Your thoughts on Trayvon/Zimmerman

[4440]

Skittles and Ice Tea - an innocent sweet boy, yet his mother just put in a patient for his name - as he says "so nobody can benefit for money" yet its strictly put in her name, instead most in this situation put it in a non-profit foundation name.

She's going to bankroll this till it ends, and sadly I was talking a lawyer friend of mine and its legal to do so.

In my personal opinion the Media blew this so far out of the water its now becoming a race war, everyone is just begging to call zimmerman "white" instead of "hispanic" and its truly pathetic.

As I kept saying since day one, lets see the facts and let them explain it, now the facts are coming out I can bet quite a few people are backing off from their initial stand point.
Some people like Jesse Jackson just need a small boost to get back into the game, reality is there is racism every where in every country. American has a bit more diversity which makes it even more uneasy.

As for the Zimmerman case goes, Facts started out he was guilty as hell by the Media - however since the investigation released some information, its truly going against Trayvon being an innocent skittles boy.
As for the mother, she better think pretty damn straight about what she does with the money she's going to bankroll off this, and I'm going to bet she will pocket some of it.

In reality its a piss poor situation for everyone, reminding us racism just needs a small innocent to spark riots.

Personally this has a lifetime movie written all over it.

Mom goes and trademarks a name within a week of the killing, cha ching, Panthers throw a bounty all over it, Dad seems indifferent, and no real facts have been corroborated.

Prediction here is, Zimmerman gets arrested, tried, released, and we get another Rodney King episode. If I were a Juror based on current statements, I couldn't convict without a reasonable doubt.

[Jayhawk]

I'm trying really hard not to pass judgement because I don't know all the facts, but I will say this.

As a concealed carrier.  If I perceive someone as a threat (enough to call 911),  I will go out of my way to avoid any confrontation.  If I got out of the vehicle to confront said person, I can no longer claim lethal self-defense. 

[coombz]

Police report says the back of Zimmerman's head was bloody. Zimmerman was treated at the hospital.... he also had a broken nose.

yeah it sure looks like it  

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/george-zimmerman-police-surveillance-16024475

doesn't look at all like he had recently been battered to me *shrug*

[Melvin]

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[Guppy35]

Actually, he had no authority to do anything except follow the person and watch him.

Florida law doesn't allow us to behave like police.  It allows us to defend ourselves against great bodily harm or the fear of death.  It's very accomodating for us that will defend ourselves.

The kid didn't commit a crime, nor was a crime committed in that area when Zimmerman called 911.  He simply had suspicions.

Calling 911 was the right thing to do in that case.  Getting himself into a physical confrontation, however it happened, was not the thing to do.  He left his vehicle.

This.


Zimmerman was the adult.  He didn't act like one.  The kid was going where he was supposed to go and had a right to be in that gated community as well.  The second Zimmerman ignored the 911 dispatcher's direction to not follow the kid, he set the wheels in motion.  That he's carrying a gun in his gated community makes no sense either.  Screams of wannabe cop.

I'm a bit curious when the 17 year old kid became less then a 'model citizen."  These comments are based on what?  That he got suspended for pot residue in a plastic bag?  If that's it, then this thread is full of less then model citizens.  I smoked pot at 17 at school a couple times.  And I don't do any of that kind of stuff and would have been considered squeaky clean at 17.  Since when did that make a kid more then a kid?

Real simple.  Zimmerman calls the cops, lets them do their job, and the story is never a story.  The adult blew it.

My youngest wears hoodies all the time.  I do often as well.  Are folks suggesting my little guy will have to give them up for fear of looking suspicious when he gets older?

[Rob52240]

It is natural for a person to make assumptions when an armed person shoots an unarmed person, regardless.

[grizz441]

I'm trying really hard not to pass judgement because I don't know all the facts, but I will say this.

As a concealed carrier.  If I perceive someone as a threat (enough to call 911),  I will go out of my way to avoid any confrontation.  If I got out of the vehicle to confront said person, I can no longer claim lethal self-defense. 

