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More on the Travyon Martin case from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- NBC: George Zimmerman to be charged in Trayvon Martin case
- Trayvon Martin timeline: Key events in the Sanford, Fla., shooting case
- AG Eric Holder: People 'rightly concerned' about Trayvon Martin death
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No, I don't think he should be charged. It's nothing but a witch hunt brought on by that little thugs parents.
Hardy har har. I wish there was an idiot filter on the internet.
Yeah, right. These two lower middle class black parents had the power to mobilize an entire nation over the killing of their son (who was a thug, supposedly) and forced a governor to appoint a special prosecutor...over a witch hunt?
You, sir (or ma'am) are a genius, and you give me high hopes for the future of America.
Great. The future, then, is full of trolls.
If anyone in this case is a thug, it's Zimmerman. He's the one who chased down an unarmed boy and it's not the first time he's used violence against other people, including on the police (which was washed under the carpet). As far as I know, there's no evidence that Trayvon had done anything but smoke a little weed, which doesn't make him a thug, or belong to a gang, just like his clothes don't prove that. Zimmerman is the one with the arrest record.
Coffeemamma,
Evidence? Hell he shot a young man while was walking home with candy in his pocket. What evidence do you or others need. With that mentality anyone could be murdered.
Police initally got it right. This is all wrong. Originally the cops wanted to charge him with 3rd. That is the right call. Zimmerman did not go out to kill him. He felt empowered because he had a gun. So, he went out there to intimidate a "punk". A punk, mind you, that did absoulutely nothing wrong except walk down the street. When the kid confronted him because he was following him. He took a swing at him. When Zimmerman's "safety" was extinguished he took out his piece and shot the kid. Whether or not the kid should not be there is irrelevant. You can not shoot some one because you got scared. The charge is 3rd not 2nd. Zimmerman shot him because he is stupid not because he was angry!
@Marine: I beg to differ on the "not being angry" part of your comment. His comment to the 911 dispatcher that "these a**holes always get away" and then chasing him after being told not to shows that he was bound and determined that this "a**hole" (his words, not mine) wasn't going to get away.
Do we agree or disagree?
None of us knows enough about what transpired to agree or disagree.
All we know is the slanted and half- baked information given out by the media.
Unless we are chosen for and sit on the jury, it doesn't matter what we think.
I believe Mr. Zimmerman became guilty of stalking and murder when he disobeyed the 911 operator's warning not to follow Tayvon and that he shouldn't have been carrying a gun.It has very little to do with black or white. This guy who wanted to be a copy but couldn't cut it, felt he was in the right to carry a gun and ignore the 911 operator's call for him to leave the scene. He must have some serious ego issues and felt he had the upper hand when he realized it was a young boy he was following. No matter the outcome of this trial, he should never be allowed to carry a gun again!
From the news accounts I have seen to-date, there is no suggestion or evidence that Trayvon Martin violated any laws whatsoever or did anything more "suspicious" than being African-American and strolling theough an apartment complex while wearing a hoodie.
An apartment complex is a public place. As difficult as it is for some people apparently to grasp, an African-American kid wearing a hoodie has every right in the world to stroll through your apartment complex, in plain sight, and you have no 'right' whatsoever to 'do' anything about it.
Zimmerman's life does not appear to have been in danger at the time that he shot Martin. If the kid was running for his life, then he was not a threat to Zimmerman. No valid "self defense" claim.
There was a variety of actions that Zimmerman could have taken.
He could have LISTENED to the police and FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS when they told him "We DO NOT 'need' you to follow this individual."
He could have called 9-1-1 and waited for an officer to arrive, it would have taken less than 10 minutes for an officer to be on the scene.
He could have stayed within visual range of Martin but avoided personal contact with him.
He had nonviolent choices available to him. He did not opt to take any of those nonviolent choices.
Were you there? You sure seem to know it all. It was an Apartment Complex, Why has the news been saying gated community which make it condos or town houses. I'd prefer to read facts than the gibberish most of the people calling for an arrest (and assumed conviction) have spewed here. Was Martin shot in the back, If he was "running for his life" that would probably be the case don't you think?
