George Zimmerman

[skyguy918]

Am I the only one in this country who is missing something?  What the heck does Stand Your Ground have to do with this case, where the defendant had his head being paved into the concrete (at least according to what the jury believed)?!?!  Wasn't this guy (Obama) a law professor?

Yeah, it's a bit weird. #1 because it didn't actually come into play from a legal perspective. And #2, even if it had been a factor, why is that an argument against the law. I understand if they had statistics (controlling for other variables) showing that states with Stand Your Ground laws have a higher incidence of these types of deaths, but there has been no mention of the broader picture. They want to change the law because of 1 case? What about all the other situations where the law has had an effect? Have they had a positive effect or negative?

[sillypainter]

Am I the only one in this country who is missing something?  What the heck does Stand Your Ground have to do with this case, where the defendant had his head being paved into the concrete (at least according to what the jury believed)?!?!  Wasn't this guy (Obama) a law professor?

I had the same question. I think, people and media are just blabling here. It's a simple case of believing a person that his life was in danger. In NY you would also get acquitted if you're believed.

[CountValentine]

The voice of reason:  http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/21/19597091-mccain-joins-obama-in-calling-for-review-of-stand-your-ground-laws?lite

[MarkS]

The voice of reason:  http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/21/19597091-mccain-joins-obama-in-calling-for-review-of-stand-your-ground-laws?lite

I believe we're still waiting for an explanation as to what Stand Your Ground has to do with this....

[CountValentine]

I believe we're still waiting for an explanation as to what Stand Your Ground has to do with this....

They work hand in hand. If one gets changed so will the other.

[MarkS]

They work hand in hand. If one gets changed so will the other.

So are you saying that you think the law should be rewritten that self defense is not a defense?  Scary!

[CountValentine]

So are you saying that you think the law should be rewritten that self defense is not a defense?  Scary!

Where did you get that from, Glenn Beck? 

[MarkS]

Where did you get that from, Glenn Beck? 

No, I guess I misunderstood what you wrote.

"They go hand in hand. If one gets changed so will the other."

What is 'they?  If Stand your ground gets changed so will what???

[CountValentine]

No, I guess I misunderstood what you wrote.

"They go hand in hand. If one gets changed so will the other."

What is 'they?  If Stand your ground gets changed so will what

The self defense law. It needs to be changed to the amount of force that can be used.

"Just as you must reasonably believe that force is necessary, the amount of force you use also must be reasonable. This means you can’t shoot someone over a shove or take some other over-the-top action that escalates the incident."

[MarkS]

The self defense law. It needs to be changed to the amount of force that can be used.

"Just as you must reasonably believe that force is necessary, the amount of force you use also must be reasonable. This means you can’t shoot someone over a shove or take some other over-the-top action that escalates the incident."

To quote one of the back and forths in the trial from a self defense expert - No, you do not need to wait until you are actually dead to respond with deadly force 

[CountValentine]

To quote one of the back and forths in the trial from a self defense expert - No, you do not need to wait until you are actually dead to respond with deadly force 

Mark him down as an idiot. How you use deadly force if you are dead? 

[U-no-me!]

Mark him down as an idiot. How you use deadly force if you are dead? 

Are you being for real?

[MarkS]

Mark him down as an idiot. How you use deadly force if you are dead? 

Exactly his point! If you fear that someone is trying to kill you and you respond with deadly force, obviously the end result may be that you are alive and he is dead. To then be told you shouldn't have used deadly force since - 'look you survived' isn't a valid claim because inherent in the right to protect yourself is to be able to respond with deadly force before you are killed instead of after.

[henche]

The self defense law. It needs to be changed to the amount of force that can be used.

"Just as you must reasonably believe that force is necessary, the amount of force you use also must be reasonable. This means you can’t shoot someone over a shove or take some other over-the-top action that escalates the incident."

This is already the law.

The law is quite  good and quite reasonable. The people criticizing it are usually idiots who are looking for something to criticize, or are pandering to an audience.

[Nitantnel]

A little OT here, but I never understood how race came to play here:

Zimmerman didn't even know that he was black when he called the police, as evident in his response to the dispatcher, "Oh... I think he's black."

[Galitzyaner]

A little OT here, but I never understood how race came to play here:

Zimmerman didn't even know that he was black when he called the police, as evident in his response to the dispatcher, "Oh... I think he's black."

Are you sure?  Didn't he say "he looks black" ?
That still wouldn't minimize your point though.

[CountValentine]

This is already the law.

The law is quite  good and quite reasonable. The people criticizing it are usually idiots who are looking for something to criticize, or are pandering to an audience.

You would know more about this than me but are you sure? I thought in some states the response has to be proportionate. Also in many states you must try to retreat before using deadly force.

[CountValentine]

Are you being for real?

Exactly his point!

I know what his point is. It is like telling someone 2+2=4.

[MarkS]

I know what his point is. It is like telling someone 2+2=4.

And then meeting liberals who are screaming vehemently that 2+2=4 is a racist equation that should be abolished....

[dirah]

You would know more about this than me but are you sure? I thought in some states the response has to be proportionate. Also in many states you must try to retreat before using deadly force.

No such things, besides when the world gangs up on Israel.