Seems like Zimmerman targeted this kid and hunted him down. He should be in jail.http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/19/justice/florida-teen-shooting/index.html
Any opinions on this one?
- Thread starter babemagnet
- Start date
Leaving aside that he murdered a kid, there are so many issues with this case. Like, why are neighbourhood watchmen allowed to carry guns? why did the cops test the dead kid for alcohol and drugs and not the killer? why did they do a background check on the dead kid and not the killer? Even real cops in Canada are placed on leave/investigation after they kill someone, regardless of whether they were justified or not.
he should be...the paranoia of legal gun owners and an even dumber law allowing for citizens to publicly shoot and kill anyone that they deem to harmful to themselves ,leads to stupid violent acts like this...wonder if he would have the same suspicions if it were a white child buying candy at the corner store for his little brother...DOUBT IT!!!
yeah what's with Florida's stupid law that says a gun owner can use it to stand their ground... unlike most laws that only allow one to use their gun when every other means to protect oneself has been exhausted
There has been so much publicity surrounding this case that the US Department of Justice has been forced to open an investigation to determine if there were any civil rights issues involved in this case.
The "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida is a ridiculous example of how the conservative right (the bill was signed into law by Gov Jeb Bush in 2006) have really and truly managed to screw things up in the US. There is a significant difference between "Home and Castle" ie shooting someone who has invaded your home and the "Stand Your Ground" version where someone can actually persue or follow someone and then shoot them, claiming that they were in fear for their life.
God I am glad that I live in Canada.
The "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida is a ridiculous example of how the conservative right (the bill was signed into law by Gov Jeb Bush in 2006) have really and truly managed to screw things up in the US. There is a significant difference between "Home and Castle" ie shooting someone who has invaded your home and the "Stand Your Ground" version where someone can actually persue or follow someone and then shoot them, claiming that they were in fear for their life.
God I am glad that I live in Canada.
its not hard to see that this law was passed and is supported by some racists who feel threatened by people of another color
Florida has 'no duty to retreat' law unlike many other states, therefore a person can more easily justify standing his ground and beating the snot out of someone, then get away with it, even when a supervisor says don't follow. The dead kid weighed nearly 80 less than Zimmerman, who said he felt threatened. Haha. sorry folks, with an eyewitness he's going to get away with murder at most get a slap. I hope i'm wrong though.
But an important exception to the law is that you can't pursue someone and then say you were "standing your ground." That is where the exchange with the 911 Dispatcher is going to come into play, together with the boy's conversation with his girlfriend.
Further, the U.S. Department of Justice has now launched there own investigation as to possible federal civil rights charges.
Whoopee! Wouldn't the best outcome be if the local police promptly and thoroughly investigated and laid charges in the case of any and all killings? It's truly a black mark on the sense that justice prevails when they instead decide no such investigation of the killer's action is required.
Although they did do a background check on his victim.
It's good to know there still is some recourse to competence and proper process within the system, but when that is the sort of police you have it's easy to see why citizens want to do the job themselves. Too bad they're at least as bad at it as their cops.
Clearly they need more government in that part of Florida.
Not condoning or condemning anything on this till the facts are ALL KNOWN but to you that ask why he is allowed to carry a gun, check out the U.S. Constitution, it is our 2nd Amendment right- to bear arms. Everyone forgets why we have this right: for protection and to protect the people from tyranny. Ask the Jews what happpened when Hitler's SS Police took their guns away from them. My Father fought on DDay to protect our rights, not for idiots to take them away because people think guns are for hunting and target practice only. Enough said.
Yeah like the kid with the Skittles was a tyrant that needed to be resisted by force of arms.
Not near enough said. That 'right' depends on various judicial interpretations over the last two hundred years, so let's you begin by thanking The Supremes. It's man's law, not god's and it was supposed to keep people, like the victim safe from tyrants like his killer. The bearing of arms in a citizen's militia isn't the same thing as carrying and using them in a stupid personal vigilante crusade.
When gun owners actually show us by word and deed that they are disgusted by criminal acts like this one, and do what they can to see that such killers are sanctioned and such deaths are prevented, then they won't stupidly equate the outcry over them with an infringement of their right.
As in post #14 of this thread.
Oh yeah, and since you're posting on a Canadian board where our views, laws and rights are somewhat different, you should leave out the DDay stuff. Our fathers were killed on DDay too, and for years before that, for the 'peace, order and good government' that is the bedrock of our nation, while we waited for you guys to join in, save the Jews and protect us from tyranny.
No right to bear arms required for any of that. Just right thinking.
There is a report that Z called 911, I think, 40+ times last year. There's something wrong here.
He's also had run-ins with the police before, he's provably a loose cannon with very little self control. He shouldn't be in any position of authority of any kind.
I have no idea what you just said here, I can't decide if I agree or disagree......
i had a feeling that his chase of the victim would come into play...would it also guarantee a 1st degree murder charge ?
Doubtful on the 1st degree as it would be hard to prove convincingly he wanted/planned to 'kill' him with what is known now.
you idiot.. its the 21st century and America... reason why we pay taxes to cops, in hopes that they'll protect us and we don't have to carry guns like we live in Mexico or so
