George Zimmerman Found Not Guilty

[Upendi&Mina]

So, in all seriousness, every single one of you saying that Martin was a hoodlum and got what was coming to him... you guys were perfect when you were seventeen? Never snuck out? Never ditched school? Never got suspended, tried smoking pot, pulled a prank that went too far... nothing?
At seventeen I was pretty far from perfect, but I don't think I deserved to die. Whatever y'all did as teenagers probably didn't warrant a spur of the moment death penalty from a racially profiling vigilante as you were walking to a place you knew you'd be safe.
Yes, things went way too far, but there is still a man who took illegal vigilante actions against a seventeen year old boy, perfectly innocent or not, and forcibly took his life. For Zimmerman to walk away without so much as a slap on the wrist is not only disgusting, it's a failure of our justice system. Martin didn't even have a chance to grow up and become whatever it was he'd have been, and that, people, isn't right, good kid or bad kid, he was still, no matter how you look at it, just a kid, and a scared one at that. Both were wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right.

This. Just so much this. This thread just made my heart heavy.

 

[Grab]

if you are acting suspiciously I will keep an eye on you.

But, in this instance, what, exactly, was suspicious about walking down the street with some Skittles and iced tea....

 

[JessLough]

But, in this instance, what, exactly, was suspicious about walking down the street with some Skittles and iced tea....

The skittles. Skittles are suspicious. I mean, taste the rainbow?

 

[Dogdragoness]

But, in this instance, what, exactly, was suspicious about walking down the street with some Skittles and iced tea....

Didn't say that kid was acting suspiciously, I wish Zimmerman would've had better judgement because he's going to make all neighborhood watches look like mobs with torches. When in reality they do a lot of good.

 

[Paviche]

So, in all seriousness, every single one of you saying that Martin was a hoodlum and got what was coming to him... you guys were perfect when you were seventeen? Never snuck out? Never ditched school? Never got suspended, tried smoking pot, pulled a prank that went too far... nothing?
At seventeen I was pretty far from perfect, but I don't think I deserved to die. Whatever y'all did as teenagers probably didn't warrant a spur of the moment death penalty from a racially profiling vigilante as you were walking to a place you knew you'd be safe.

Yeah, when I was younger I tried shoplifting, and I skipped school regularly which eventually ended with me dropping out. It's good to know that some of Chaz would've been just fine with my death since I was obviously on the road to becoming a felon

I would wonder whether Zimmerman would have felt confident enough to continue following someone if he didn't have a gun. Some very small people can feel very large when they have a weapon.

But, in this instance, what, exactly, was suspicious about walking down the street with some Skittles and iced tea....

I agree with Grab.

 

[Grab]

The skittles. Skittles are suspicious. I mean, taste the rainbow?

See, I thought it was the tea. **** its crisp, refreshing flavor.

 

[Pops2]

Yes, things went way too far, but there is still a man who took illegal vigilante actions against a seventeen year old boy, perfectly innocent or not, and forcibly took his life. For Zimmerman to walk away without so much as a slap on the wrist is not only disgusting, it's a failure of our justice system. Martin didn't even have a chance to grow up and become whatever it was he'd have been, and that, people, isn't right, good kid or bad kid, he was still, no matter how you look at it, just a kid, and a scared one at that. Both were wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Apparently you missed the part where Zimmerman was TRIED & ACQUITTED by a jury of his peers. Apparently you also missed the part where charges were brough by a SPECIAL prosecutor (after the police chief and local prosecutor found insufficient evidence of CRIMINAL activity to merit prosecution) and NOT presented to a grand jury. You also missed the part where the prosecution got in trouble for not sharing evidence with the defense as REQUIRED BY LAW. The fact he was acquitted despite extraordinary effort and misconduct, would in fact indicate the legal system worked exactly the way it is supposed to.

 

[Pops2]

But, in this instance, what, exactly, was suspicious about walking down the street with some Skittles and iced tea....

Stopping to look in the windows of the houses as he walked by.

 

[Kat09Tails]

Apparently you missed the part where Zimmerman was TRIED & ACQUITTED by a jury of his peers. Apparently you also missed the part where charges were brough by a SPECIAL prosecutor (after the police chief and local prosecutor found insufficient evidence of CRIMINAL activity to merit prosecution) and NOT presented to a grand jury. You also missed the part where the prosecution got in trouble for not sharing evidence with the defense as REQUIRED BY LAW. The fact he was acquitted despite extraordinary effort and misconduct, would in fact indicate the legal system worked exactly the way it is supposed to.

Thank you!

