George Zimmerman not guilty

[crzyjarmans]

Any one have an opinion on the trial of Zimmerman? He was found not guilty, And in my opinion, He should have gotten some form of a guilty charge, maybe not murder, but manslaughter, As a CHL holder myself, I believe his action by following Trayvor Martin is what lead to the shooting of the youngster, George Zimmerman was in a unofficial neighborhood watch program, not backed by law enforcement, Followed and at time where running after Trayvor, In watch programs like these, It is my understanding that if anyone see any thing that looks suspicious? they are to report what they see to the Police, Not take matters into there own hands, I believe this all could have been avoided if George Zimmerman would have just followed this simple rule, and just report what he saw, instead of going after Trayvor Martin, Personally, I think the justice system failed Trayvor and his family by finding George Zimmerman completely innocent

[JPaganel]

Zimmerman was wrong to follow. However, that isn't really a crime. Call the cops, tell them someone is following you. I bet a fiver they will tell you to call back when you got something more substantial. He didn't try to stop Martin, he didn't block his way, he didn't even say anything to him. He was just walking and reporting what he saw. Where is this "taking matters into his own hands" thing coming from?

Martin, noticing this man behind him, took what in my mind is a completely unreasonable action of attacking him, breaking his nose and pounding his head into the pavement. This is not a course of action that could be predicted with any certainty, so there is no way he could have been deliberately provoked into this.

How is shooting someone who just broke your nose and is hitting the pavement with your head manslaughter? What definition do you think applies?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manslaughter

Really what this is is a case of a couple of guys each making a mistake. The teenager in the scenario made the more dangerous mistake and lost his life. Not unlike going way too fast on his bike. Happens all the time. Tragic.

[Pat Conlon]

The investigating police got it right.
The jury got it right.
Zimmerman had the right to be there.
Martin had the right to be there.
Zimmerman had the right to ask Martin what he was doing...like as in free speech... Hey wassup?

Martin over reacted.

Here's the most important point: Martin had no right to attack Zimmerman.  Period.

The case should have never gone to trial. All agree, the prosecution was an embarrassment.

Stand your ground. If someone is assaulting you, on top of you, beating your head against the concrete and reaching to take your gun away...shoot the fucker.

[JPaganel]

Stand your ground.

The Zimmerman case was not decided on the basis of "Stand Your Ground".

[Pat Conlon]

Really? I thought the Florida law was key to Zimmerman's defense.

Please educate me.

[rktmanfj]

Stand your ground.

The Zimmerman case was not decided on the basis of "Stand Your Ground".

Right.

It was decided on FL self-defense law, which is also pretty strong.

Otherwise, I completely agree with Pat (oddly enough) .    

[movenon]

The investigating police got it right.
The jury got it right.
Zimmerman had the right to be there.
Martin had the right to be there.
Zimmerman had the right to ask Martin what he was doing...like as in free speech... Hey wassup?

Martin over reacted.

Here's the most important point: Martin had no right to attack Zimmerman.  Period.

The case should have never gone to trial. All agree, the prosecution was an embarrassment.

Stand your ground. If someone is assaulting you, on top of you, beating your head against the concrete and reaching to take your gun away...shoot the fucker.

+1   A jury found him not guilty.  He didn't break any law that he was charged with.  If you don't like the law then change it. He was found not guilty by a jury selected by the defence and the prosecution. The jury got the facts unlike most of us listening to the news media.
Here in Idaho we have basically the same law as do most states. Sorry someone had to die, but someone had the opportunity to be civil and walk away.
George

[Arnie]

Any one have an opinion on the trial of Zimmerman? He was found not guilty, And in my opinion, He should have gotten some form of a guilty charge, maybe not murder, but manslaughter, As a CHL holder myself, I believe his action by following Trayvor Martin is what lead to the shooting of the youngster, George Zimmerman was in a unofficial neighborhood watch program, not backed by law enforcement, Followed and at time where running after Trayvor, In watch programs like these, It is my understanding that if anyone see any thing that looks suspicious? they are to report what they see to the Police, Not take matters into there own hands, I believe this all could have been avoided if George Zimmerman would have just followed this simple rule, and just report what he saw, instead of going after Trayvor Martin, Personally, I think the justice system failed Trayvor and his family by finding George Zimmerman completely innocent