Thanks Willy for repeating what everyone already knows. There's only 2 people that know what really happened and one is not talking.
No, I was not there, and neither were you.
And incidentally, whether it was an apartment complex or a gated community is furthermore irrelevent.
If you are an 'owner' in a gated community, what you 'own' is the space between your walls. You don't 'own' any part at all of what's known as 'common areas'.
If you a 'renter' in a gated community, then what you 'own' is "nothing, nothing, nothing".
One way or the other, if someone decides to come into that supposedly 'gated' community, you don't have any 'right' whatsoever to 'do' anything at all about it, other than to call the cops. And no, you don't have any 'right' whatsoever to shoot anyone who comes into that residential community.
Densie, there are other people other than the two protagonists who do know what happened that night, including witnesses, police and others, and their voices will most assuredly be heard.
Nobody knows what kind of evidence the prosecutor has. If the evidence wasn't strong. I doubt they would have brought charges against Zimmerman.
It's about time. Now, I don't want to hear anything else until the verdict.
Dream on...
Funny how the right likes to blame everything on the media. The media didn't cause people to take to the streets and demand justice. The media took notice because of it. The media responded as they should have. They reported on a situation that had already galvanized tens of thousands.
Now explain why the media should have turned a blind eye to that!?
That would have been the perfect definition of "Lamestream media!"
The media edited the phone call to get leftists like you to believe it was about race. and being a good little progressive,you bought it hook line and sinker.Just like the Black Panthers and the black community.
If I called you a "fu$#in' cracker", you would take it as a racial comment. If I said ' You fu$#in' crackers are always saying complete BS on here!", I'm not only using a racial slur, but also putting it in the context of this present conversation. I know you'll have know problem understanding this when it's directed at you. You just believe that that's the only way it can be applied, towards a white person. The other way around you act as if it's just an observation or something.
I do not agree with the decision to charge George Zimmerman with second degree murder. He may be convicted but it will be overturned on appeal, if the charge is not dismissed by a judge with half a brain. Ms. Corey did say that the state's attorney's office doesn't bring charges unless there is a "reasonable" chance of winning. The Orange County State's Attorney had reason to believe he would secure a conviction of Casey Anthony on 2nd-degree murder. He was wrong, and Ms. Corey is wrong.
At this point it doesn't matter if he is found innocent or guilty, either way he looses and either way a bunch of people are not going to be happen. Remember the riots and problems after the Rodney King verdict, well hang on Sanford PD it's coming your way.
A few years ago, a man shot a jogger who went by his house, just for the thrill of it, he admitted.
He went to prison.
Now, with "Stand Your Ground," he could have said that he "felt threatened" and he more likely would have gotten off and still be sitting out on his front porch, polishing his gun and pointing it at passer-bys.
In 2010 David James, an Iraq war veteran (white) was shot and killed by Trevor Dooley(black) in Florida. Mr. Dooley didn't want the kids to use their skateboards across the street from his house in the park and Mr. James, who was playing basketball while his young daughter watched, hollered back that there weren't any signs saying they couldn't. The black dude walked across the street to the park and shot and killed the soldier who just got back from Iraq. And he walked free. Because of Stand Your Ground. Look it up.
Trevor Dooley was arrested and charged with manslaughter. He is using SYG as his defense.
Stop using the Stand Your Ground Law as defense! Many, including the author of the law, has said that the minute the police told Zimmerman NOT to follow Martin, Zimmerman lost any chance of using the law as defense.
The police didn't tell him to stop following, a dispatcher did. A dispatcher is not a police officer, they are more or less switchboard operators. He had every right to follow and question who ever he wanted to. Once Trayvon decided to assault him he had every right to "stand his ground". This arrest and upcoming "trial" is simply an attempt to appease the pitchfork and torch mob. The only crime here is the crime being committed against a man who chose to defend himself.
A dispatcher is a police officer. He works for the police department and his orders are as lawful as any other officer's. And no, a self-appointed vigilante does not have any 'right' whatsoever to follow or question anybody at all. He is not a cop, he is nobody, he has no 'authority' over anybody at all. I have every right to come into your so-called 'gated community' whenever I please and no, you don't have any 'right' to 'question' me or 'do' anything at all about it.
