Does Stand Your Ground Apply

[Karee 4,191]

Okay, NOW I am officially never talking about them again.

That lasted 3 minutes.

[slim 1,533]

Mistake No. 1 was pursuing Martin on foot. Zimmerman had already done what the neighborhood watch rules advised: He had called the police. They would have arrived, questioned Martin, and ascertained that he was innocent. Instead, Zimmerman, packing a concealed firearm, got out and started walking after Martin. Zimmermans initial story, that he was trying to check the name of the street, was so laughable that his attorneys abandoned it. He was afraid Martin would get away. So he followed Martin, hoping to update the cops.

Mistake No. 2 was Zimmermans utter failure to imagine how his behavior looked to Martin. Youre a black kid walking home from a convenience store with Skittles and a fruit drink. Some dude in a car is watching and trailing you. God knows what he wants. You run away. He gets out of the car and follows you. What are you supposed to do? In Zimmermans initial interrogation, the police expressed surprise that he hadnt identified himself to Martin as a neighborhood watch volunteer. They suggested that Martin might have been alarmed when Zimmerman reached for an object that Zimmerman, but not Martin, knew was a phone. Zimmerman seemed baffled. He was so convinced of Martins criminal intent that he hadnt considered how Martin, if he were innocent, would perceive his stalker.

Got this from an article, makes a lot of sense.

Which part of that is illegal?

so what? she knew what she was doing. she could have walked away. she could have driven away. she didn't - she chose to get into her trunk, whip out a shotgun, reenter a confrontation and kill him.

where these two stangers to each other?

sucka fool!

Apparently they were strangers and the woman turned down his sexual advances. Im not sure why she chose to stand her ground instead of leaving but this is a textbook example of how the law works. Threaten to kill someone and they have the right to shoot you dead.

If I follow someone that I feel is suspicious enough to call the cops on, and when I catch up to them, demand to know what they're doing, etc ... how ISN'T that looking for a confrontation?!

How is asking someone a question looking for a confrontation?

[GandD 5,966]

No...I have done it many times. Often it is not a demand about what you are doing but perhaps you need some help.

Would you be comfortable doing it unarmed?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

That lasted 3 minutes.

I tried to edit it so that all the comments were in one post, but it didn't work.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Would you be comfortable doing it unarmed?

I never take a firearm to bed with me. I only have what God endowed me with.

[decocker 7,198]

Apparently they were strangers and the woman turned down his sexual advances. Im not sure why she chose to stand her ground instead of leaving but this is a textbook example of how the law works. Threaten to kill someone and they have the right to shoot you dead.

? you don't have to prove that you were actually threatened verbatim? and it was more than a verbal threat? how ridiculous. i'm all for people having the right to defend themselves, but that's way too much.

for this woman to turn around and take pictures of the dude after she shot him? come on. just completely absurd.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Nothing illegal... geting out of the car is not illegal not packing a gun was illegal.

Not sure how Skittles and Tea are important.... if TM was really scared he would had ran towards home, which he did not.

Which part of that is illegal?

Apparently they were strangers and the woman turned down his sexual advances. Im not sure why she chose to stand her ground instead of leaving but this is a textbook example of how the law works. Threaten to kill someone and they have the right to shoot you dead.

How is asking someone a question looking for a confrontation?

So, what both are you are saying is that because it's not legal then TM had nothing to worry about? If he was supposed to run home, what about his right to SYG? GZ never identified himself, he never let his intentions be known, he spent the better half of the encounter following TM and then got out of his car to keep going after him. In the previous post, even when confronted by TM, he still didn't identify himself.

If he was supposed to run home because he was in danger, doesn't SYG give you the right not to?

[RGinWA 816]

I never take a firearm to bed with me. I only have what God endowed me with.

I think it may be still be considered a lethal weapon. That is if you're killing it. Ask the misses. lol

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

No...I have done it many times. Often it is not a demand about what you are doing but perhaps you need some help.

Do you call the cops first? Do you follow/sit and stare at the person for four minutes? Do you run up to them and say what are you doing here?

I've offered my help to many folks, do you know what I do first? I either introduce myself immediately or I ask do you need some assistance. Maybe if that was done in the beginning it would have ended better.

[Harsh_77 718]

Is that the legal definition, or your assessment of common sense?

Because he didn't legally have to go home and dumb@ss didn't have to stay in his car and could legally follow.

Again, teen must do everything right, even if it's not required by law and adult can be a total moron.

That's about sums it up right?

Punching anyone is not legal...

If TM was so afraid for his life as it is claimed why was he not running towards his home? There was enough time for him to hang up the call he was on and call 911.

[Harsh_77 718]

So, what both are you are saying is that because it's not legal then TM had nothing to worry about? If he was supposed to run home, what about his right to SYG? GZ never identified himself, he never let his intentions be known, he spent the better half of the encounter following TM and then got out of his car to keep going after him. In the previous post, even when confronted by TM, he still didn't identify himself.

If he was supposed to run home because he was in danger, doesn't SYG give you the right not to?

SYG does not come into the picture until the confrontation happens.

Before even the confrontation begin if TM was really afraid for his life he could had rushed towards him home.

We dont know and prob will never know who started the confrontation if TM pushed or GZ pushed first. GZ did have some injuries and TM did not have any other than gunshot wound which suggests GZ never punched or hit TM.

Under SYG if one has chance to retreat they are supposed to retreat, thats exactly the reason why Marissa Alexander could not justify the SYG.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

SYG does not come into the picture until the confrontation happens.

Before even the confrontation begin if TM was really afraid for his life he could had rushed towards him home.

We dont know and prob will never know who started the confrontation if TM pushed or GZ pushed first. GZ did have some injuries and TM did not have any other than gunshot wound which suggests GZ never punched or hit TM.

Under SYG if one has chance to retreat they are supposed to retreat, thats exactly the reason why Marissa Alexander could not justify the SYG.

A stand-your-ground law is a type of self-defense law that gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation.

It either has to work for both or no one at all in this situation.

Edited July 24, 2013 by Su and Marvin

[lostinblue 1,989]

Would you be comfortable doing it unarmed?

I was and at times it was 1 or 2 AM on a rural road.

[Harsh_77 718]

A [/size]stand-your-ground law is a type of [/size]self-defense law that gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any [/size]requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation. [/size]

It either has to work for both or no one at all in this situation.[/size]

Thats correct but try to understand the SYG does not come into picture as soon as GZ got out of the car...SYG came into picture when the fight began.

If it could had been proven that GZ punched TM it might had been difficult to prove self defense but TM did not have any wounds.

[Darnell 8,479]

I was very impressed by her choice of weaponry.

I suggest all black women in Houston in the 20 to 30 age bracket carry such a piece of ordnance in the trunk.