Zimmerman Trial

I just wanted to weigh in.  We have all heard the news coming out of the trial and it looks like, bar some unforeseen miracle,  George Zimmerman is going to be acquitted of killing Trayvon Martin.  It does not make it right.

Although his intentions may have been in the right place, Zimmerman violated every concept behind the neighborhood watch and even thumbed his nose at police operators he was talking to.  Even if Trayvon Martin was a looter, robber, whatever, nothing is worth losing a life over unless he was breaking into a home where he might have put the occupants in danger.  He wasn't threatening anyone.  He was not menacing.  Travon even went so far as to try to get away from Zimmerman.

Unfortunately, the Stand Your Ground law is being misused in the case, in my opinion. Here is the part of the law in question: (note, this is one of the subsections of a law with many parts)

A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

This is what George Zimmerman says he is using as a defense.  Unfortunately, I have not heard anything about the fact it should apply to Trayvon not Zimmerman.  Trayvon had a right to be where he was walking home from the store where he bought some tea and candy.  Zimmerman followed him, at no time identified himself and was clearly armed. It was raining and dark.  After many of Trayvon's maneuvers Zimmerman continued to follow eventually getting out of his vehicle to pursue further even though he knew the police were on the way and being clearly warned not to.

Having been in some similar situations, it would have scared the bejesus out me and honestly say I would have been in fear of great bodily harm while being at minimum, robbed.  The old adage that the best offense is sometimes the best defense holds true.  I have been known to stand my ground on more than one occasion but usually with a baseball bat in hand and lots of talk.

Had George Zimmerman not put on his wannabe policeman face, stayed in the car as advised and stayed where he was, not been carrying a pistol and followed the other rules and guidelines of a neighborhood watch a young man trying to find his way into adulthood would still be alive.  Even though Trayvon was not perfect, he would still have the chance to straighten himself out, find his way and maybe, just maybe, be a fruitful, productive citizen with so much to offer.

Whether it was intentional or not, as I see it, George Zimmerman robbed Trayvon Martin of that right. His behavior at best was reckless unnecessarily putting his own life and those of the neighbors close by in danger.

Maybe justice will not be handed out in the court of law but like O.J., it will in the civil court.

Take Care!

Kurt