Would You Let This Idiot Patrol Your Neighborhood?

1. 60

   Paul Wingertposted 13 years ago

   
   
   This piece of work has a history of assault (on a police officer of all things) and has a concealed weapons permit. We all know that this self appointed neiborhood watch captian tracked down, confronted and shot and killed a 17 black kid who was armed with a bag of Skiddles. He claimed self defence, even though he was told not to persue the 17 year old by 911 dispach. The released 911 tapes clearly spell out premeditated murder, but is currently free on the streets. Apparently the cops in Florida don't undertand the the "stand your ground/castle law" there. Lets hear your comments.

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2. 85

   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   Police State. Citizens having the right to be judge, jury and executioner.....UNLESS, of course....you happen to be black...
   
   In which case, you are ALWAYS guilty.
   
   License to kill. And get away with it:  "But officer, he was threatening me"
   
   Trigger-Happy Nation.

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3. 0

   The Writers Dogposted 13 years ago

   Why say "killed a 17 year (old) black kid"? What we should be concerned with is "killed a 17 year old kid". The boy's ethnic background is irrelevant.

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      IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think the boy's ethnic background is central to the case. If he had been white he would still be alive.
      
      All I can say is, I'm glad the UK has more civilised rules on gun use. Regardless of the rights and wrongs, that man would be banged up in prison right now in the UK, not free to roam the streets.

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      1. 59

         puppypawsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Much is said about how "peaceful and safe" Britain and Europe are with gun control.  Nothing is said about how they start a war or ethnic cleansing every twenty years or so.  Always lots of guns available for that.
         
         Britain and Europe are about due very soon for another chapter in history to be written

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         1. 75

            IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'm sorry? Do you know something I don't? Spill..!

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            1. 60

               Paul Wingertposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               If Zimmerman was black and the 17 year old, white. Zimmerman would be in jail or dead.

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         2. 60

            myopenwindowposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            OFFTOPIC:
            
            lololol, FYI could you please be more specific on the "war or ethnic cleansing every twenty years"? Cite any sources? All I can see is that the USA goes to war every 5 years or so.
            
            Trigger-happy nation.
            If USA was just not compiled from the lowlife coming from the rest of the World. You find this offensive? See history for reference and you will agree with men.

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   2. 71

      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No, it isn't irrelevant. Racism was clearly what motivated Zimmerman.

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      1. 0

         Longhunterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This may shock you but I agree with you, Deeds.
         
         He saw a black kid in a hoodie and immediately thought, "I gonna get this punk kid!" Now an innocent kid is dead and Zimmerman should be in jail on murder charges.

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         1. 82

            gregasposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            That's true. As it stands now, anyone can shoot anyone just for walking down the street. Greg

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   3. 69

      A Thousand Wordsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      +1

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4. 85

   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   "you murder a kid, you get to go home. Protest a murder, you go to jail"

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5. 0

   The Writers Dogposted 13 years ago

   Izzy...So do we (Australia).
   
   LMC... Someone REALLY needs to do something to get the power away from the NRA and the likes.
   Fortunately most people outside the US know that the problem is with the minority.

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   1. 71

      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The NRA isn't a threat to the public interest because of its opposition to gun control laws and effective enforcement, it also tends to support right wing candidates who oppose any and all progressive legislation. They tend to be global warming deniers, homophobes, nativists, anti-tax nuts and so forth.

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6. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   He had explicit instructions not to get out of his car and wait for law enforcement. The teen didn't do anything to threaten him. There is a recording of his cell phone conversation with his girlfriend before it happened. No one heard about this when it happened because the media was all over the Kony story.
   This particular case is very sad and hopefully the law will be changed.

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7. 0

   The Writers Dogposted 13 years ago

   Thanks for that info, Ralph. The killer looks African American. I did not realise that he was not. I know how that could sound, and I apologise if it it offends anyone. It is not meant to.
   
   EDIT: What is a "nativist"?

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   1. 71

      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely no offense. Actually, despite his name, I think Zimmerman is mostly Latino. And his father said he also has African-American relatives, and therefore anti-black prejudice was not a factor. Evidence to the contrary is pretty strong. Someone commented earlier that there is friction between Latinos and African-Americans in Florida and elsewhere. One would think that one ethnic group that has been subject to discrimination would have sympathy for another ethnic group which suffers discrimination, but it doesn't always work that way. Apparently some people need somebody to look down on.

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8. 74

   Reality Bytesposted 13 years ago

   Obama  “We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
   
   This is exactly the kind of thing that scares me about the Presidents statement!
   Power hungry dirtbags like this guy standing his ground!   HOW could the minor threaten him with skittles and a glance?  First degree murder, or this sort of thing will repeat itself.

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   1. 71

      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      When did Obama say that, and what was the context? What did he mean by "a civilian national security force," if you know?

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         Longhunterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Here tis:
         
         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s

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         1. 71

            Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            thanks. I also am leery about a civilian national security force. I wonder what he has in mind? I doubt that it would involve Mr. Zimmerman.

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               Longhunterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I don't think he'll try unless he gets a second term.
               
               Hopefully, Zimmerman will soon be spending a long time behind bars.

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               1. 71

                  Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Here's a video that sums up the situation pretty well.
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9PmqhYk … re=related

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                  1. 0

                     Longhunterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     I can't imagine the fear this kid must have felt while being stalked by Zimmerman and the sorrow his parents must now endure.
                     
