General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsto me I don't think it matters if Trayvon was beating up Zimmerman
I was going through this in my head.
I've read the "stand your ground" law and I think I understand the self-defence aspect.
Here's the thing, to me.
Zimmerman calls 911. He knows police are coming. He keeps following Trayvon.
Everybody agrees on that so far.
Then there are discrepancies in the stories.
Zimmerman's story is that Trayvon attacked him, broke his nose, beat his head on the sidewalk.
Then at some point Zimmerman pulls out a handgun.
What gets me, and this is just me personally, is why did he have to pull the trigger?
I don't really see that it matters who pushed who first or last, Zimmerman is the guy in charge.
I mean, he knows the police are coming. He has the pistol so he is in charge of the situation. He has the control.
Why doesn't he yell "freeze!" "Stop!" "Put your hands where I can see them!" "I Swear to God if you move I'm going to shoot you!" "Get the fuck down on the ground now! NOW!"
I have a hard time believing he couldn't subdue the guy.
I just have a hard time understanding that a bigger guy with a pistol can't control a 17-year-old long enough for the Police to get there.
And it isn't that the "stand your ground" law makes that OK. He has to reasonably be afraid for his life or serious bodily harm. How would he reasonably be afraid that the guy he is pointing a pistol at is going to kill him before the police get there? I mean really?
And that's the legal side - the moral/ethical side, I don't see shoot first. Man, if you are going to shoot somebody you try to avoid it first. I don't see how he couldn't have avoided that. I said the other night that there were a ton of ways he could have gotten out of that situation without killing the guy. Legally that might not be murder 1 or even 2, but morally it is just pitiful.
Didn't your Dad's tell you over and over - that if you pull that trigger it is a done deal there is no going back? Done, final, last resort. Don't do it unless you mean it.
I think it was cowardly.
I think Zimmerman should be on suicide watch - he's got a lot to live with.
Just my opinion and of course I don't know any more facts about it than anyone else.
PM Martin
(2,660 posts)Zimmerman is a private citizen.
Xipe Totec
(44,026 posts)TheKentuckian
(25,768 posts)He was the aggressor and instigator. You start shit you take your chances and are culpable for the the events that follow.
How are you anywhere near self defense when you stalk/hunt someone and when you assault someone cold, you should count yourself fortunate to be above ground.
niyad
(118,900 posts)necessary. and, frankly, given how many situations daddy the judge has apparently gotten him out of, I think he is too bloody arrogant to have any feelings other than glee about what he has done.
Krunkadile
(2 posts)You might think that you would feel that way but only a complete psychopath doesn't have remorse - even when the
guy had it coming.
niyad
(118,900 posts)Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)niyad
(118,900 posts)Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)Still hasn't explained their comment.
niyad
(118,900 posts)does that mean they can still do DU mail?
Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)doc03
(36,453 posts)that is the case how did the shooting occur what looked like a couple hundred feet or more from his vehicle?
Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)white_wolf
(6,238 posts)My parents always said, when they caught me in a lie, if you're going to lie you'd better be able to remember every lie you ever told because otherwise you'll eventually get caught.