I was a member of the first Neighborhood Watch program, in Detroit.  We were not allowed to carry ANY weapons.  We were instructed to not approach any apparent law breaker.  Our ONLY function was to report the activity to the police.
When Zimmerman reported to police they told him to NOT follow or attempt to apprehend.
I was not in court.  I have not been privy to all the evidence.  It seems to me that the only thing Zimmerman was missing was the white hood.  I could be wrong.

Arnie

[rktmanfj]

.
When Zimmerman reported to police they told him to NOT follow or attempt to apprehend.
I was not in court.  I have not been privy to all the evidence.  It seems to me that the only thing Zimmerman was missing was the white hood.  I could be wrong.

Arnie

Two points:

1. Police dispatchers are not LEOs, and no one is obligated to take their directions (thankfully so, as it is sometimes pretty suspect).

2. Before you go making statements like the one above, you really owe it to yourself to do a bit of research.  I spent some time last night reading the evidence that was presented to the jury, and I believe that you could not be more wrong.

[baldy3853]

.
When Zimmerman reported to police they told him to NOT follow or attempt to apprehend.
I was not in court.  I have not been privy to all the evidence.  It seems to me that the only thing Zimmerman was missing was the white hood.  I could be wrong.

Arnie

Two points:

1. Police dispatchers are not LEOs, and no one is obligated to take their directions (thankfully so, as it is sometimes pretty suspect).

2. Before you go making statements like the one above, you really owe it to yourself to do a bit of research.  I spent some time last night reading the evidence that was presented to the jury, and I believe that you could not be more wrong.

That's very unlike Arnie to be so wrong 

I agree there was an opportunity to walk away by both parties but when he was attacked, Zimmerman did what was in his best interests, too often bleeding hearts would've had the Martin back out on the street so he could do the same thing all over again!!!

When I heard about the Boston bombings I said to friends I hope the person responsible for this does not make it too court as the bleeding hearts will fight tooth and nail to ensure that he never faces the penalty he deserves.

Martin won't have that chance and for that we should be thankful!!

[JPaganel]

I was a member of the first Neighborhood Watch program, in Detroit.  We were not allowed to carry ANY weapons.  We were instructed to not approach any apparent law breaker.  Our ONLY function was to report the activity to the police.

Zimmerman did report. He did make the mistake of getting too close, but that's not quite the same as murder.

When Zimmerman reported to police they told him to NOT follow or attempt to apprehend.

He did not attempt to apprehend.

I was not in court.  I have not been privy to all the evidence.  It seems to me that the only thing Zimmerman was missing was the white hood.  I could be wrong.

Arnie

That's kind of like "I did not read the book, but I think it's terrible". A two-minute google will get you the pictures of Zimmerman's broken nose and bloody head. You're not suggesting he did that himself?

[crzyjarmans]

Zimmerman defense was using the "Stand your ground", But, this is not the point I think most are missing here, forget about the neighborhood watch program, He is not in law enforcement, I believed he over stepped his authorities when he followed and at times he was running, witch indicates to me he might have been chasing Martin, If someone was chasing me, I would most definitely defend myself, Also on this point whether it was Zimmerman or Martin who threw the first punch, It was Zimmerman That should not have followed Martin, My opinion, He should have just reported to the police, gave a description and direction of travel, So even if Martin threw the first punch, I think Zimmerman should have gotten Manslaughter, OR possibly, involuntary manslaughter, For his action that led to the shooting, It is my personal belief, If your going to carry a firearm for defense, Then you need to avoid confrontation when ever possible, I have a carry permit, and carry 100% of the time, I know this is my personal belief and is not law, But I believe everyone should be responsible for what the action led to, Zimmerman's Actions are what led to the shooting, And he should be responsible for that

[JPaganel]

Zimmerman defense was using the "Stand your ground",

No, it was not.  "Stand Your Ground" applies once you have been attacked. The court deemed the start of attack to be the first punch, after which Zimmerman was pinned down on the ground and whether he could have tried to get away or not was irrelevant.