                     If Zimmerman spends even one more night in his own bed, the FBI should be investigating the police for misconduct.

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      2. 74

         Reality Bytesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set.
         
         We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.
         
         http://www.factcheck.org/2008/11/obamas … ity-force/
         
         Once a force such as this is established its agenda can be changed instantly.

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            rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            His statement has absolutely nothing to do with neighborhood watches. In context, he was talking about AmericaCorp, USA Freedom Corp and the Peace Corps. He's not talking about armed psycho neighborhood watch guys.

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            1. 74

               Reality Bytesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               This armed, psycho, civilian would have been just the type of person to be the first to volunteer for service. IMO if this guy spends tonight as a free man then there is no justice in Florida. I am appalled at this whole scenario.  The thought of a civilian force equal in size to the nations military is scary. Even trained Officers have their share of lunatics, I could only imagine the power hungry wannabes that would comprise a civilian national security force.

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               1. 86

                  rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I'm not sure what Obama's statement from 2008 has to do with this situation. It has nothing to do with it. He was not talking about a security force armed with guns and police powers. Did you read your entire link? Volunteers for these services (AmericaCorp, etc.) have to meet eligibility requirements of which this man would not have met with his background.
                  
                  The Justice Department and FBI have opened a civil rights investigation, and the local prosecutor has convened a grand jury April 10 to determine whether to charge Zimmerman
                  
                  It's terrible what has happened. And I am sick of people in power who would allow racial discrimination to hinder a case. They don't deserve the authority to protect citizens when an unarmed, innocent teenager is killed for walking down the street and being afraid for his life, and the killer is not behind bars.
                  http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/22/justice/f … index.html

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9. 0

   Longhunterposted 13 years ago

   I don't know what Florida's laws are but here in Tennessee, if you draw your gun and the person flees, you are no longer in fear for your life and can not shoot that person. Call in a description to the police and wait for them to show up.
   
   If you walk in on a person in your home and he runs for another room, you can shoot them under the Castle Doctrine as you don't know what weapons they may have there.
   
   If they flee the house, you are no longer in fear for your life and can not shoot that person. Call in a description to the police and wait for them to show up.
   
   In this case, this guy appears to me nothing more than a vigilante. The kid did not attack him and he was not in fear for his life so he should have called the police, let them investigate, and gone back to his own house. Let the police handle it. At least that's what I would have done.
   
   This guy should to be in jail on murder charges.

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   1. 69

      A Thousand Wordsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes he should.

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10. 59

    puppypawsposted 13 years ago

    People today act this this because they are afraid.  The government has abandoned its primary function of protecting citizens from those that initiate force and instead are busy confiscating the wealth of innocent citizens to hand out in the form of welfare, free cell phones, medical care and food stamps.
    
    Crime in cities of diverse background is spiraling and cities resemble war zones.
    
    Don't believe me?  Look at Detroit, Philadelphia and others.
    
    It doesn't excuse his behavior, but it explains it.

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    1. 84

       kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Actually, crime is at its lowest rate in decades:
       
       http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/20 … -safer-now

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          Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Not in Detroit. It's a war zone.

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             kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Nationally, it's at its lowest rate in decades. Detroit's crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, but it is technically declining, too:
             
             http://news.yahoo.com/detroit-crime-dow … 00203.html

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             1. 71

                Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Here are some more comprehensive statistics. Detroit is still a war zone, thanks to endemic poverty, unemployment, drug wars, a lack of handgun control laws and ineffective enforcement of the ones on the books. Gun crimes occur daily to the point where murders and shootouts are hardly newsworthy. 
                
                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta … crime_rate

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11. 61

    ackman1465posted 13 years ago

    I would if I thought there were some black people that we had to eliminate from the neighborhood.....

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12. 85

    lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

    Activist claims Sanford commissioner Mahany hasn't called Martin family to give condolences, but met w/Zimmerman family http://thkpr.gs/GI8S4I
    
    
    Informant???????????????

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       Longhunterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Somethings going on. The FBI needs to get down there before everything covered up.

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          lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Look at this:
          
          Rep. West: "The US Navy SEALS identified Osama Bin Laden within hours, while this young man laid on a morgue slab for three days."

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13. 77

    Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

    See, we all can find something to agree upon.
    
    I haven't said much about this because I don't like to use a lot of profanity.

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    1. 0

       Longhunterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Same here. Guys like this give Handgun Carry Permit holders a bad name, if he had one.
       
       Is he in jail yet? Has he been disarmed?

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       1. 60

          Paul Wingertposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          As of yet, this guy's gun permit has not been terminated and he is still running around free.

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14. 85

    lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

    "A Florida law that may protect the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February is the template for an American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) "model bill" that has been pushed in other states. The bill was brought to ALEC by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
    
    The 'Stand Your Ground' law is a license to kill,’’ former U.S. attorney Kendall Coffey told NBC News, noting that the number of "justifiable homicides" in Florida has tripled since the law was passed in 2005.
    
    You want to know how you can kill somebody legally in Florida?” says Arthur Hayhoe, executive director of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. “Make sure you have no witnesses, hunt the person down and then say you feared for your life.”

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15. 60

    im28beyondposted 13 years ago

    yeah, I read about this in yahoo. I don't like this story. this guy gives me the creeps. I wonder why they allow him to do the night watch.

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16. 80

    incomeguruposted 13 years ago

    So unfortunate that a neighbour watchman who should protect lives and properties turned out to be a murderer. We're all waiting to see the end of the murder case.

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