Unnarmed 17 year old shot dead "in self defence"

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by yubba

I was listening to the Bill Mic live radio show here on the coast of florida it sounds like there is wittnesses seeing Zimmerman being beaten by the kid or fighting with, before the shot was fired. So I think we all better get our facts straight before we hang someone, so I guess the media will fan the flames of racism, some other media outlets will have the story about the witnesses seeing the fight. I haven't the time too look for this right now just reporting what I heard

And here it comes. Latch on to any story, however implausible, that makes the good ol' God fearin' 'Merican out to be the hero for holding the savage hordes of 17 year olds armed with Skittles and Iced Tea at bay by shooting them dead for walking down the street.

Sometimes people make me sick.

Originally Posted by Aramike

The topic slightly aside, I've never completely understood why gun crime has always inevitably led to a gun control discussion. If someone owns a gun legally or not, USING it illegally is still ILLEGAL. Ergo, what makes anyone think that those who would break laws regarding gun usage would simply follow laws regarding gun possession?

People should have the right to choose to be able to defend themselves with a firearm. I believe that 100%. However, they should also be held accountable when they engage in violence against others that is not in defense. Whether or not they are allowed to LEGALLY possess the capability shouldn't be the issue, because hey - if they are willing to commit murder, why wouldn't they be willing to illegally own a gun?

It's an age-old argument, but it's completely true - banning firearms only disarms law-abiding citizens. The individual in question may turn out to not be such a citizen.

Good point. This idiot should never have been armed with a firearm if this is how he's going to use it. But I can't make that logical leap to banning all guns or enacting stricter gun control standards because one idiot used one wrong.

[andritsos]

did that zimmermann identify himself? or it isnt known?

[August]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

And here it comes. Latch on to any story, however implausible, that makes the good ol' God fearin' 'Merican out to be the hero for holding the savage hordes of 17 year olds armed with Skittles and Iced Tea at bay by shooting them dead for walking down the street.

Sometimes people make me sick.

But aren't you latching onto a story yourself?

I mean I share your doubts that it went down like this but what's so implausible about it? A 17 year old athlete is perfectly capable of beating up an out of shape 28 year old and it certainly wouldn't be the first time a teenager got confrontational with his elders.

I'd think it'd be wise not prejudge this incident either way until we get all the facts.

[Ducimus]

I don't think Gun control is the problem. No i think the problem is shady people manipulating Flordia's "stand your ground" laws. Frankly i didn't even know such a law was passed or even existed, and upon reading about it, it became immediatly obvious to me how some people will try to manipulate it. This "stand your ground" law, is completely different from the Castle Doctrine.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by August

But aren't you latching onto a story yourself?

The most plausible one backed by the most evidence, yes.

I mean I share your doubts that it went down like this but what's so implausible about it? A 17 year old athlete is perfectly capable of beating up an out of shape 28 year old and it certainly wouldn't be the first time a teenager got confrontational with his elders.

Well, the most recent thing is that his phone call to his girlfriend came out and he was saying the guy was following him. If that were the case, I'd probably get confrontational with the guy too.

I'd think it'd be wise not prejudge this incident either way until we get all the facts.

You're right, but I honestly can't see any way that any new fact would make this guy justified in shooting the kid given what we know.

[August]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

You're right, but I honestly can't see any way that any new fact would make this guy justified in shooting the kid given what we know.

I sort of agree but where I see the need for caution is that kind of reasoning has put more than one innocent man into the electric chair. He hasn't even been arrested yet and there are folks here who have him already convicted and are using him as an example of the need to further restrict peoples constitutional freedoms.