The more I heard of this trial the more pissed I got that this got to trial due to public pressure. Justice isn't a popularity contest.

It sucks that this young man died. There were a great many options that would have prevented this on both sides but in the end. A man got smacked around by a 17 year old and someone didn't walk away. Let this be a lesson... what it should teach is up to you.

Personally I have little issue with the stand your ground law. I do think it needs further definition under the law. No, I don't believe you should have a legal obligation to follow instructions on 911 as they only see part of the picture as a whole.

I just hope cooler heads prevail in the upcoming days.

 

[ThatCrazyGroomer]

Apparently YOU missed the part where he killed a kid with HIS gun. That's murder, plain and simple. If they can prove that the bullet came from his gun and his prints are on the gun, that to me is black and white (no pun intended on the whole race thing there, guys. Sorry). Had Martin survived I would expect him to be tried for assault, for sure, but the taking of another human life is MURDER. There should never have been an acquittal.

 

[sillysally]

Apparently YOU missed the part where he killed a kid with HIS gun. That's murder, plain and simple. If they can prove that the bullet came from his gun and his prints are on the gun, that to me is black and white (no pun intended on the whole race thing there, guys. Sorry). Had Martin survived I would expect him to be tried for assault, for sure, but the taking of another human life is MURDER. There should never have been an acquittal.

Maybe for you PERSONALLY, but under the law, the taking if another human life is homocide, not necessarily murder. Certain things have to be proven *beyond a reasonable doubt* for it to be concidered murder, and here they were not. You seem to have a super narrow definition of murder--EVERYONE who ever takes a human life is guilty of murder? Really? What about people who kill an intruder trying to kill their family? What about a soldier in wartime? According to the above post you think they are guilty of murder....

 

[blue]

Should have been murder. (Perfect laws in my head work differently than the situation in Fl though).

Follow someone after you were told to stay away, get into a fight, then get off because you were defending yourself?

He put himself in that situation.

He was not told, or even ordered to stay away.

 

[blue]

Meanwhile, an African American mother gets 20 years in prison for firing warning shots near her abusive husband.

She left the room, possibly even went outside to retrieve her weapon, she had the chance to flee or remove herself from danger. Far different situation then Zimmerman's. She even fired her weapon with the children in the line of fire.

 

[blue]

If I would have caught them, you bet I would have fired a warning shot at them.

If you are going to fire your weapon, it is to end the threat not to warn.

 

[blue]

I don't agree with that woman getting 20 years at all! That judge needs to be kicked off the bench and the charges dropped. So where's the outraged media coverage for this? Where's Jesse and Al?

She removed herself from the aggravated situation to get her fire arm and then return. I would not call that in fear for her life

 

[blue]

I'm disgusted that he was found not guilty.
And disgusted by this thread.

If you don't think it's about race you're not paying attention and you CLEARLY didn't listen to what Zimmerman had to say on his 911 calls. Martin "fit the description" of the people who had been breaking and entering in the neighbourhood - in what way?
Because he was black..

He was asked the race of the "suspect", for lack of a better word, by dispatch.

 

[blue]

I'm done with this thread. Physically ill over justification of one person's right to DEADLY self-defense while completely denying the other person's right to self-defense. If you kill somebody even in self-defense you have killed somebody and that is NOT okay and it's certainly not "good." Disgusting.

If your life where at risk at the hand of another, you would rather I do nothing to save your life?

 

[blue]

If I seek out a fight with someone.... And he starts winning... Then I don't think it's fair that I can then shoot him in self defence.

If you actively try to disengage and flee, yes you can use deadly force in a case like this.

 

[blue]

I am really saddened by this thread...seriously. This was ABSOLUTELY about race!!!! It was about the fear and myth of the "dangerous" black guy.

Care to back this up?

I am thinking a lot of you read some of the stuff about Trayvon that was stuff spun up and not true. He was 17 yes, but not some huge muscular man.

What stuff was spun up and not true? The videos of Travon fighting? The pictures of him with a grill? His racist comment about Zimmerman?

Zimmerman was a paranoid vigilante and should NEVER have access to a gun. I am all for gun rights but this is the exact situation which makes me almost question it. You get some insecure control freak who starts a fight and ends it with a gun when it shouldve never happened in the first place..

Care to back any of this up? Paranoid, or vigilante?

 

[blue]

If he had done what he was SUPPOSED to do, this wouldve NEVER happened! Call and report "suspicious" behavior and thats IT!

He did exactly what he was SUPPOSED to do. If Travon had gone home, this wouldnt be an issue.