There is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial, especially given the lack of a proper investigation by the police. I do not see how Zimmerman was standing his ground when he followed the unarmed kid against police instructions.that much we know to be true and the kid ended up dead. Obviously the Special Prosecutor thinks a trial is requied and she has more facts than we do. I will wait for the system to determine his guilt or innocense.
On a different subject which has come up on these blogs, I believe there is no doubt that in our legal system innocent folks go to death row. As long as there is a chance even one innocent person could loose their life as has probably happened in my state of Texas, I am against a death penalty. Kind of hard to compensate a dead person or their loved ones for a miscarriage of justice. What do you say?? Yeah we murdered your son, husband, father etc, but it is just the way the system fails sometimes.
Also, always remember, the odds of walking away from such a charge are much higher if you can afford a top notch lawyer and much lower if you have a public defender. Justice for sale??
Finally, do not believe the rascists that have come out from under their slimy rocks on these blogs. Send them Back to Africa?? Really?
A eyewitness told police that they saw Trayvon punch Zimmerman in the face and bounce his head off of the sidewalk several times..unless they can refute the testimony of the eyewitness Zimmerman will walk.
The people on this stream who are supporting the killing of an innocent teenager are sick individuals!!! Black people aren't going anywhere but you idiots who still believe this is "your" country are!!!
The problem is not race its the law. I understand self defense but i dont understand how you can claim self defense if your chasing someone. This guy zimmerman was a police acadamy drop out with a power complex. Its doesnt matter if he is found guilty or innocent aleast a hearing is in order. I dont believe second degree murder is a correct charge but manslaughter yes. I believe they need to re look at floridas stand your ground law.
In any other similar case, the fact that Zimmerman pursued and confronted Martin with a weapon after being told not to follow at all by authorities, his actions would be considered intent.
Zimmerman's wasn't in the Police Academy to be a police officer.
George Zimmerman's filled a application for the Citizens Police Academy in 2008.
Police Academy and Citizens Police Academy are two different things.
dlopez: Zimmerman wasn't a "drop out", he was booted out because he couldn't pass the psych eval (thank God). Even then they knew he was a whack job.
Zimmerman made a conscious decision to follow and confront Martin with a loaded weapon after being told by authorities to not pursue Martin. Along with the racial slurs he wasn't shy about sharing with emergency operators, why would anyone even consider the charge only be manslaughter?
What authority? The dispatcher? They should lose their job for instructing him not to follow and observe Martin. A person has every right to try and keep themselves and their property safe. I don't care if Martin was white,black,yellow, or pink if I felt he was suspicious it is well within my rights to observe and question him as to what he is doing. If he decides to assault me than I have every right to defend myself by whatever force I deem necessary. Shouldn't be any charges, defending yourself is not a crime in this country.... YET
Unless the individual was standing within the walls of your apartment then no, you don't have any 'right' whatsoever to supposedly 'keep property safe' by following anyone around, it's called felony harassment and it's a criminal offense for which you can be jailed. A parking lot is not 'your' private or personal property and anybody at all has the right to walk onto that public property and you can't 'do' 'Thing One" about it.
I don't know who the bleep you think you are, Tough Guy, but no, you don't have any 'right' to presume to 'question' me at all and I'll cheerfully tell you to bleep off and mind your own bleeping business. And you'll do it, too, unless you'd like to go to jail for harassment.
Martin was on the complete opposite side of the complex from Zimmermans residence. And as head oh his neighborhood watch, he knows that he isn't suppose to stalk or confront a supposed suspicious person. Along with the fact that what about Martin would give a suspicious impression. He surely wasn't the only black person in that community. Many of the other residence use the same route to go to the same store. So the claim about Zimmerman protecting his property and self is so far from being founded I wonder what beyond your own racial bias would lead you to your conclusions and statements.
Paul, maybe you should familiarize yourself with neighborhood watch programs before running off at the mouth about who should be fired before you find yourself in Zimmerman's shoes.