This may have happened I don't know, but I read from zimmerman's leaked testimony that he followed Trayvon, and lost him.  Then, was walking back to his car and Trayvon followed him, confronted him, and then there was a fight.  Who started the fight? My biased gut says it was Trayvon, but that will be left up to eye witness account and evidence (if there is any).

I find it absolutely despicable of the left media to paint this story the way they want it to be viewed.  They show a terrible looking mugshot of Zimmerman from who knows when, and a picture of a young 13 year old innocent looking Trayvon Martin.  They then paint a picture of an innocent kid skipping down the street whistling with coke and skittles in hand and a blood thirsty racist vigilante hunting him down gun in hand and executing him for being black.  Seriously, how low can they stoop to slant a story so badly?  The only "other side" coverage I have seen has been from conservative news outlets, so this story is obviously pushing some sort of liberal agenda.  They've essentially ruined a man's life without any facts on the table.  Every single neighbor or friend of Zimmerman has nothing but good things to say about him; how he has friends of various race, tutors and mentors children of various race, goes out of his way to help people in his community, just a good person in general.  Not what the media would have you believe, no ma'am.

[Guppy35]

And by carrying the gun, the 'neighbor hood watch captain' put himself in a position to use it.  Why did he need to carry it at all if he wasn't envisioning himself playing 'cop'.  He's in a vehicle, spots a someone who he describes as suspicious and possibly on drugs.  OK he's made his call, he's safe, and the cops should be otw.  Where did the gun come into this thing unless the adult saw himself playing cop?  And indication he's been shot at in that gated community?  Why the gun at all?  He was safe, the kid was no threat other then the one the adult conjured up in his head.

No excuse for the adult not being the adult.

[grizz441]

This.


Zimmerman was the adult.  He didn't act like one.  The kid was going where he was supposed to go and had a right to be in that gated community as well.  The second Zimmerman ignored the 911 dispatcher's direction to not follow the kid, he set the wheels in motion.  That he's carrying a gun in his gated community makes no sense either.  Screams of wannabe cop.

I'm a bit curious when the 17 year old kid became less then a 'model citizen."  These comments are based on what?  That he got suspended for pot residue in a plastic bag?  If that's it, then this thread is full of less then model citizens.  I smoked pot at 17 at school a couple times.  And I don't do any of that kind of stuff and would have been considered squeaky clean at 17.  Since when did that make a kid more then a kid?

Real simple.  Zimmerman calls the cops, lets them do their job, and the story is never a story.  The adult blew it.

My youngest wears hoodies all the time.  I do often as well.  Are folks suggesting my little guy will have to give them up for fear of looking suspicious when he gets older?

(Image removed from quote.)

Just curious, what's the difference between a 19 year old slowly walking and looking at houses and a 17 year old kid slowly walking and looking at houses?

[Guppy35]

Just curious, what's the difference between a 19 year old slowly walking and looking at houses and a 17 year old kid slowly walking and looking at houses?

About two years.  Whats the difference between a 39 year old man and a 17 year old kid.   A whole lot.  You more mature and aware of how things work now Grizz then when you were 17?  To clarify it further.  I turned 40 when my oldest son was 17.  At no point was I not accountable for how he acted.  Never was it the other way around.

[SunBat]

When will ppl stop feeling and start thinking? 

[grizz441]

About two years.  Whats the difference between a 39 year old man and a 17 year old kid.   A whole lot.  You more mature and aware of how things work now Grizz then when you were 17?  To clarify it further.  I turned 40 when my oldest son was 17.  At no point was I not accountable for how he acted.  Never was it the other way around.

Oh ok  

My point was, when a 17 yr old (almost 18) is suspiciously walking down the street like a goon you don't exactly know how old he is until you see his license.  And you also don't necessarily care exactly how many days away from their 18th birthday a suspicious person is when they blindside you, slam your face into the concrete, and pummel the back of your head with repeated haymakers.  Well that's what zimmerman, his injuries, and a key witness say anyways. [sarcasm] The media probably has a better idea of what happened though. [/sarcasm]

Very surprised on your stance on this.  

