Why The 'Stand Your Ground' Law Is God's Gift To Floridians

The Hope For America ^ | 3/22/12 | Me

[careyb]

By now the whole world knows just enough about the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case to be dangerous.

Let's all concede that it's a tragedy that a 17-year-old boy was gunned down. No one should be happy about that.

But beyond that, the media enjoy flashing headlines like "Florida 'Stand Your Ground' Law May Complicate Zimmerman Case". And the usual assortment of gun control nuts have used this incident to exploit the death of a teenager, and call for a repeal of said 'Stand Your Ground' law.

Some have taken the tragedy all the way to Presidential politics. Leftist bloggers make note of the fact that Jeb Bush, who signed the 'Stand Your Ground' law, endorsed Mitt Romney while this story was in the media spotlight.

So what is this 'Stand Your Ground' law? Here is the relevant provision:

"A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony."

Simply put: The 'Stand Your Ground' law allows you to fight back.

Simplier put: If someone is attacking you or one of your loved ones, feel free to use your gun to kill the bastard.

And that's why this law is so important, and why Florida legislators should resist efforts from civil rights activists and gun control groups to repeal it. It specifically grants certain protections to the intended victim and puts the criminal in danger of reprisal.

It's an added element of crime prevention. If a violent offender thinks that whoever he is targeting will use deadly force in return, maybe that violent offender will think twice before committing the crime.

Unlike many pundits, I won't pretend to know the exact circumstances surrounding the Martin shooting. However, with as much as press as the 'Stand Your Ground' law has recently received, I'm willing to bet that a lot of would-be violent criminals in Florida are having second thoughts.

And that's a good thing.

[tickedoffnow]

AMEN.

[maddogtiger]

From what has been reported in local media, the black dude was putting an ass whooping on the other guy when the dude getting whoop drew his piece and fired. If that is true case closed.

[maddogtiger]

From what has been reported in local media, the black dude was putting an ass whooping on the other guy when the dude getting whoop drew his piece and fired. If that is true case closed.

[maddogtiger]

From what has been reported in local media, the black dude was putting an ass whooping on the other guy when the dude getting whoop drew his piece and fired. If that is true case closed.

[maddogtiger]

From what has been reported in local media, the black dude was putting an ass whooping on the other guy when the dude getting whoop drew his piece and fired. If that is true case closed.

[PapaBear3625]

The “kid” was a 17-year-old, 6’2” football player. Zimmerman is short and chubby. Martin was on top beating the crap out of Zimmerman. Zimmerman was plausibly in fear of death or serious bodily injury.

[NoLibZone]

Obama get terrible news:

[NoLibZone]

[RedMonqey]

While we must admit we are not the judge or jury and not all facts are apparent, these facts we do know:

1)Zimmerman as an neighborhood watcher called in “an suspicious person” to 911 and was told by police “to let us handle this"

2)Zimmerman ignored this and left the safety of his car and followed Martin despite the police telling him not to.

3) Up to this point Martin was unarmed and had done nothing illegal

4)Martin had the same rights to self defense as Zimmerman had.

5) An confrontation ensued between Zimmerman and Martin. Martin was fatally shot.

6) Neither Zimmerman's life nor property nor anyone’s elses life/property were in danger until Zimmerman injected himself into the situation.

7 Neither the Castle doctrine not the Stand Your Ground law allows for the lethal use of firearms where life is not in imminent harm.

If Zimmerman approached Martin under the false guise of an law enforcement officer, Martin had no responsibility to obey anything Zimmerman demanded. Had Zimmerman followed the 911 operator’s instructions to let the police investigate this situation, Martin would still be alive and nobody outside his neighborhood would ever have heard of Zimmerman's name.

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and of open/concealed carry laws. It is this reason why I strongly condemn the abuse of the right to own and bear arms as it is apparent in this case. IMHO

We who appreciate this precious right must admit to ourselves that not all persons who do carry are not responsible owners. Unless we condemn those who don't we ourselves risk being counted with them as "gun nuts" by anti-gun forces.