Willy,
Stand your ground laws and self defense laws mean that you have a right to defend yourself no matter where you are, as long as you have a legal right to be there.
Let's say that you are at a mall, shopping for the new I-Pad. You have made your purchase and are opening the door to your new sports car, and someone comes up and flashes a knife at you wanting your keys and your package. You have a legal right to be at this mall and this guy wants your property and has showed a weapon. You have the right to pull your firearm and use deadly force; and you are not in your home.
If you are walking through a rough neighborhood and get jumped for whatever reason. As long as you have a reasonable fear for your life, then you have the right to use deadly force.
People have the right to defend themselves, their families and their property. That right does not end when you leave your home.
It is better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by 6
JEGOSSETT --
So-called "Stand your ground" laws ONLY mean that you have a tight to defend your life WHILE YOUR OWN LIFE IS IN DANGER. If your own life is not in danger, you have no "right" whatsoever to use any desdly force, because there is nothing to defend.
Let's say that I am at a mall, shopping for the new I-Pad. I have made my purchase and am opening the door to my new sports car, and someone comes up and flashes a knife at me wanting my keys and my package. I have a legal right to be at this mall and this guy wants my property and has showed a weapon. I have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to use any deadly force; merely displaying the weapon is sufficient to deter an assault. Your property IS NOT "more important than" another person's life. To behave otherwise is to commit murder. So-called "stand your ground" laws are an attempt to justify and whitewash outright murder by fabricating a so-called "threat" that does not exist.
Let's say that the guy does then get your iPad. You have no right whatsoever to go after the person and kill them. Again, your property IS NOT "more important than" a human being's life. Once the threat to your life and/or safety ceases, you have no right and no justification for using force, unless you'd like to openly admit here that you want to be able to legally hunt down and kill people because yhou believe that "they took my stuff, I should be able to kill them".
That makes you a wanna-be murderer. That's the audience whom so-called "Stand Your Ground" laws were written for -- gun owners who want to be legally allowed to kill people.
Zimmerman will indeed be judged by 12. Hopefully he will have many, many years in prison to think about having gunned down an unarmed kid.
JEGOSSETT --
RE: "Stand your ground laws and self defense laws mean that you have a right to defend yourself no matter where you are, as long as you have a legal right to be there."
Wrong.
Author of "stand your ground" law: George Zimmerman should probably be arrested
for killing Trayvon Martin
The authors of Florida's controversial "stand your ground" self-defense law say George Zimmerman should probably be arrested for shooting Trayvon Martin, reports the Miami Herald.
"He has no protection under my law," former Sen. Durell Peaden told the newspaper.
Zimmerman, 28, reportedly admitted to police that he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on the evening of February 26. He was released without being charged after claiming he killed the boy in self-defense. But 911 recordings released over the weekend suggest that Zimmerman, who has a concealed weapons permit and volunteered in an apparently informal neighborhood watch program, pursued Martin, despite being told police were on their way.
It is the fact that Zimmerman ignored the 911 operator's advice not to follow Martin that former Sen. Peaden says disqualifies him from claiming self-defense under the law.
"The guy lost his defense right then," Peaden told the Miami Herald. "When he said 'I'm following him,' he lost his defense."
Rep. Dennis Baxley, Peaden's co-sponsor in the Florida House, agrees with his former colleague, telling the newspaper that the law does not license neighborhood watch or others who feel "like they have the authority to pursue and confront people. That is aggravating an incident right there."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57401619-504083/author-of-stand-your-ground-law-george-zimmerman-should-probably-be-arrested-for-killing-trayvon-martin/
No matter how it all turns out. Zimmerman will have to live the rest of his life knowing he killed a unarmed person.
The Martin family will live out their days without Trayvon by their side.
Zimmerman chased after martin. If you come after me I'm going to get scared and prepare to defend myself. It's only basic instinct. A short fight would have given Zimmerman an excuse to use his gun like a kid just so eager to play with a new toy.
Bet killing someone was an itch he just had to scratch.
that's real talk!!!!!!!!