Will Stand Your Ground Incidents Increase (based on Trayvon Verdict)

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   mosaicmanposted 10 years ago

   Now that George Zimmerman has been found innocent, do you think this will have more people resorting to using supreme violence in defending themselves. Do you think more people will become more vigilant due to the fact that they think the law will be on their side and protect them if they have to "Stand their Ground?"

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      psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Not for this reason, because Zimmerman did *not* use a 'stand your ground' defense.

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         rebekahELLEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         No, they didn't use the stand your ground defense in the trial, but it was certainly involved in the case...
         Zimmerman wasn't arrested for almost 2 months after he killed Martin because of the stand your ground law.

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            psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I think it was for much more blatant reasons than some specific law that never came into play.

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      Silverspeederposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You guys are lucky in the US at least you can defend yourselves, here in the UK the general view amongst the populace is that you have to let the assailant kill you then hope the law deals with the  assailant afterwards. There have been many cases where the defender has ended up in prison, castigated by the police, the courts, politicians and the media.

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   rebekahELLEposted 10 years ago

   Yes, they will continue to increase.  It's a law that has been abused repeatedly in the state of FL. 
   Gun sales have increased substantially since the law was put into practice.  Today TampaBay Times has a comprehensive look at the law and the various cases that it has been used to set murderers free.  It has freed drug dealers, gang members, a 'vampire' ... and in some cases it was used as the law intended.  The law has freed killers even though most of their victims were unarmed.
   A quote from a defense attorney; "If you're a defense counsel, you'd be crazy not to use it in any case where it could apply,'' said Zachary Weaver, a West Palm Beach lawyer. "With the more publicity the law gets, the more individuals will get off.''  They want to win cases.
   
   Justice?

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      Dr Stiffyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Deleted
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         rebekahELLEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I'm aware.  I was responding to the initial question.  The why of killing in self defense is much harder to prosecute than defend.  It's now perfectly legal to get out of your vehicle and follow (armed) someone walking down the street while on neighborhood watch duty and have a better chance of getting away with 'murder'.

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            Lie Detectorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            " It's now perfectly legal to get out of your vehicle and follow (armed) someone walking down the street while on neighborhood watch duty".
            
            It was always legal!

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               rebekahELLEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Neighborhood watch duty does not advise carrying weapons and following suspicious people.  The police dispatcher told him to stay put. Police officers and sheriffs offices that train volunteers advise them never to carry weapons. None of this would have happened if he stayed in his car.
               You obviously missed the more important message and I see you're here for no other reason than to post forum posts..

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                  Lie Detectorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  What don't you understand about dispatchers not having any authority? You said now it was legal to follow someone and carry a gun I pointed out that it has always been.
                  
                  Yeah, I'm on a forum to post forum post, why the hell else would I be on a forum?
                  
                  Some of you are funny.

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   janesixposted 10 years ago

   No. This is just a this week's freak show, and there will be a new one next week that will be forgotten the week after that.
   
   Did more women kill their babies after Ms. Anthony was let off the hook? Casey who?

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