Posted on 08/05/2013 7:41:45 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Vigilance, not vigilantism. No weapons, other than pepper spray for self-defense. More reliance on paper and cellphones.
For almost everyone on neighborhood watch groups in Williamsport, a question of what message did the George Zimmerman verdict send was followed by a common answer: Those involved do not take the law into their own hands.
Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., got out of his car after police instructed him not to. His actions led to an altercation with unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, whom Zimmerman said he shot in self-defense on Feb. 26, 2012. Martin died and in a jury trial Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges July 13.
"The verdict didn't change how I view things as a neighborhood watch volunteer," said Bill Henderson, who watches over neighborhoods along Market Street north to Hawthorne and Homewood avenues.
"Our message has always been non-violent," Henderson said. "No one is carrying arms and we work very closely with the police and let them handle the situation."
That message was repeated by Jeff Reeder, president of the Williamsport Citizens Corps Council.
"There are to be no firearms carried on any neighborhood watch activities," Reeder said. The directive was sent down from the National Sheriff's Association right after the shooting of Martin, he added.
"They (group members) can carry a cellphone with them, a flashlight and pepper spray, should they choose," Reeder said. "I don't carry anything but pad and pencil."
For Maynard Homler, of Scott Street Neighborhood Watch, the verdict is a life lesson.
"He was wrong for being out at night on watch, carrying a handgun," said Homler, who has a permit to carry a concealed firearm. "I've been around guns my whole life and there's a right and wrong time to have them. You carry something that is non-lethal, such as pepper spray."
"We take a whistle and a flashlight," said Frank Welteroth, of Park Place. He takes walks with his wife, Marie, and the group who check on First and Park avenues, Memorial Avenue and parts of Campbell Street.
"The whistle is used for somebody being attacked and we would blow it to try to hope to scare them," he said. "A flashlight helps to look down alleys that are dark."
"I think it's like taking the law into your own hands," said Jane Dirk, of Tucker Street, a group leader in the East End, of the verdict and lesson from it. "Nobody should carry a gun on a neighborhood watch."
"The one thing I tell people is be very careful, stay out of harm's way," said Sally Wiegand of Louisa Street, a neighborhood watch coordinator. "I don't believe in carrying guns. This is what can happen. I think it should be a lesson to neighborhood watchers that we are not vigilantes."
I fear for the lives of these people.
The drug dealers and gangs from Philly coming into this lovely little city are armed and dangerous.
Don’t go to a gunfight with a cellphone!
Bull crap!!
I’ve taken a number of whippings in my day. Sorry Marky boy. It’s hard to be “vigilant” when you’ve got a bloody, broken nose, a Neanderthal is sitting on your chest and your head is being bounced on the concrete like a basketball.
The whistle is used for somebody being attacked and we would blow it to try to hope to scare them...
Hope to your heart's content. For myself, the .357 magnum seems somewhat more definite.
Errors in this narrative:
1) GZ was NOT on watch patrol
2) The police did not tell him to stay in his car
3) GZ did not persue TM
Failed to mention in this narrative:
1) TM was acting suspiciously - on other peoples property looking into windows.
2) TM viciously and illegally assaulted GZ knocking him to the ground
3) TM broke GZ’s nose
4) TM had injuries to his knuckles consistent with beating someone
5) TM was high on drugs and had a liver shown to have damage consistent with a street drug called lean
How many times do we have to repeat, HE WAS NOT INSTRUCTED BY POLICE TO STOP FOLLOWING!
GZ was told by a dispatcher he did not need to track.
Sick of this BS. It’s like the “I can see Russia” non-comment!
-------------
This article is dated August 5th. The Zimmerman verdict came down July 13th. It took this ninny over three weeks to react?
Errors in this narrative:
1) GZ was NOT on watch patrol
2) The police did not tell him to stay in his car
3) GZ did not persue TM
Failed to mention in this narrative:
1) TM was acting suspiciously - on other peoples property looking into windows.
2) TM viciously and illegally assaulted GZ knocking him to the ground
3) TM broke GZ’s nose
4) TM had injuries to his knuckles consistent with beating someone
5) TM was high on drugs and had a liver shown to have damage consistent with a street drug called lean
Zim “got out of his car after police instructed him not to”?
I’ve followed this I think enough to say that is not the case. He was already on foot when he placed any call that I recall and in any event was never directed specifically to return to his car. He was advised with a “I wouldn’t do that sir” when he said he was going further on foot to try place where the hoodie kid went at the end of a footpath at end of a row of condos, or at least get streetname.
somebody who followed closely could tell anyone and presumably writers of this dross have been.
This is extremely irresponsible writing.
Schaedenfreude BUMP!
I can’t get enough of the whining from the crybaby liberal scum!
LMBO!!
I guarantee, half of those volunteers have their handguns on them.
Jim, is that you? How come you have a 2011 sign-up date?
Sorry, responded to the wrong guy.
So, are they going to be held liable when one of their neighborhood watchmen are killed or maimed?
A dead Martin was a much better outcome that a dead Zimmerman.
the effects of and Skittles Arizona “iced Tea” and Robitussin combo drink apparently
Democrats refusing to let the facts stand in the way of a good smear job.
Why is anyone surprised?
Yeah. This guy is a member of the "tell a lie often enough..." club.
My fav is when they claim the Stand Your Ground law was used in GZ's trial.
Zimmerman was in his truck when he placed the call, but the dispatcher never instructed him to not get out of the truck. Conversely, the dispatcher asked Zimmerman two separate times to let him know if the guy does anything. When Zimmerman said the guy was running, the dispatcher asked him which way he was running and which entrance he was running to. That is when Zimmerman got out of his truck, so that he could answer the dispatcher’s questions. When the dispatcher asked if he was following the guy, and Zimmerman said yeah, that is when the dispatcher said “Okay, we don’t need you to do that.” Zimmerman immediately said okay and the evidence indicates that he stopped following the guy.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/3044800/posts
An example of this is demonstrated by the “news” circulating in local black or mixed areas in publications like the The New Amsterdam (linked) that unquestionably follow, follow,follow, like martinets., Are they being duped by the handouts of lies they’re getting from this government? And unwilling accomplices to a horrendous and disgusting injustice ? Or are they contributing to it for the good of the collective ? It’s a question only they should be made to answer. For those vehicles which contributed to this demonstration of disinformation of a contemptable injustice should be asked and severly dealt with if they did.. It’s time to hold them accountable”
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