to bear.

 

[BogWalker]

The 21 ft. rule.
If someone is within 21 ft. of you with a knife in hand....you spot them as they start to move towards you not yet up to speed. They (the assailant) will most likely be on you and have you disabled before you can draw and bring your gun to bear. This is a part of hand to hand training (sorry...force on force. I am an old guy) so give it a try. I know a corner that will get you some real world results if you wish.

If I saw some one in that range of me looking to do me harm then yes, I would have my weapon drawn. If they moved towards me, depends but yeah, at the risk of being flamed like manatee, I would bring my weapon to bear.

Big difference between a guy with a knife and someone just on the same block as you, which is the way manatee's original post read. As well a big difference and being ready to shoot and taking the shot. If I had a Trayvon looking fellow at that magical 21 foot yeah I'd have hand near holster and would certainly be taking measures (increased pace, change directions and see if he follows), but as long as he doesn't try anything I'm not going to shoot him. Someone just being close to me is no reason to shoot. Heck, I was within a few yards of a fellow once for probably three blocks at 10pm because by chance we were going to different destinations on the same street. By the tone of manatee's original post this would have been all that would be required for him to have shot me. See the reasoning behind everyone's criticism?

 

[Dirtebiker]

The 21 ft. rule.
If someone is within 21 ft. of you with a knife in hand....you spot them as they start to move towards you not yet up to speed. They (the assailant) will most likely be on you and have you disabled before you can draw and bring your gun to bear. This is a part of hand to hand training (sorry...force on force. I am an old guy) so give it a try. I know a corner that will get you some real world results if you wish.

If I saw some one in that range of me looking to do me harm then yes, I would have my weapon drawn. If they moved towards me, depends but yeah, at the risk of being flamed like manatee, I would bring my weapon to bear.

Theres a huge difference in your scenario and manatee's! Iirc, manatee was referring to someone simply following him.

 

[Manatee]

Obviously, you don't recall or don't have an imagination.

Let me give you a start:

It was a dark and stormy night.

 

[jaybird_123]

Everyone is getting whacked-out over an opinion. Calm down. Looks like the next real issue is that they are going to try and change the "no back down law". That is going to change how we are "allowed" to protect ourselves and our family and property. I don't give a sh...t what laws they come up with, if me, my family or my property is in danger, someone is going down, and if at all possible, it wont be my family or myself.

 

[jamil]

Everyone is getting whacked-out over an opinion. Calm down. Looks like the next real issue is that they are going to try and change the "no back down law". That is going to change how we are "allowed" to protect ourselves and our family and property. I don't give a sh...t what laws they come up with, if me, my family or my property is in danger, someone is going down, and if at all possible, it wont be my family or myself.

That's the bottom line. They don't like the idea of citizens protecting themselves. They're using this verdict as a catalyst to pass laws to make it harder to do that.

Maybe I'm overthinking this, but it seems that they had all bases covered from the start. Why NOT overcharge Zimmerman with Murder II?

If he loses, great, the race baiters get to claim victory and everyone gets to bask in another collective Obamagasm. If Z wins, that's okay too. You get to rile up the masses and provide a reason to rekindle the anti-gun agenda, and if that works, another collective Obamagasm!

Win/Win.

 

[cobber]

That's the bottom line. They don't like the idea of citizens protecting themselves. They're using this verdict as a catalyst to pass laws to make it harder to do that.

...another collective Obamagasm!

Win/Win.

I think the mid-term may surprise some folks. Just hope I'm not one of them.

 

[KG1]

Looks like they wanna replace "stand your ground" laws with "duty to retreat"

 

[Hookeye]

Screw "Stand your ground" law.

I want to social engineer too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think a "Take the ground" law might be in the works

 

[Jack Burton]

I agree with Libertarian01.
Why wasn't any neighbor out there with Zimmerman?
And was the apt. complex too cheap to get a security guard or a few cameras?

Oh well...on to the next crusade.

Z was not on any kind of "watch" that night. He was on his scheduled trip to Target that he made every weekend at the same time. This is something that people both pro and con consistently get wrong.

 

[netsecurity]

Looks like they wanna replace "stand your ground" laws with "duty to retreat"

Ironically, that is what all the witnesses did instead of helping, despite numerous cries for help from Zimmerman. Trayvon would be alive today if every single witness didn't feel the need to wait for police to arrive. At least one witness, such as Mr. Good, should have stayed and tried to de-escalate the fight.

 

[UncleMike]

That's the bottom line. They don't like the idea of citizens protecting themselves. They're using this verdict as a catalyst to pass laws to make it harder to do that.

