Posted on 07/08/2012 5:47:37 AM PDT by marktwain
George Zimmerman’s lawyer says at the heart of the Trayvon Martin murder case lies a constitutional prerogative: The right of Americans to carry guns and use them in self-defense. Is he right?
Within 24 hours of Seminole County, Fla., Judge Kenneth Lester issuing a stern order allowing George Zimmerman, the defendant in the Trayvon Martin murder case, to post a $1 million bond, the volunteer neighborhood watchman received over $25,000 in donations, bringing his defense war chest to nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
Mark O’Mara, Mr. Zimmerman’s attorney, wrote that donors have been lining up for several reasons – that he’s been unfairly treated by the media, that he’s been falsely labeled a racist, and that donors, if they were in a similar position, would likely have done the same thing.
But in making an appeal for more funds, Mr. O’Mara also suggested on Friday that many Americans have given because they feel “this case is an affront to their constitutional rights,” namely the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.
IN PICTURES: Trayvon Martin
To be sure, many commentators say the case has mainly to do with Zimmerman violating Martin’s equal protection rights by profiling him and then illegally depriving the boy of his basic constitutional right of life.
But judging by the speed and size of donations to the defense fund, it’s clear the case continues to provoke a separate debate about America’s shifting stance on gun rights and the constitutional case for self-defense.
“People … are definitely thinking and talking about it,” Terrence Mayfield, 61, a Florida gun permit holder, told the New York Times a few weeks before the latest bond hearing. “This whole thing rests on who threw the first punch. Either the gun saved Zimmerman’s life or we had a cowboy, someone who
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
I’m not sure Zimmerman has a chance with a FL jury. Maybe a WY or ID jury (and that’s doubtful too), but not FL.
the way GZ is being treated by the “justice system” disgusts me and shakes my whole trust in same to the core
Zimmerman’s “war chest” shrunk by $100,000 because of the judge’s punitive bail
“As the new media gets facts to the public”
Indeed, if it weren’t for internet news sources and legions of investigative bloggers, the facts of the situation would never have been known.
The MSM are such liars. For example, from the article:
“To Trayvon supporters, THE FACT that a half-white, half-Hispanic man went free after profiling Trayvon, an innocent black boy, as a criminal, chasing after him, and then shooting the unarmed boy reeked of racial inequality and even institutional racism.”
Good Lord. . .”FACT?!”
The more that the entire story is laid out, and the various character flaws in the kid are laid out....you end up flipping the channel off. Zimmerman might have done something stupid in this thing...but this kid isn’t exactly as innocent as the media portrays him. You are left with Zimmerman acting like ninety-five percent of us.
GZ prevented a MURDER through JUSTIFIED HOMICIDE with the proper application of the 2nd Amendment....
...which makes the Left furious!
Which demonstrates how little sway the "silent majority" have these days and indicates that we are likley doomed to subjagation despite being the overwhelming majority.
Is it time to dump Mark O’Mara???
The next thing on the agenda is preparation for a Stand Your Ground Hearing — but Mark O’Mara hates the SYG statute with a passion.
How much of the PayPal and passport fiasco was his fault??? He was the one who called SZ to the witness stand. Did he prepare her for the prosecution’s questions like a good attorney should have???
I heard him on television the other night whining that the state prosecutor hasn’t sent him a plea offer yet. What? He’s already throwing in the towel.
I have never in my life heard an attorney do more to bash his own client and his own client’s credibility in front of the media than Mark O’Mara.
He’s pathetic and he needs to go — NOW.
I'm not sure he has a chance with that Florida lawyer that he has. Mark O'Mara is good friends with Natalie Jackson, B Crump, and a whold lot of people out for his blood. He came recommended by Mark Nejame who continues to report on his guilt. And MoM does not believe in Stand Your Ground laws and yet that hearing is next up.
The fix is in. Mark O'Mara needs to go.
“equal protection rights by profiling him” Those rights extend to the government, not to individuals acting on their own. He was a volunteer, not a police official or government lacky.
I was impressed with GZ's first set of lawyers, too bad he got some bad advice and went with O'Mara.
I hope O'Mara can stick to his duty to GZ, and use the Stand Your Ground law to best advantage.
“state prosecutor hasn’t sent him a plea offer yet.”
Plea offer?....gfy. The only plea offer he should get is GZ case is dismissed if GZ promises not to sue for mor than a million to be paid by the individuals personally.
Fixed.
Yeah, it’s too bad felons aren’t allowed to buy guns.
A fairy tale.
He can't. He doesn't have it in him. He has no sense of duty to his client.
Mark O'Mara hates the Stand Your Ground laws and is on record opposing them. So just how strong a defense will he provide in the upcoming SYG hearing.
The most important thing in the SYG hearing is the defendant's credibility, and yet here is his own lawyer MoM going on news shows admitting to his client's credibility problems. What kind of lawyer does that to his client???
What kind of lawyer puts his client on the witness stand in a bailbond hearing subjecting him to cross-examination without preparation??? What kind of lawyer enters a bailbond hearing without a readout from the Paypal account that he knows about and knows that everybody on planet earth knows about???
The blame for that first hearing should fall on his shoulders but he is running around bleming it on GZ and his wife.
And now he's whining that the state hasn't sent him a plea offer yet. When you are innocent and your lawyer has thrown in the towel, it is time for him to go.
Mark O'Mara has been an utter disaster and needs to go.
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