Kobe Bryant Slammed For Refusing to Back Trayvon Martin

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

You are not wrong. We are expected to approve these liberal gun rights yet no one is interested in the ethical considerations of shooting another human being no matter what the circumstances. This is a huge mistake. The very last thing that should be considered is killing someone and yet the gun aficiandos are all over shoot first so you don't lose your armed advantage as if the US is a war zone. It's pathetic and a sad indictment of the modern US. My understanding was always that even a hunter considering taking the life of an animal valued the life of that animal and didn't take it lightly. Now, no one bothers about such things, it's not important. Life is indeed cheap.

We're taught in the military to use deadly force only as a last resort. There are steps you must take before you even consider using a firearm on duty. In the real world, it seems you only need the indication you might be in danger. This is why Michael Dunn sits in jail now, had he killed all 4 teens, he'd be a free man. His only mistake was not killing everyone else in the SUV.

[Pooky 3,840]

We're taught in the military to use deadly force only as a last resort.

So are law enforcement personnel, or so I thought. But judging by the recent slew of reports in the media, it appears this is no longer the case. Now, it appears that "shoot first and sort out the story later" is becoming the mantra.

Civilians, for the most part, are ill-equipped to make the judgement call of when deadly force is warranted ... when that "last resort" has been reached.

In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, GZ falls into this category. He derived false confidence from his possession of a firearm and, when his actions resulted in that last, fateful confrontation, his assessment of the situation was too hasty to reach the conclusion he did.

The law may have been on his side, and that may salve his conscience. But he is still responsible for a young man's death, because he was ill-prepared to handle the situation.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Pooky

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

So are law enforcement personnel, or so I thought. But judging by the recent slew of reports in the media, it appears this is no longer the case. Now, it appears that "shoot first and sort out the story later" is becoming the mantra.

Civilians, for the most part, are ill-equipped to make the judgement call of when deadly force is warranted ... when that "last resort" has been reached.

In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, GZ falls into this category. He derived false confidence from his possession of a firearm and, when his actions resulted in that last, fateful confrontation, his assessment of the situation was too hasty to reach the conclusion he did.

The law may have been on his side, and that may salve his conscience. But he is still responsible for a young man's death, because he was ill-prepared to handle the situation.

That's the scary part. In this case, GZ's action are completely ignored. As the neighborhood watch, he broke every rule in the book. If you listen to the folks that think he was in the right, they tell the story like it's been reversed. You'd think GZ was minding his own business when TM jumped out and attacked him. And what's truly scary, is those same people who carry guns because it makes them feel safe, the same ones who reach for them if their shadow creeps up on them, the same ones who constantly think someone is out to get them, say TM is the one who overreacted to the situation.

[luckytxn 2,265]

No one ignored. He was tried for them. Trying someone for a major crime is not ignoring him.

That's the scary part. In this case, GZ's action are completely ignored. As the neighborhood watch, he broke every rule in the book. If you listen to the folks that think he was in the right, they tell the story like it's been reversed. You'd think GZ was minding his own business when TM jumped out and attacked him. And what's truly scary, is those same people who carry guns because it makes them feel safe, the same ones who reach for them if their shadow creeps up on them, the same ones who constantly think someone is out to get them, say TM is the one who overreacted to the situation.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

No one ignored. He was tried for them. Trying someone for a major crime is not ignoring him.

I'm talking about the people here and those who celebrated his not guilty verdict.

And to be fair. he was tried, but only after national outrage.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm talking about the people here and those who celebrated his not guilty verdict.

And to be fair. he was tried, but only after national outrage.

And, more importantly, only on the basis of a severely flawed law.

In any sane jurisdiction, he would have been convicted of manslaughter at the very least.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

And, more importantly, only on the basis of a severely flawed law.

In any sane jurisdiction, he would have been convicted of manslaughter at the very least.

That was kind of my point. He forced a confrontation, killed him when he was getting the brakes beat off his butt, claimed SD when his story was weak sauce on it's best day, and the law believed him without a shadow of a doubt. If that was me and I did that to some unarmed teen, I'd be writing this from jail.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That was kind of my point. He forced a confrontation, killed him when he was getting the brakes beat off his butt, claimed SD when his story was weak sauce on it's best day, and the law believed him without a shadow of a doubt. If that was me and I did that to some unarmed teen, I'd be writing this from jail.

The law doesn't believe anything. But the law doesn't require his story to be compelling or credible. That's one of the many flaws in the "stand your ground" law. This is why drug dealers get away with murder in what we should really refer to as the Gunshine State. Criminals and bullies are by far the biggest beneficiaries of Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Hell even a dude that chased his victim down to cut him up successfully claimed to merely have stood his ground. Welcome to Florida - the Gunshine State. Don't forget your body armor when visiting.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

The law doesn't believe anything. But the law doesn't require his story to be compelling or credible. That's one of the many flaws in the "stand your ground" law. This is why drug dealers get away with murder in what we should really refer to as the Gunshine State. Criminals and bullies are by far the biggest beneficiaries of Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Hell even a dude that chased his victim down to cut him up successfully claimed to merely have stood his ground. Welcome to Florida - the Gunshine State. Don't forget your body armor when visiting.

I know some members that would feel right at home there, having body armor and all.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The worst thing is, here we never blame the shooter. It's always the victim's fault. He shouldn't have played his music so loud, shouldn't have attacked the man who was stalking him, shouldn't have rolled his window down to say he's sorry. They're always at fault.

You are wrong. I blame the shooter all the time..

Like that Black guy that shot up the Navy yard in DC

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I'm talking about the people here and those who celebrated his not guilty verdict.

And to be fair. he was tried, but only after national outrage.

I as glad he was found not guilty because I thought he did not serve a murder charge

No one celebrated when O.J. got off did they?

If O.J. had not been black , he would have been Orenthal James Simpson some unkown Bus Driver.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

That was kind of my point. He forced a confrontation, killed him when he was getting the brakes beat off his butt, claimed SD when his story was weak sauce on it's best day, and the law believed him without a shadow of a doubt. If that was me and I did that to some unarmed teen, I'd be writing this from jail.

How did he force a confrontation when TM doubled back after being almost home, came out of the dark and attacked him, after circling his car calling him a racial name.?

BTW Off topic

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

You are wrong. I blame the shooter all the time..

Like that Black guy that shot up the Navy yard in DC

Of course, because he's black. Duh.

I as glad he was found not guilty because I thought he did not serve a murder charge

No one celebrated when O.J. got off did they?

If O.J. had not been black , he would have been Orenthal James Simpson some unkown Bus Driver.

If you're going to quote Chris Rock, do it properly. If OJ wasn't rich, he would have been Orenthal the Bus driving murderer.

How did he force a confrontation when TM doubled back after being almost home, came out of the dark and attacked him, after circling his car calling him a racial name.?

BTW Off topic

You mean following someone for 4 minutes, not identifying themselves, and getting out of the car and chasing after them is regular behavior?

[Karee 4,191]

You mean following someone for 4 minutes, not identifying themselves, and getting out of the car and chasing after them is regular behavior?

Maybe not, but that doesn't mean that an a$$ kicking is justified.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Maybe not, but that doesn't mean that an a$$ kicking is justified.

Neither does walking home from the store justifies getting stalked.