Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Florida's self-defense law complicates shooting of teenager (Trayvon Martin)
Kansas City (Star).com &McClatchy Newspapers ^ | March 19, 2012 | DAVID OVALLE AND FRANCES ROBLES

Posted on 03/21/2012 6:01:38 PM PDT by Navy Patriot

Florida's controversial 2005 "Stand-Your-Ground" self-defense law could make it difficult to charge a Sanford man who shot an unarmed Miami Gardens teenager to death, legal experts say.

An arrest could hinge on whether prosecutors believe that neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman acted unreasonably when he encountered Trayvon Martin, 17, whom he suspected was a prowler. A 911 dispatcher told Zimmerman that he didn't need to follow Martin.

"If he was attacked, he can stand his ground," said retired Miami-Dade prosecutor David Waksman, who is not involved in the case. "But if police say back off and we'll take care of it, he's not covered by the law."

The state self-defense law eliminated a citizen's duty to retreat before using deadly force to confront an attacker. Police and prosecutors statewide have said the the law fosters a shoot-first, ask-questions-later mentality.

(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; lamestream; media; trayvonmartin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last
To: manc
Nothing at all is complicated about our law, unless the writer is a left wing thick idiot, which I bet they are.

Please note that I post under the exact title, I do not necessarily agree with that title.

In this case, I necessarily agree with you, and I fully support the Florida SYG law.

Additionally I propose that the secondary purpose for this MSM hate whitey propaganda is laying a foundation for gun grabbers to attack all stand your ground laws.

21 posted on 03/21/2012 6:52:20 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Myrddin
Martin jumped him from behind. An eye witness observed a man in a red sweater (Zimmerman) on his back with another man (Martin) beating him. Zimmerman called for help. The eye witness told Martin to stop, then headed inside his home to call 911. One the way upstairs, the eye witness heard a gun shot. He looked out the window and saw the man who was doing the beating on the grass, presumably dead.

But, but, but....THAT ISN'T WHAT THE MEDIA ARE IMPLYING! THEY AND EMMANUEL CLEAVER, SOME GUY UP IN MISSOURI, HAVE ALREADY DETERMINED THIS IS A HATE CRIME AND ZIMMERMAN IS GUILTY!

Don't you get it, man?! We need to try the case with mobs who weren't there and don't know all the facts, along with a brainless bunch of media children who are eager to please their liberal gods!

22 posted on 03/21/2012 6:53:58 PM PDT by SoFloFreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Theoria; All
Obviously, we will see such photos of evidence that the police took of Mr. Zimmerman, not only that, the EMT would have treated him for such injuries incurred by his fight with Mr. Martin? Correct?

I expect that we will see them eventually, after the decision is made to prosecute or not. If a decision is made to prosecute, then it might not be until after a trial.

George Zimmerman is under a legal impediment in this trial by public opinion. He is almost certainly under orders not to say anything, and the police are not releasing evidence while the investigation is underway.

The injuries were reported quite early. At least some reports said that he required stitches to the wounds in the back of the head.

But, this does not fit the frenzy the media and the race/grievance activists are feeding and want, so that information is pretty much being ignored.

23 posted on 03/21/2012 7:12:54 PM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Paradox
Reckless, irresponsible, incompetent, unwise, over reactive, frustrated, afraid, somewhat arrogant....all fit.

The civil suits will be heard or not, as the judge(s) decide.

24 posted on 03/21/2012 7:13:20 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: SoFloFreeper
Zimmerman has a broken nose and grass stains on the back of his shirt. That is consistent with the observation by the eye witness.
25 posted on 03/21/2012 7:15:11 PM PDT by Myrddin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
I found football records that have Martin's weight at 135 in the 2008/2009 football season. That was 4 years ago. Surely he has grown and put on more than 5 pounds since his 13th birthday.
26 posted on 03/21/2012 7:17:40 PM PDT by Myrddin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Plus they keep posting a picture of the kid when he was ten years old.


27 posted on 03/21/2012 7:18:25 PM PDT by Krankor (eenie meenie, chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: SoFloFreeper

You mean that same media that showed over and over again only the video of the police beating Rodney King, while never showing King attacking the cops?