[Lowell1775]

This story dates back to the end of February. It was picked up just a few days ago by the Democrat operatives to use nationwide as another wedge issue to divide whites and blacks. They are also using it to attack both the Castle Doctrine and CCW.

Every libtard commie is piling on this and spineless RINO’s are running like cockroaches. The blacks are being used like tools and spun into lynch mob fury. Nation of Islam and associated groups are sending souljers to hunt down the Jewish Latino (Zimmerman) that killed the boy....alledgedly to “arrest him.” Yeah. Right.

Blacks and Jews and Hispanics are also kept at each others throats by the plantation master class and the Judas class like Howling Al Sharpton.

The truth, which you will play heck finding, is the original press and police reported at the time that Zimmerman was bleeding from the mouth, nose and head and his clothes were wet and muddy and the kid was shot in the chest....meaning the kid had him on the ground kicking his ass.

Undoubtedly it was Zimmerman screaming as lots of listeners heard that.....but the lying libs are leading the great unwashed to think it was Trayvon begging for his life.

The press and race pimps are selectively pulling statements to imply Zimmerman chased the kid down down and shot him in the back. They never say it....but ask the mob on the street what they “think” as they scream for blood.

Zimmerman does appear to have been following the kid, but most likely from what at least two other witnesses, (and as Zimmerman)claims. the kid turned back on Zimmerman and started pounding him.

Also major media outlets are spreading the word that Zimmerman is on tape saying “....damn coons”. I have listened to the tape also available on the web and it OBVIOUSLY is him saying “...damn punk.” But again, ask the people rioting in the streets what he said.

Thousands were in the street in NYC. More planned in FL.

This vile swill and OWS are all a part of the puppet masters plan to sow chaos and hatred so Zero can be the hero.

The Trayvon shooting is a nationwide Rodney King riot heating up....it will be a long hot summer just like 1968.

“More rope over here! Stack more wood on the pile....bring the torches. Zimmerman worships strange gods and must be flayed alive!”

How can adults be manipulated like slobbering dogs and believe this malarkey?

[T-Bird45]

Excellent analysis, especially as regards the craven political manipulation to pit the races against one another with the media as a witting accomplice to achieve the end to repeat the 2008 election result. As one who was alive in 1968, I hope your prediction of a long, hot summer does not come true.

[SandwicheGuy]

Had Zimmerman followed the 911 operator’s instructions to let the police investigate this situation,...

If frogs had wings, they wouldn't bump their butts when they jumped. So please get you facts straight or start a TV show so you can bloviate for pay... The 911 operator gave no such 'Instruction.' And had she, she was not a sworn police officer so what she said to the shooter had all the authority of you telling him what to do or not do.

The fact is an elected neighborhood watch guy investigated suspicious activity on a dark rainy night in his neighborhood, the suspicious guy did not explain his presence but decided to beat the snot out of the guy who questioned him. Apparently he was doing a good job when the shooter became annoyed and ended the beating.

Both of the people involved could have handled the situation better but this outcome is to be expected when the Left fosters resentment between different segments of society. But that is what the Left does to distract you.

[RedMonqey]

Zimmerman had no responsibility to obey anything the 911 operator ( who usually aren’t police officers) said."

True but taking actions that result in a shooting death of an individual is. Had Zimmerman waited for the real police to come , none of this would have ever happened.

It was private property, wasn’t it?

Unclear. It only states he was walking home. According to some reports it happened on Martin's father's lawn. Still until Zimmerman approached Martin, no lives were endangered and no crime had taken place. Zimmerman's only reason for following Martin was Z's opinion that Martin was "suspicious"which doesn't rate "imminent danger"

Zimmerman had every right to ask an unfamiliar kid who he was and where he lived

And Martin had every right not to answer him...

