Trayvon Martin Debate - Hinton, WV

There needs to be another choice. "A grave injustice, without a racial angle".

All the facts aren't in yet. The news reports seem to want a race war.

While I voted 'FL needs new laws'. I do NOT think it was 'FL laws' fault.

The news has not commented on how Zimmerman got a broken nose and blood on the back of his neck. It sounds like he was attacked.

The bad thing about this crime was police did not even investigate or hold this man under investigation until they found out all the facts. They let him go on the spot. Took him at his word. As far as him being white, he looked like he is hispanic. You can tell by the 911 call the man was not bothering him he just continued on watching him and made a move on him without any authority.

I can't believe police officers would just take his word for it. Of course the teen was dead and couldn't tell his side of the story, but what cop lets someone walk away from a crime scene, taking who knows how much evidence with him?
And if this killing is deemed legal by FL's 'stand your ground' law, then that means anyone can follow anyone, and when confronted about why their following them, either party can just start shooting? That makes no sense to me. We're not living in the wild wild west. This is 2012, and lawmakers should be making laws to curb the violence, not encourage it.

quilterqueen wrote:

The news has not commented on how Zimmerman got a broken nose and blood on the back of his neck. It sounds like he was attacked.

You know, he may have had these things wrong with him, but have you thought about just the reverse side of this story...Maybe Travon was trying to stand his ground. If Fl has this law, then anyone has the right to stand their ground, even without a weapon. There is still alot to be investigated, but with policing being conducted the way it is now days, it is not being conducted properly. And you know what? law enforcement doesn't want to listen.

Exactly! According to Trayvon's girlfriend that was on the phone with him, and actually according to Zimmerman's 911 call too, Trayvon realized he was being followed, put up his hood and started walking faster, then tried to run away from the guy following him. He lost him, but the guy doubled back and caught up with him again.
Although the media spins things to get the 'best' story, I haven't read anywhere that Zimmerman told Trayvon he was with the neighborhood watch. I have seen the girlfriend has said Trayvon stopped running, walked up to Zimmerman and asked what his problem was, why was he following him? To which Zimmerman returned with a question, what are you doing here? It seems like the 'stand your ground' law would apply more accurately to Trayvon (who was being hunted down), than to Zimmerman (who did the hunting).

Has anyone heard that a group is offering money like a bounty for the person who catches Zimmerman. To me it sounds like this group is trying to start a racial war . I just pray our country does not go back that far in time. We all have a right to a fair trial to be proven guilty not to prove ourselves innocent , could they be planning to put him on trial and them be the judge and jury .America !!! we are better than that . Al Sharpton , Jessie Jackson step up to the plate and lead us all in love and peace not seperation .

Faith wrote:

Exactly! According to Trayvon's girlfriend that was on the phone with him, and actually according to Zimmerman's 911 call too, Trayvon realized he was being followed, put up his hood and started walking faster, then tried to run away from the guy following him. He lost him, but the guy doubled back and caught up with him again.
Although the media spins things to get the 'best' story, I haven't read anywhere that Zimmerman told Trayvon he was with the neighborhood watch. I have seen the girlfriend has said Trayvon stopped running, walked up to Zimmerman and asked what his problem was, why was he following him? To which Zimmerman returned with a question, what are you doing here? It seems like the 'stand your ground' law would apply more accurately to Trayvon (who was being hunted down), than to Zimmerman (who did the hunting).

That is such a good point. As I stated earlier, maybe Travon was standing his ground to this gun carrying thug.

I don't know about the thug part,'thug' could mean different things to different people.
I've read where Zimmerman wanted to be a cop, has great respect for cops, and was a self appointed 'captain' of this neighborhood watch. I think with having made close to 50 bogus, or nonsense calls to 911 in the past year to report a 'suspicious person', he either wanted to prove to the cops that he could do their job and gain their praise as a neighborhood hero, or he was just fed up that the "_____ always get away" (from 911 tape). I don't think it even entered his head that this kid had done nothing wrong.

@ I heard, I believe they're called 'new black panther party'. I think they're going to get someone hurt or killed with this 'dead or alive' poster, and more likely than not, it wouldn't be Zimmerman because he's in hiding, in fear of his life. I don't understand why the members haven't been arrestd as a terrorist group.