[Reaper90]

Dan is either oblivious to the fact (or ignoring it) that the neighborhood where this transpired has recently been riddled with a rash of crimes commited by young/teen black males, thus the reason for the increased neighborhood watch. This is, of course, according to over a half dozen different reports from various media outlets, I do not know since I do not live there, I defer to their reports.

Did Zimmerman "racially profile" Martin? Sure, he probably did. He saw a person he did not recognize in the neighborhood, felt there was need for further investigation, and followed. Kinda what a "night watchman" does.

He then found himself confronted by, and attacked by, Trayvon.

Just so things are clear, Trayvon was not the victim here, IMHO Zimmerman was. The reality here is Trayvon was the attacker, who apparently was PO'd that some guy was following him, so he decided to teach him a lesson when he tried to go back to his car. What Martin didn't know is the guy whom he was trying to teach a lesson to  happened to be armed.

Net result? One thug dead, one guy's life ruined, race pimps get in spotlight again and try to stay relevant.

[Guppy35]

Oh ok  

My point was, when a 17 yr old (almost 18) is suspiciously walking down the street like a goon you don't exactly know how old he is until you see his license.  And you also don't necessarily care exactly how many days away from their 18th birthday a suspicious person is when they blindside you, slam your face into the concrete, and pummel the back of your head with repeated haymakers.  Well that's what zimmerman, his injuries, and a key witness say anyways. [sarcasm] The media probably has a better idea of what happened though. [/sarcasm]

Very surprised on your stance on this.  

Grizz, how does a goon walk?  The kid can't speak for what happened.  None of it changes the fact that the adult, ignored direction from the 911 dispatcher, and was carrying a gun.  The adults are supposed to be smart enough to make the right decision.  We aren't so sure that a  17 year old will make the best ones or we'd cut them loose earlier.  Should we discuss 'fight or flight' responses?  At what point was Zimmerman 'trapped'?  He was in a car, had a gun and was bigger then the kid.   At what point did the kid feel 'trapped'.  Bigger adult, in a car, gets out of car and is following him.  

Again, Zimmerman held all the cards and as the adult should have made the better decision.  He didn't and a kid died, and his families lives and Zimmerman's families lives are never going to be the same.  If Zimmerman hadn't carried a gun, do you think we'd be having the discussion?

Understand Grizz, I spent 25 years of my adult life working with 'troubled teens'.  In the course of it, I was in situations where I had to restrain kids to stop them from hurting other kids or coming after me or another staff.  I have no illusions about the innocence of teenagers.  There were a number of them I'd like to have taken out back and done away with.  But I was the adult, and as such had to act like one whether it felt fair or not.

[Guppy35]

Dan is either oblivious to the fact (or ignoring it) that the neighborhood where this transpired has recently been riddled with a rash of crimes commited by young/teen black males, thus the reason for the increased neighborhood watch. This is, of course, according to over a half dozen different reports from various media outlets, I do not know since I do not live there, I defer to their reports.

Did Zimmerman "racially profile" Martin? Sure, he probably did. He saw a person he did not recognize in the neighborhood, felt there was need for further investigation, and followed. Kinda what a "night watchman" does.

He then found himself confronted by, and attacked by, Trayvon.

Just so things are clear, Trayvon was not the victim here, IMHO Zimmerman was. The reality here is Trayvon was the attacker, who apparently was PO'd that some guy was following him, so he decided to teach him a lesson when he tried to go back to his car. What Martin didn't know is the guy whom he was trying to teach a lesson to  happened to be armed.

Net result? One thug dead, one guy's life ruined, race pimps get in spotlight again and try to stay relevant.

Where did this kid become a Thug?  Can you define that for me?  What did he do that was "thug".   Who identified young black males as the thieves?  Were people assaulted, shot at, threatened with guns?  What did this kid do that has made him a 'thug"?