...—if the kid answered normally, maybe none of this would have happened....

How the kid answered has no bearing as to how Zimmerman reacted. He could have told Z. to Go F***K himself and Z. has no right to lay a hand on him, much less shot him.

This is America after all, Home of Freedom of Speech, Not Nazi Germany.

I also know that many 17 year old black kids aren’t polite tykes who just eat Skittles and play hopscotch.

Whether or not Martin was polite isn't a reason for being gunned down.

What we do know that Martin was walking home, minding his own business until Zimmerman made it his business to interfer into this teenager's life and resulted in the death of an innocent life.

[gitmo]

In my opinion, there are three distinct issues at hand.

1. Was Zimmerman justified in his actions? If he provoked the fight with the young man, then he is not justified. If the deceased provoked the fight and Zimmerman justifiably felt his life was endangered then Zimmerman was justified.

2 Did the media purposely make this into a one-sided racist story? Did they stack the facts to cause a divide in the country and to inflame the black community just in time for the 2012 election season?

3. Is the black “civil rights” organization fanning the flames of a lynch mob for their personal enrichment?

[sarasmom]

You stated some very good points.
Frankly, I agree with all of them.

Whether or not I carry open or concealed, or am myself designated a lethal weapon, I have no legal right to detain or question a stranger in my neighborhood who is just walking down the street.

As I tried to explain this situation to my daughter,I kept referring back to the main point.
That while I have no problem killing another human being in self defense, I also have no right to actively bait another human being into a life or death confrontation.

Zimmermen appears to have clearly baited Martin into a life or death fight/flight/or die situation.
It looks like Martin chose to fight, instead of flight or die.

I taught my child to first and always fight back, flee if she must to preserve life, but to never back down.

[RedMonqey]

The fact is an elected neighborhood watch guy investigated suspicious activity on a dark rainy night in his neighborhood, the suspicious guy did not explain his presence but decided to beat the snot out of the guy who questioned him

Being "elected" watch guy doesn't give him powers any average citizen walking home has to respect.

And since when is walking home with a bag of skittles and a coke "suspicious activity"?

...the suspicious guy did not explain his presence but decided to beat the snot out of the guy...

All conjecture as well.

One could equally say, without laughing I might add, the kid walking home, talking to his girlfriend on his cellphone, is followed by a suspicious man with his hand on what looks like a gun. He believes he being accosted by an armed thug pretending to be a cop, intent on doing bodily harm.(which did happen) Prepares to either run or defend himself(which is his God given right) Only he doesn't have a gun.

Conjecture as well. But what we do know the kid was minding his business. You know, innocent until proved guilty.

He wasn't robbing anyone.

He wasn't breaking into anyone's house.

He wasn't banishing a gun.

He wasn't pretending he was a cop.

He was a kid coming home from a store when his life was interrupted by a wannabe cop with a "Dirty Harry" fantasy. The fact is Zimmerman instigated this event he had no right to start.

And that is THE FACT that really matters..

[RedMonqey]

Thank you.

In situations like this I try to put myself in BOTH sides and see how I would react.
Or how I would react IF someone I loved had this happen to them.

It’s something I wish others would do . I think it would change their opinions if the shoe was on the other foot.

Some people are made to own firearms. Some people are not. You’re somebody I would inheritly trust with a firearm.

You know it’s not a “play pretty”, or something to add inches to your....well you get the point.

[enduserindy]

“I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and of open/concealed carry laws. It is this reason why I strongly condemn the abuse of the right to own and bear arms as it is apparent in this case. IMHO
We who appreciate this precious right must admit to ourselves that not all persons who do carry are not responsible owners. Unless we condemn those who don’t we ourselves risk being counted with them as “gun nuts” by anti-gun forces. “

You are going to take flak, but you are absolutely correct. If gun right supporters are going to run to defend every nut that fight will be lost. More and more I see utter knee jerk reaction on FR. There will be much on this topic for sure.