Faith wrote:

I don't know about the thug part,'thug' could mean different things to different people.
I've read where Zimmerman wanted to be a cop, has great respect for cops, and was a self appointed 'captain' of this neighborhood watch. I think with having made close to 50 bogus, or nonsense calls to 911 in the past year to report a 'suspicious person', he either wanted to prove to the cops that he could do their job and gain their praise as a neighborhood hero, or he was just fed up that the "_____ always get away" (from 911 tape). I don't think it even entered his head that this kid had done nothing wrong.

I agree, maybe he didn't realize he was going to murder someone that particular night, but he certainly knew the possibility was there. He was a "wanna be cop". He had probably pestered the cops so much, they got tired of his calls. Again, your point was taken on "did he identify himself as neighborhood watch"? Who assigned the watch force" Who is responsible for them? That is who needs to be held accountable as well.

Faith wrote:

@ I heard, I believe they're called 'new black panther party'. I think they're going to get someone hurt or killed with this 'dead or alive' poster, and more likely than not, it wouldn't be Zimmerman because he's in hiding, in fear of his life. I don't understand why the members haven't been arrestd as a terrorist group.

Have they arrested any of those "malitia members" for saying and doing any of the things that they do? I pray nothing like this happens, but these people don't care!I would have to believe these were just rumors about this group.

The police didn't arrest the shooter because he was being beaten. Righteous shot.
The kid's attitude didn't help him either.

@points, I haven't heard of any arrests so far. I've seen pics of people holding the wanted posters, so it is true. They've said something like if the government won't give justice to Trayvon, we'll have to do it ourselves.

@FL, I think it would be more accurate to say the police didn't arrest him because they're idiots that took a killer at his word. Maybe he was getting the crap beat out of him, it was a fight that he started. By this way of thinking, if you're in FL, and start a fist fight with someone, that you're losing, it's OK to use lethal force to win the fight. The cops never should have let him walk away without processing him that night. Now, no matter what happens, they can never get the evidence back that could prove Zimmerman was lying. Killing an unarmed teenager that before being hunted down, was simply walking and talking to his girlfriend, should never be considered a righteous shot.

Faith wrote:

@ I heard, I believe they're called 'new black panther party'. I think they're going to get someone hurt or killed with this 'dead or alive' poster, and more likely than not, it wouldn't be Zimmerman because he's in hiding, in fear of his life. I don't understand why the members haven't been arrestd as a terrorist group.

I agree it sounds a lot like the past maybe watching a western where they hang them from a tree . Give him a day in court America .

Faith wrote:

@FL, I think it would be more accurate to say the police didn't arrest him because they're idiots that took a killer at his word. Maybe he was getting the crap beat out of him, it was a fight that he started. By this way of thinking, if you're in FL, and start a fist fight with someone, that you're losing, it's OK to use lethal force to win the fight. The cops never should have let him walk away without processing him that night. Now, no matter what happens, they can never get the evidence back that could prove Zimmerman was lying. Killing an unarmed teenager that before being hunted down, was simply walking and talking to his girlfriend, should never be considered a righteous shot.

It is so sad a young teen lost his life , and my prayers go to the family . evidence showed him unarmed at the time but does that make it right for you to call Zimmerman guilty by only seeing one side of the picture . 2 sides just like a coin flipped in the air do you call heads and convict him or tails he had a right to assume the young man was going for a gun .I saw as bad as the justice system can be we have to trust in our legal system , not go posting rewards for dead or alive .May God have mercy on us all

I heard wrote:

<quoted text> It is so sad a young teen lost his life , and my prayers go to the family . evidence showed him unarmed at the time but does that make it right for you to call Zimmerman guilty by only seeing one side of the picture . 2 sides just like a coin flipped in the air do you call heads and convict him or tails he had a right to assume the young man was going for a gun .I saw as bad as the justice system can be we have to trust in our legal system , not go posting rewards for dead or alive .May God have mercy on us all

You know I don't know much about the law, but he Zimmerman went out knowing there was a possibility of something happening. His intent even under the law of "right to defend yourself" with a gun strapped to his hip, thigh, belly, shoulder or whatever, knowing the weapon was there for his use, his use to do bodily harm. As stated before, there is that possibility that Travon was trying to defend himself, armed only with his skittles, and drink. You know or he knew the ramifications. I do not feel any regret for this man. Even law enforcement people know what the possibilities are when they go out.