The Trayvon Martin case: the criminality of George Zimmerman, is he guilty?

The killing of Trayvon Martin

On the night of February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed on his way back to his Father’s fiancée’s home from a local convenient store. Carrying just a bag of skittles and an ice tea, Trayvon was shot and killed by George Zimmerman because he was considered a threat to George Zimmerman’s life. The Nation is now wondering, how can an unarmed teenager pose a threat to an armed man? The question of George’s mental state is at the center of this case.

Individuals hinder the common law by introducing self-imposed ideals inconsistent with the laws that exist. Most discretionary behavior stems from the ambiguity of criminal statutes that allow individual’s the opportunity to create their own definition of the law and what is considered best for their community and themselves.

George Zimmerman’s past shows a narcissistic individual who was obsessed with law enforcement practices, trying to prove to others, that he was good enough to be a police officer. He was a vigilante killer with a narcissistic personality who killed Trayvon Martin. His criminal record supports the disturbing reality which includes a criminal record for domestic violence, obstruction of justice, and resisting arrest.

When Trayvon Martin was killed, George Zimmerman told the police that he acted in self-defense, under the "Stand your ground" law created in Florida. This law states that an individual is permitted to use any force to defend themselves when there is a reasonable belief that there is a threat. The law states that a person "has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force" without punishment.

Why the Nation is involved

Challenges to the law’s interpretation of definitions impacts the measures used to achieve justice and enforcement for unique crimes that occur such as the Trayvon Martin killing. The unfortunate victim in this situation is Trayvon Martin who lost his life because a narcissistic vigilante killer decided to interpret the law to fulfill his own needs and execute justice through his own interpretation of what the law expects.

Under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Section 1, Clause 2, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States… nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

This case brings the criminal justice system of Florida into the limelight as the events and details of the case become public. Millions are wondering what makes this case so complex when a suspect acknowledged shooting Trayvon Martin, but there were no arrests or charges for the individual.

Unfortunately, the case is more complex and not as easy to determine. In the case against George Zimmerman, interpretation of the law played an important role for his protection and the release from arrest or wrong-doing the night Trayvon Martin was shot and killed. The decision to use deadly force against the teenager was considered justifiable and self-defense.

Discretion is guided by individual interpretation of policies and procedures, but limits remain to control the amount of discretion that can be practiced by each citizen. In this case, George Zimmerman used his discretion to pursue, confront, and shoot an unarmed teenager.

There were many opportunities to prevent the killing, but George Zimmerman continued to use his own discretion and ignore the police dispatchers order to stop following Trayvon Martin. Why would George Zimmerman ignore the orders from trained law enforcement professionals and decide to continue pursuing Trayvon Martin?

George Zimmerman’s personality traits

A sociopathic individual creates an unreal perception of what is right and what is real in this world. Sociopaths are self-involved, disillusioned about reality, and fail to blame themselves for any wrongs that come from their actions. Anyone who questions or confronts their own perception of themselves will fall prey to a narcissistic breakdown that will reinstate their image of themselves to others.

Because the image portrayed to society is so important to a sociopath, they find it necessary to protect their own image using any necessary measures to gain an illusion of a grandiose character, like a Superman character. Sociopaths do not see wrong in their own actions and believe they are always in the right and everyone else is to blame. When a situation does not end the way they expect, they defend their own actions by blaming everyone else.

Most vigilante behavior begins with a narcissistic perception which believes the world is a better place now that they are in control. The distorted perception that no one can do the job like them and that everything is better now that they have control. Vigilant individuals usually ignore the rules they do not agree with, and create new rules that they feel are better suited for themselves.

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