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SIMMONS: Bill Cosby weighs in on Trayvon Martin case
The Washington Times ^ | April 7, 2012 | Deborah Simmons

Posted on 04/07/2012 12:30:01 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

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To: Free ThinkerNY

Cosby has a point, but is still wrong.

His point is that for some people, guns are equated with machismo. They think that a gun empowers them, and makes them dominant in a confrontation. This is not true, and can get you in a lot of trouble.

Ask any police officer, and they will say that a gun does no such thing. You can only do three things with a gun: keep it in its holster, brandish it, and shoot someone with it. But most situations are far more complex than that.

This is why many police *adore* Tasers. They fill the huge gap between the three “gun modes”, and as such are an invaluable tool in confrontations.

But at the same time, Cosby is wrong, because he is *assuming* that Zimmerman confronted Martin. Evidence points to just the opposite, that Zimmerman backed away from confrontation, and Martin returned to confront him, attacked him, and finally, on seeing Zimmerman’s gun, tried to grab it, making Martin entirely at fault for getting shot.

In a typical situation, *especially* if you are armed, in almost all cases, it is best if you act like you did not have a gun. A concealed carry weapon is an excellent “reactive” and “thoughtful” weapon. It can give you the grace to think first and plan its use, or decide to not use it.

And you lose a huge advantage if you draw it early and brandish it. If it stays hidden, you *do* have a lot of control in a situation, even if it doesn’t appear so.

According to accounts, Zimmerman’s worst failure was that he lost “situational awareness” of Martin, that allowed Martin to “close the gap” and punch Zimmerman on the face.

This makes sense, because Martin’s football training used rushing for both defense and offense. When in such a situation, it is common for them to charge. The “knock ‘em down and start punching them”, technique.

The forensic evidence in this case will likely be conclusive. If Martin was shot on the level, while standing up, with little residue on his clothing, Zimmerman is guilty of voluntary homicide. If Martin was straddling Zimmerman and the bullet hit him vertically, with considerable residue on his clothes, Zimmerman was defending himself.


81 posted on 04/07/2012 1:59:22 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("It is already like a government job," he said, "but with goats." -- Iranian goat smuggler)
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To: yarddog

A lot of people are scared of guns, but don’t understand that just about anything can be a lethal weapon.


82 posted on 04/07/2012 2:01:55 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: patriot08
The 90 year old war veteran husband was beaten and his jaw broken. He was shot in the face numerous times with a BB gun and sent to the hospital in critical condition.

This man should have had a gun handy for self defense before the home invasion. I recently visited an old man in his home and he showed me that he had a loaded gun in every room for self defense. Home invasions would cease if more people protcted themselves like this.

83 posted on 04/07/2012 2:02:11 PM PDT by tommix2 (,)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said.” - Bill Cosby, black comedian

Americans carry guns because they know “it is their right and duty to be at all times armed” - Thomas Jefferson, Founder

Easy choice, IMHO.


84 posted on 04/07/2012 2:02:29 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles."...the public interest)
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To: Yorktownpatriot
Mr. Cosby and many other gun-grabbing hypocrites, can afford bodyguards and armed security at their rsidence and workplace. While doing armed security with a company that also has PPO's (Personal Protection Officers aka bodyguards) in Dallas, I saw many anti-gun celebrities, including hip-hop stars paying our firm to keep the riff-raff away from them and protect them. The Hunger Games is more documentary than science fiction.
85 posted on 04/07/2012 2:03:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: mylife

He’s come out as a lefty racist before. I’m not surprised.


86 posted on 04/07/2012 2:05:06 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: Free ThinkerNY

“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said.”

Of course. I intend to kill attackers. So, what?


87 posted on 04/07/2012 2:05:32 PM PDT by CodeToad (I'm so right-wing if I lifted my left leg I'd go into a spin.)
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To: melsec

“we do not carry guns in Australia”

Too right! You gave them up, willingly.

Not meaning to harsh, but Aussies came from a different cultural history than Americans.

We are citizens, and you are subjects, until a moment ago.


88 posted on 04/07/2012 2:06:32 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles."...the public interest)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said.

Bull****! When you carry a gun, you prevent someone else from harming, killing you. Sorry Billy.

89 posted on 04/07/2012 2:07:59 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The libs don't want to save da planit. If they did, they'd boycott BIG oil and petroleum products.)
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To: mylife

Bill Cosby changed his stance on gun control after his son was killed by a thug wielding a gun. Personally I give the guy a lot of respect to have gone through what he has. Just like the Brady Bill, Bill Cosby’s opinion came because of being a victim of a thug who illegally shot another.


90 posted on 04/07/2012 2:22:21 PM PDT by zaxtres
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To: GladesGuru; melsec
Australia and Canada are among the 15 independent nations of the Commonwealth Realm. That means we all recognize Queen Elizabeth II as our Head of State.

In the time since the American Revolution, the powers of the Monarch have steadily decreased. It's largely a ceremonial and symbolic position now. Parliament is supreme.

OTOH, in the last few years, your Head of State (and Head of Government) has increasingly taken on the trappings of an absolute ruler. Congress has been diminished. The SCOTUS was recently attacked.

91 posted on 04/07/2012 2:41:40 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: zaxtres

The logic is extremely flawed though. Taking guns away from law abiding citizens just puts more power in the hands of criminals. It’s hard to respect muddled thinking like that.


92 posted on 04/07/2012 2:42:16 PM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: Darren McCarty

I guess I misread him all along.


93 posted on 04/07/2012 2:43:23 PM PDT by RoadTest (There is one god, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.)
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To: Roccus
"Did you ever see a white male portrayed as anything but a criminal or an idiot on the Cosby Show?"

Even the little fat kid was a joke.

94 posted on 04/07/2012 2:44:12 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon (I can haz Romney's defeat?)
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To: Roccus
Did you ever see a white male portrayed as anything but a criminal or an idiot on the Cosby Show?

Hey, now, Adam Sandler was on the Cosby Show, and....oh...wait...

95 posted on 04/07/2012 2:51:16 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (If we had a President, he'd look like Newt.)
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To: zaxtres

How do you know what Cosby’s views on gun control prior to his Son’s murder?

Are you and Cosby close friends?


96 posted on 04/07/2012 2:54:37 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: zaxtres

How do you know what Cosby’s views on gun control prior to his Son’s murder?

Are you and Cosby close friends?


97 posted on 04/07/2012 2:54:52 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Let's suppose that Zimmerman didn't have a gun and Martin beat his brains out on the pavement. Would we have ever heard of this at all? Similar events occur every day. Judging by the number of states that now allow concealed carry and the growing number of citizens choosing to arm themselves, many of us are tired of being victimized by thugs.
One has to wonder how many gangsta's may have been deterred by what happened to Martin.
98 posted on 04/07/2012 3:04:03 PM PDT by Malone LaVeigh
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Mr. Cosby: “When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said.
Yup... If you try to hurt, maim, rape, or kill me or my family.... You’re room temp.


99 posted on 04/07/2012 3:06:32 PM PDT by baddog 219
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To: mylife

In only reading the snip..Cosby has a point. Fair enough that maybe Mr Zimmerman may not been brave enough to approach Trayvon Martin. But the bottom line here is that Trayvon had chosen the path of a drug dealer...that he is dead is not unexpected. It is just the shooter and the location. Had he been in ‘da hood, there wouldn’t have been a peep from the media


100 posted on 04/07/2012 3:07:08 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (Democrats...the party of Slavery, Segregation, Sodomy, and Sedition)
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