Florida's "Stand Your Ground Law,
states in part: "A person is justified in using force, except deadly
force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably
believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another
against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is
justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if: He
or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent
death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the
imminent commission of a forcible felony..."
Definition of
stalking, in part: pertaining to the act of pursuing or harassing
.
Many people believe that Florida's
"Stand Your Ground" statute gave George Zimmermann the right to
lawfully kill Trayvon Martin. They believe the assertion that Zimmy reasonably
felt in fear for his life. However, couldn't the same be said for Trayvon?
Parents and
minor kiddoes are taught by law enforcement entities that if confronted by a
stalker, they should run or fight. I'm a relatively intelligent person, and my
intelligence tells me that Trayvon's "creepy-ass cracker" comment to
his much-maligned friend, Rachel Jeantel, indicate his fear of the guy who
appeared to be stalking him. If Trayvon had survived his senseless shooting, I
have no doubt he would have stated his fear of Zimmy as the reason for his
fighting. Thus my belief that Trayvon was doing exactly what many, if not most,
parents tell their kids to do if approached by an unwanted stranger. Why didn't
Trayvon run? Youth perhaps. Does that matter? Considering Zimmy's "These
assholes always get away" comment, is it not likely that the outcome would
have been the same even if Trayvon had run (and looked totally guilty in
Zimmy's mind)?
The weird thing about this trial was
that Zimmy claimed the privileges of a defendant under the Florida "Stand
Your Ground" law while claiming not to do so, and the court quoted parts
of the law in the Jury Charge even as it claimed this case didn't revolve
around the law.
Of course, Trayvon could also have
claimed that he was utilizing the same law to defend himself against a
perceived stalker, except, of course, he did not survive the incident in order
to put forth his claim. Zimmy did survive. To the winner goes the spoils, I
guess.
I do not consider it beyond reasonable doubt that Trayvon
felt harassed and endangered by this stranger following him in the dark, in his
vehicle. I can imagine the fear Trayvon felt when this unknown person got out
of his car and approached him in the dark. I can imagine that Trayvon perceived
anger in the approaching stranger, a stranger whose bad attitude was given away
by his muttering only a few minutes earlier, "These assholes always get
away." And Trayvon's fear of Zimmy lead to his own senseless death.
Zimmy's minor bump on the head and sore nose and Trayvon's
death would have been avoided if Zimmy had used his brains and had waited in
his auto for the police to arrive. That is what actual neighborhood watch
members, as opposed to wannabe cops, are supposed to do. Not only did Zimmy
endanger his own thoughtless self,
but he ensured the death of an innocent kid by disregarding the
instructions of the authorities.
I can't imaging what parents are going to tell their kids to
do if approached by an unknown stranger. Thanks a lot, Zimmy.
