Posted on 03/25/2012 12:42:39 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The Justice Department should look into the “Stand Your Ground” laws that kept Florida police from arresting the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, New York’s senior senator said Sunday.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said he wrote the Justice Department asking them to expand their review of Martin’s death to include the impact of Florida’s and other states “Stand Your Ground” Laws.
“Stand Your Ground laws is a whole new concept,” Schumer told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “Some people call it shoot first, ask questions later,” he said.
The laws generally grant immunity to anyone who uses deadly force, inside or outside of his home, if the shooter can reasonably claim he was defending himself.
“The laws all passed very, very quickly and I think the states who passed them, if they find the real facts, may decide to repeal them,” Schumer said, noting a survey of 13 cases by the Florida Sun-Sentinel that found 12 of the victims had not been armed.
Florida was the first of 21 states to pass such laws since 2005. The Sunshine State’s version allows police on the scene to decide whether they believe a shooter’s claims of self-defense.
In Trayvon Martin’s case, police have said they did the right thing by not charging 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a member of a citizens' watch, with the shooting.
Court-watchers say in other cases, cops make an arrest and then let the courts figure out if the use of deadly force was legally justified.
Schumer said he wants Justice officials to see whether these new laws “actually increase violence rather than decrease violence, and whether they actually prevent law enforcement from prosecuting cases where real crime has been committed.”
Zimmerman told police Martin attacked him after he had given up chasing the boy and he was returning to his truck. He had a bloody nose and blood on the back of his head, according to police.
Martin's family doubt Zimmerman's story and argue if the shooter was black there is no doubt he would have been arrested.
FU Putz-a-Chuckle Shyster
"Government Security for me, but ghetto beat-downs for thee."
No thanks, Chuck. We all see what you are up to. Your mask came off long ago. You're an evil man who wants to control private citizens.
Then Martin becomes aware.
That tells you who was the hunter and who was the hunted.
According to Zimmerman Martin ran away and appears to have attempted to hide. Zimmerman dismounted his truck and followed Martin on foot.
Again, that tells you who was the hunter and who was the hunted.
Reminds me an awful lot of that situation in Wisconsin where the Hmong guy claimed he'd been targeted by hunters ~ then, during the investigation authorities determined the Hmong guy had been killing them, even unarmed people.
This is not a simple case either ~ particularly if you focus only on Zimmerman's rights ~ as if his having a gun gave him privileges over others. You must also look at Martin's rights.
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Senator Schumer of New York and his wife both carry handguns - as does Senator Feinstein of California
- Do as I say -
- Not as I do -
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Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
This Lying scumbag needs to be arrested and thrown in Jail....
Lets see the current photo of Treyvon...at 6 foot 2 inches
not his Baby photo.
Leave it to nappy headed Chuck the Schmuck to stick his nose in it.
What a POS.
This event is sending a shiver up Chucky’s leg.
Which is disquieting ~ I'd much prefer buying up 90% of the guns ~ that way we got them and THEY DON"T.
“And by the way, Zimmerman was described as a “self appointed” neighborhood watch captain.”
He was described that way by the press, and we know they lie. He wasn’t self appointed. The residents started a Neighborhood Watch program, had someone out to speak to them about how to run it and Zimmerman was chosen by the group. Also, at the time of the incident he wasn’t patrolling, he was on a personal errand. He was legally concealed carrying. The girlfriend heard some dialog between the two. If someone appears suspicious in my neighborhood, I’d likely ask what they were doing, too. That does not warrant being assaulted. At this point we don’t know what happened after the dialog and who might have been physical first. Please try and keep up and save yourself comments that ignorant. It would be nice to see some critical thinking.
If a 6'2" football player tackled you and started to beat your face in would you just lie there?
I'm not 6'2" but I'd be willing to beat your face in till you admit the truth!
Neither one is innocent. This is just a tragedy.
No Chuck. You want to let punks like Trayvor have free reign and the only thing we can do is run away? Bull crap.
Remember the environment. It was dark and it was raining.
Florida's law depends entirely on what you perceive, not on some detached sense of right and wrong ways to withdraw.
Remember, the withdraw requirement was eliminated from Florida law.
Pops, I am using critical thinking, and i critically think that a kid being followed by some guy in a car who then gets out of the car and chases him has every right to be frightened. And if he thinks he’s going to be abducted, he might fight back. We don’t know who threw the first punch, or if Zimmerman identified himself, because the kid’s dead. Yes, if someone is in your neighborhood, you can ask what they are doing. And if they are walking on the street, they can keep walking. And if you start following them in the car and then get out and chase them, they may think you are trying to harm them.
The self appointed comment was on several media broadcasts, including Fox News. Sorry if I missed the ones wear the neighbors spoke up for him and explained more. I don’t think my comment was ignorant, but it bothers you because it seem we may disagree.
Schumer has worse problems in crime-ridden New York State than stand your ground law.
I have nothing but contempt for him.
Regarding the "personal errand' we need more. Where was he and when was he there. Did he perhaps encounter Martin on that personal errand?
The Florida AG should respond with a letter the Chuckie that says “What part of the word FLORIDA spells New York?”
Federal government has had its due with the Second Amendment being operative here. All matters not specifically covered in the Constitution are left to the states. Screw him. Let him take guns away in his home state...
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