17yr old black kid shot and killed for walking in white suburbia?

[loren]

Your scenario falls under the possible but unlikely scenario.

I find it hard to believe that Zimmerman told this kid to 'chill out, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm a part of the neighborhood watch and I wanted to talk to you because I've never seen you around here before,' and suddenly after the situation was defused, crazy nigger Trayvon attacked him.

That's why murdering the only other witness is so convenient.

Common sense is your best friend in cases like this.

Considering that not all the details are known, more stuff comes out every day, it is impossible to say what really happened.

[ed_jaxon]

I only have one question. Why should Zimmerman not have to prove his innocence?

[giovanni_hotel]

Have you ever turned down the temperature on a potential physical altercation?? I have.
And I've been told after the fact IF I had fought said individual, he was prepared to do more than just 'throw fists'.

Zimmerman was the one who was in COMPLETE CONTROL of that situation from the minute he spotted a 'suspicious' looking BM walking through that gated housing complex.

It defies logic to believe that if Zimmerman had approached Trayvon like an ADULT, told him his name and WHY he had approached him, that no one would be dead today.

For instance as a BM whenever I go into a department store, within minutes a salesperson is on my ass asking, 'can I help you find something?'

Notice she didn't say to me, 'Hey Black, I'm watching you. Better not try to boost a shirt or pair of jeans 'cause I KNOW you people steal.'

There's something to be said for tact, finesse and nuance.

IMO Zimmerman is a punk and approached Trayvon like the bitch he is and started talking to him like he didn't have a right to be where he was.

That works if you're a cop, but doesn't go over so well when you look like some chubby asshole with mouse-balls.

BTW, following someone at night and then getting out of your vehicle, running them down and saying, 'what are you doing here?' sounds similar to how gangbangers roll up on dudes not affiliated who are in their 'hood.

A hispanic man with a shaved head in a red jacket starting some beef with you over NOTHING?? TO me I would have thought Zimmerman was gangbanging.

Yes I would have fought his ass too.

[loren]

I only have one question. Why should Zimmerman not have to prove his innocence?

The law might be different in Florida. Where I live, if I had to shoot an attacker in public (on a sidewalk, in a parking lot, etc) I would have to prove that I was in danger. However, if it were a home invasion scenario the danger would be assumed and it would be up to the prosecution (if they so choose) to prove that I was not in danger.

[notdrunk]

They are so far from being the same.
The difference is Trayvon Martin was committing NO CRIME. He was walking back to his father's condo, a capital offense for a colored boy, apparently.
The love this asshole gets from randoms is unbelievable.

The crime was a property crime and he wasn't in danger. He created the shooting just like Zimmerman. My point is that people are screaming that Zimmerman should be thrown out in jail; however, there are cases out there in which are similar and the shooter was found not guilty. I am just sitting back and watching this mess. Yes, in my opinion, this whole situation is a mess from the shooting (i.e., what exactly caused Zimmerman to shoot Martin?) and how certain media entities are covering the story (i.e., NBC selectively editing the 911 call).

[ed_jaxon]

The laws are supposed to protect our rights, right?

There are too many examples of the law trampling on the rights some because others in power felt they had the right to skew the situation in their favor.

You cannot tell me that you do not believe Zimmerman's father was the first person called when his son was brought in and that he did everything within his power to save his kid.

The situation with Trayvon and Zimmerman was tragic but we deal with situations like that every day. If you are a person of color you kind of expect it.

This looks like a massive Police department/judicial cover up with authorities doing everything to cover their asses.

[giovanni_hotel]

The crime was a property crime and he wasn't in danger. He created the shooting just like Zimmerman. My point is that people are screaming that Zimmerman should be thrown out in jail; however, there are cases out there in which are similar and the shooter was found not guilty. I am just sitting back and watching this mess. Yes, in my opinion, this whole situation is a mess from the shooting (i.e., what exactly caused Zimmerman to shoot Martin?) and how certain media entities are covering the story (i.e., NBC selectively editing the 911 call).

THe shooter in the case you mentioned watched as a crime was being committed on the street. Zimmerman assumed criminality on the part of Martin, the only 'evidence' existing inside his own troubled mind.
There are superficial similarities, but substantively they are nothing alike.

[buttslinger]

When Zimmerman is proven completely guilty, these same guys that are saying he's innocent will put some other "lawyer spin" on why this is something other than what it is.

[hippifried]

Zimmerman attacked Martin now? That must be realllllyyyy brand new news. And, I just thought he was only following him. By the way, Scott pulled out a gun and told them to freeze. He went out of his way to engage would-be thieves even though he knew that his girlfriend called the police about a group of teens breaking into a neighbor's car. He left his house to be a police officer. Sounds familiar..no?

The state of New York wanted to charge Scott with murder; however, a grand jury recommended him to be charged with manslaughter. A jury acquitted him. If Scott can get off, so can Zimmerman if he even goes to trial.

Yes, Zimmerman attacked. Then, not now. This isn't new. It's on the 911 recording. He didn't just follow. He closed, over a distance of what, 100 yards? Stalking & closing is an assault. Assail means "to toward" (v). You don't need physical contact to be a threat, & the threat is the assault. All Martin ever saw was some asshole coming after him. I the "stand your ground" rule is to apply here, then it should apply to the actions of Martin, not Zimmerman. The kid was almost home. I don't know what was going on in either head, but Martin actually did the right thing by standing his ground. If he'd kicked in the afterburners & made it in his door, then the mugger would have known where he lived & become a threat to his family too. Of course it didn't work out well for him because his assailant was armed. Since Martuin wasn't a criminal, he had no reason to think that Zimmerman was anything but a criminal.

Scott was actually thwarting a crime in progress. He was clear about the fact that he was armed. He didn't pursue. Cervini was crazy enough to charge a gun, making him even more dangerous.

[trish]

If you're being followed by a man with a gun, and if he's closing the distance between you and him...even after you tried picking up your pace to increase that distance, then according to the stand your fucking ground laws you have every right in the world to defend yourself...even if you don't have a gun to do it with...even if all you have is your firsts, feet and a box of skittles. Whether Trayvor actually ever stood his ground is not yet known. But what is known is that Zimmerman is the antagonist here. That is clear from the 911 call. He needs to be prosecuted. He needs to be given his "day" in court.

It's call the Stand Your Ground Law, not the Advance Your Ground And Press Your Advantage Law.