Self protection isn't something granted by Emperor Obama.
It's a natural right and is the most pervasive instinct that ANY animal has.
The Socialist/Liberal/Scum suckers are trying to turn us into mindless victims so that their criminal element voting base will have an easier time taking our hard earned goods.

 

[cordex]

Ironically, that is what all the witnesses did instead of helping, despite numerous cries for help from Zimmerman. Trayvon would be alive today if every single witness didn't feel the need to wait for police to arrive. At least one witness, such as Mr. Good, should have stayed and tried to de-escalate the fight.

In this case, it might have helped. As a general policy though, getting physically involved in fights you don't know anything about is a poor decision.

 

[Dirtebiker]

The lesson I take away from this:

Always shoot first.

As in: I thought he was going to hit me, so I shot him first?

The fact he didn't is what won the case I do believe. I'm sure technically he could have won if he shot before a punch was thrown, but being in a life or death situation (on the ground having your head bashed in) helped his case immensely IMHO. This is at least what would go through my mind as a juror. I wouldn't find "I shot him because he was scary looking." to be a very good defense.

I guess I'm looking at it from the other side. If some civilian Barney Fife starts stalking me and gets out of his car, approaches me....it certainly looks like the answer is to put a bullet in him before he has a chance to put a bullet in you.

Of course, that's Florida. The land where Casey Anthony can kill her unwanted child and Rush gets a slap on the hand for running dope.

Am I correctly understanding thaT you advocate shooting someone for raising a red flag with you by virtue of being in the same general area? You may recall that according to Martin, Zimmerman was 'creepy' by virtue of not being black. Does this sound like an acceptable reason for attacking someone? After all, most anyone can be dangerous, so why not simply shoot anyone who appears within eyesight?

You and I both know that a trial may or may not result in a righteous verdict.

I still believe that Zimmerman made the wrong choices that night and it resulted in someone's unnecessary death.

2 jurors initially felt manslaughter was appropriate. 1 juror wanted 2nd deg homicide.

Read what juror B37 said today. Even she felt that George went "above and beyond [the pale]".

You should feel better now. After all, you made it clear that in Martin's position you would simply have shot Zimmerman who hadn't done anything from you aside from calling 911.

Zimmerman may or may not have made bad choices. The point nobody in the media is making is Trayvon could have just kept walking, and gone home! He would still be alive and able to continue his wannabe thug lifestyle!
instead, he chose to come back, and attack Zimmerman!

Don't even bother with him. He previously stated if someone was following him he'd just kill them.

And...

 

[HoughMade]

Wow.....such anger.

Let's take a deep breath. While we're reflecting, who's up for a group buy for some badges?

 

[Dirtebiker]

Bullsh*t. Welcome to my ignore list.

You can ignore me all you want, but everyone ELSE around here will see exactly what you said.

That's out of context, cracker.

For some reason, the ignore feature didn't work.

The "context" was Florida, it's quirky trial results and the stand your ground decisions to date.

If you're really interested in prior decisions, there is a Tampa Bay paper that's reviewed many of the stand your ground acquittals. I don't have a link to it any more. Sorry.

You made a very plain declaration of what you would do in the situation that Martin was in, specifically that you would shoot a person you deemed to be following you if he strayed into an exclusionary zone you arbitrarily defined.

The bottom line is that you said something stupid and got called out for it. This is one of those times that you might as well own it and move on as opposed to continuing to act like, well, less than a rational thinking individual.

What is with you guys?!!! I've seen dogs worry a bone less than you. OCD?

What happens behind a keyboard is NOT the real world. What happens on the street is. I really don't care what you think because 1) I don't know you and 2) I stopped looking for public affirmation years ago.

If you believe you would not defend yourself with the appropriate amount of force to stop the threat, then you're a victim. I'm a vet with combat experience. I'll leave it there.

The 21 ft. rule.
If someone is within 21 ft. of you with a knife in hand....you spot them as they start to move towards you not yet up to speed. They (the assailant) will most likely be on you and have you disabled before you can draw and bring your gun to bear. This is a part of hand to hand training (sorry...force on force. I am an old guy) so give it a try. I know a corner that will get you some real world results if you wish.

If I saw some one in that range of me looking to do me harm then yes, I would have my weapon drawn. If they moved towards me, depends but yeah, at the risk of being flamed like manatee, I would bring my weapon to bear.

Theres a huge difference in your scenario and manatee's! Iirc, manatee was referring to someone simply following him.

Obviously, you don't recall or don't have an imagination.

Let me give you a start:

It was a dark and stormy night.

Looks like my recollection WAS correct!

 

[Dirtebiker]

Wow.....such anger.

Let's take a deep breath. While we're reflecting, who's up for a group buy for some badges?

We don't need no stinking badges!

 

[churchmouse]

We don't need no stinking badges!

You beat me to it.