28 posted on 03/21/2012 7:18:25 PM PDT by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA

er one is covered by the MSM , and one is not


29 posted on 03/21/2012 7:18:25 PM PDT by manc (Marriage is between one man and one woman,It's not a conservative view but a true American view)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Navy Patriot

Everybody lies, especially the shooters of unarmed children.


30 posted on 03/21/2012 7:18:45 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: manc

Another thread here today had the stat:

blacks attacks whites 18 times more often than whites attack blacks. fbi stat.


31 posted on 03/21/2012 7:19:21 PM PDT by George from New England
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Gunslingr3

and there is more being reported here and of course the writer would take say this


32 posted on 03/21/2012 7:20:29 PM PDT by manc (Marriage is between one man and one woman,It's not a conservative view but a true American view)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Navy Patriot

Seems lIke Zimmerman has already been tried and convicted by the media and the race agitators

I wish the media would wait until all the facts play out before they pass judgment....

Seems to me Zimmerman is an idiot.....and lacked judgement....and put himself into this precarious position ....Not a well written law...

Firing your weapon at someone is the absolute last course of action one should take....


33 posted on 03/21/2012 7:25:58 PM PDT by Popman (America is squandering its wealth on riotous living, war, and welfare.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paradox; All

Per one of the comments at the article:
Eventually, Martin the 6’3 140lb football player (tall, fast, and lean) got the upperhand on the 5’2 250lb (short, slow, and overweight) Zimmerman. So much so that he is actually on top of Zimmerman on the ground beating the crap out of his face (he broke his nose) and slammed Zimmerman’s head into the concrete causing it to bleed.

Zimmerman cries for help, as a result of this fight domination by Martin, went unanswered and as a last resort he shot Martin to save his own life. If you have never had someone on top of you beating your face and banging your head into concrete then you don’t know how deadly that can be.


34 posted on 03/21/2012 7:28:02 PM PDT by chris37 (Heartless.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Myrddin
The synthesis I see from multiple sources is that Zimmerman did back off.

That is a serious and likely possibility, and if it is the case, Mr. Zimmerman is entirely protected by all Florida self defense laws including SYG.

I posted the disproof of the "requirement to back off" because I tired of the FReepers that had Zimmerman guilty of murder when he got out of the truck, they are the best useful idiots the MSM has, currently.

35 posted on 03/21/2012 7:30:39 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: George from New England

thank you, at least you understood my point.

Why some do not understand this is beyond me.
I would have thought that at least on our side they would understand that the MSM would report only certain facts to back their agenda up but no it seems many sit down to watch their evening news and think that is the truth.

Boy are we in trouble


36 posted on 03/21/2012 7:33:53 PM PDT by manc (Marriage is between one man and one woman,It's not a conservative view but a true American view)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Navy Patriot

Correct me if I’m wrong, cause I know as little as everyone else:

Zimmerman is a hothead with multiple past 911 calls regarding blacks. Zimmerman followed the victim, even though he was told by the 911 operator to stop. Zimmerman’s life was not in danger from a 140 lb punk whom he outweighed by a 100lbs.


37 posted on 03/21/2012 7:35:04 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!

please note to all for crying out loud that the photo’s displayed by this corrupt MSM is him at aged 14 years old.

Why oh why does our side not understand that the MSM is biased and that they tell lies and we wonder why we are in a mess when we are dictated to by this corrupt media


38 posted on 03/21/2012 7:40:18 PM PDT by manc (Marriage is between one man and one woman,It's not a conservative view but a true American view)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
Everybody lies, especially the shooters of unarmed children.

Nope, everybody lies, just some lie more than others.

It's who you will believe when you have knowledge of their record and agenda that counts.

39 posted on 03/21/2012 7:49:34 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: chris37
But you see, he started the fight (Zimmerman) by following the kid and approaching him. I can see how the kids actions were justified, it was a fight, and for all he knew, the guy was trying to kill him. You ever been followed and approached by someone?

Once the fight started, zimmerman may have been justified, but the fact is, he caused the fight, he holds at least some responsibility and should answer for it.

Now ALL that said, I would not be surprised if more info comes out that casts a different light on the confrontation, as I have seen here already in this thread. The MSM is going to milk this and slant this for as long as they can, and if they could get a trial or something around October, they would be jumping for joy...

40 posted on 03/21/2012 7:50:53 PM PDT by Paradox (I want Obama defeated. Period.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson