Did you ever see anything as confusing as the FL jury instructions on manslaughter?
I always thought it would be a tactical error to plead SYG, but GZ almost got hung over the issue of "culpable negligence" and whether or not CCW = "intent".
It turns out that his most straightforward defense was that he had the right to be where he was, and Martin had no right to be banging on his head.
I'm still worried about the general application of SYG (being a common law fan), but in this case it looks like it would have helped GZ.
The Dems are the ones focused on SYG because they want it repealed. In the past, you had to run if you were able. Now, if you are attacked, you have the right to fight back, even to the death. You no longer have the impressibility to flee if you can. GZ NEVER did ANYTHING to Martin to make Martin think he should be afraid. OTOH, GZ didn't know Martin was 17 nor did he know he was unarmed.
My original post was on the sarcastic side, but really, if the whole world is going to get it's panties in a knot over Trayvon, how long are we supposed to get beat up before we can act on our own behalf? If this thing doesn't go away, that is a question that the Justice dept needs to answer. Just a a hypothetical, if I call someone a prick and make a pass at their wife, am I supposed to allow them to kill me before taking decisive action? I don't think anyone is supposed to lay down and die just because. I was taught to avoid trouble as much as possible, but if trouble finds me to be the one to end it. I don't have the responsibility to get brain damage just to try and keep the peace. Bullies never allow keeping the peace anyway. That is the liberal fallacy right now on the terrorists. If we just don't provoke them with Guantanamo, or putting lard in our food, they will learn to love us. We haven't learned that they have the "great commission" of murdering us and the Jews no matter what. If you give the school bully your lunch money, you can bet he will be back for more. Until some of these jerks that pull people from cars and beat them in the street figure out the guy in the car may have a gun and shoot them, this will not end. Trayvon miscalculated that the Pillsbury Dough Boy might be able to defend himself from a "Fight Club" wannabe. I kept hearing about a cop wannabe, but to say anything about Trayvon was putting him on trial and might soil his memory. Well the guy was a punk and if not now, would have ended up dead or in jail soon anyway. Darwin took care of the situation with GZ, but it would have ended up with an armed homeowner or a cop sooner or later.
It's a shame a 17 year old died. Many of us did stupid things when we were young and grew out of it. But GZ didn't have the obligation to die just to allow Trayvon to learn some life lessons.