[rarestia]

Protesters to state: Charge Zimmerman

Third paragraph in:

Zimmerman was legally carrying a registered gun the night he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The neighborhood watch volunteer claimed he was acting in self-defense.

Regardless of whether or not he was actively on duty, this is being discussed ad nauseum in the Tampa Bay media.

[GOPJ]

You say this is being discussed ad nauseum in the Tampa Bay media? That’s because the issue works for dems. My question is - why is it being posted ad nauseum here at FreeRepublic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBFOmUXR080

[wtc911]

There was a report yesterday wherein the Neighborhood Watch Group's leader stated that Zimmerman was not part of the group.

Any sloppy news item that refers to him in either status can not be trusted.

[wtc911]

There are indications that Zimmerman may not have been an official neighborhood watchman, however. In a statement, the National Sheriffs’ Association said its Neighborhood Watch Program is to act as the “eyes and ears” within the community and that the “the alleged action of a ‘self-appointed neighborhood watchman’ last month in Sanford, Fla. significantly contradicts the principles” of the program. “NSA has no information indicating the community where the incident occurred has ever even registered with the NSA Neighborhood Watch program,” it said.

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[imardmd1]

Zimmerman was legally carrying a registered gun ...

One ought to be sort of careful of this terminology. IIRC in FL your handgun is not registered, as it would be in New York State. For a number of years I have held CCDW licenses in FL, PA, and DE -- in many of those years they were concurrent. In none of those states was the handgun licensed or on a permit. It was the fitness of the person to be licensed that was the prerequisite.

As a citizen employee, volunteer or hired, Zimmerman is merely a civilian with no arrest powers, whether carrying a gun open, concealed, or not carrying at all. It seems clear that his pretensions far overreached his community-appointed watcher status.

But he was not "carrying a registered gun," nor could it have been a part of his job description. His carrying could only have been as a private citizen for personal security of self, those in his own company, and/or for his own property -- not that of others.

With all due respect --