George Zimmerman

[clif]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law

the police chief resigned? as the sagacious donald rumsfeld said-there are known unknowns and unknown unknowns, and clowns with their pants down.
so neighborhood watch guy doesn't have to retreat, but it is a fact that he was not under threat but followed the kid around, right? fact? would seem that statute would not apply.

[LK Day]

It is my understanding that this case has nothing to do with Florida's "stand your ground" law. And yet, virtually 100% of traditional media sources report the story as if it's all about "stand your ground". Since the vast majority of reporting on this case has been absolute crap, we can best avoid beclowning ourselves by waiting for the trial. Why be in such a hurry to stake out a position based on a lack of credible information?

[clif]

i'm def cool with that. i'd note that the reason ~100% of media/people think that the case will depend upon the stand your ground law is that, regardless of the facts or the actual defense, that was probably his best chance of a not guilty verdict, at least before the facts were in evidence.

[nik]

reserving judgment until the trial is well underway is hard to argue with in some respects, but toad is right that what we already know is pretty damning for mr. zimmerman. he ignored the request of law enforcement to NOT pursue the "suspect" and a kid ended up dead. law enforcement professionals are trained to deal with "suspicious" individuals in "suspicious" circumstances. random dudes with hero complexes and guns in the florida suburbs are not. hard to see how he's not guilty of something, given what we know.

[maine]

He was told not to pursuer the suspicious person by a dispatcher. NOT a member of law enforcement. That is a huge difference. I'm not saying he is innocent but since when did it become a crime to watch your neighborhood and follow someone who looks suspicious? I think the key fact missing is who started the scuffle. Unfortunately, we may never know the answer to this. Which leaves doubt . . . What is not in doubt is that Trayvon Martin wasn't some little kid eating skittles. He was for all practical purposes a full grown man. (Taller that probably a lot of you guys on this forum) and he clearly had the upper hand in the fight.

The media completely shit in their kitchen on this one though, and regardless of wether George is guilty or not the jury pool is severely tainted.

[clif]

you've got a gun and you're following a guy, but that's not starting a 'scuffle'?

[maine]

Having a gun does not necessarily mean you are looking for a fight. Can't you carry a gun for protection. I used to climb with Wood Hippie, I've never known him to be without a gun. I've also never known him to shoot someone.

[clif]

you're fantastic. he's not a little kid eating skittles-probably taller than you!, was deemed 'suspicious' by a guy with a gun following him, and had the upper hand in the fight, except he's dead. well done.

[toad857]

I wonder if the burglary rate drops in that neighborhood now.

[dustonian]

I heard Skittles and hoodies are less popular now.