Do you have something that proves that they used this law? 

But, this is not the point I think most are missing here, forget about the neighborhood watch program, He is not in law enforcement, I believed he over stepped his authorities when he followed and at times he was running, witch indicates to me he might have been chasing Martin,

He got overzealous in his duties, which was a mistake. I'm not sure following someone is a crime, but if it is, I'd guess it's a pretty minor one. I'd be happy if he was prosecuted under whatever statute covers that. Disturbing the peace, maybe?

If someone was chasing me, I would most definitely defend myself,

If you were to jump someone that was merely following you I don't think you would do well in court. Following and attacking are not the same.

Also on this point whether it was Zimmerman or Martin who threw the first punch, It was Zimmerman That should not have followed Martin, My opinion, He should have just reported to the police, gave a description and direction of travel,

I already covered this. Find what crime following is, and use the appropriate punishment. I'm guessing it's something minor that gets you a ticket and a fine.

So even if Martin threw the first punch, I think Zimmerman should have gotten Manslaughter, OR possibly, involuntary manslaughter, For his action that led to the shooting, It is my personal belief, If your going to carry a firearm for defense, Then you need to avoid confrontation when ever possible, I have a carry permit, and carry 100% of the time, I know this is my personal belief and is not law, But I believe everyone should be responsible for what the action led to, Zimmerman's Actions are what led to the shooting, And he should be responsible for that

You can only be responsible for things you can reasonably predict. I don't believe Martin's actions could have been reasonably predicted. I don't think breaking someone's nose is a reasonable response to them walking behind you.

The problem is, Martin was a teenager, and as teenager tend to, he did something without thinking it through. Instead of going straight home where there was a bunch of people that could have helped him (and if he went home, I think there is a very good chance Zimmerman would have just turned around and left) he decided to fight it out with some guy on a dark street. He gambled on his physical abilities and lost.

Read the wiki article I linked to. If you think involuntary manslaughter applies, which of the two subcategories do you think it is, constructive or negligent?

[Steve_in_Florida]

This sad event occurred only 20 miles north of my home, so I've had the issue in my face from the beginning.

The media spun the event from the first reports. The first photos published of the participants were Zimmerman's mug shot from a prior arrest, and Martin's photo at approximately 12 years of age. That was the start of the media circus, further stirred up by the appearance some well-known agitators.

One of the repercussions that affects me personally are that it is no longer safe for me or my girlfriend to visit some of our friends in Sanford. White people are NOT welcome in the black neighborhoods, now more than ever.

I only hope that history does not repeat itself following Zimmerman's acquittal:

Sublime-april 26 1992 w/ lyrics

Racism is DEFINITELY alive and well.

I feel badly for all involved. Sure wouldn't want to have been one of the jurors on THIS trial!

...too often bleeding hearts would've had...

Baldy, that's probably not the best choice of words in this context...

Steve

[Dan Filetti]

The investigating police got it right.
The jury got it right.
Zimmerman had the right to be there.
Martin had the right to be there.
Zimmerman had the right to ask Martin what he was doing...like as in free speech... Hey wassup?

Martin over reacted.

Here's the most important point: Martin had no right to attack Zimmerman.  Period.

The case should have never gone to trial. All agree, the prosecution was an embarrassment.

Stand your ground. If someone is assaulting you, on top of you, beating your head against the concrete and reaching to take your gun away...shoot the fucker.

Seems to me, Pat is correct here -"Stand your ground" reference notwithstanding -as has been previously pointed out.  

Note that I added the bold/ underline for emphasis...

Dan