Zimmerman trial starts today.

[piece-itpete]

"These assholes they always get away."

This is why he was watching his own neighborhood as a volunteer.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/sanford/crime/

Pete

[CarlV]

Originally Posted by barbara

Pete, I remember reading that Zimmerman wasn't actually a part of any legitimate Neighborhood Watch Group. And, even if he was, those watch groups have strict rules about simply reporting suspicious behavior and then letting law enforcement handle it.

Yeah, we used to have our group here for about 20 years until there was no need. We took turns attending the city's citywide program meeting there certainly was nobody doing anything other than walking the streets unarmed and phone calls. That is it. No confronting and no weapons of any kind.

Carl

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

The streets are a tough training ground.

SYG falls flat because the cops told him to forget it? Tell me how that works. He was part of a neighborhood watch. Where's the cops then?

Anyway I suppose we'll find out by and by.

Pete

Watch is the operational word. Unless Martin was actually observed commiting a crime then Zimmerman should have stayed in his car and directed the police to his location whereupon they would have had the authority to stop and question Martin. As far as I know, walking home in the rain in a hooded sweatshirt with Skittles in hand doesn't constitute any criminality, even in Florida.
Neighborhood Watch organizations have some pretty well established standards of conduct. This housing development that both Zimmerman and Martin resided at negligently did not follow those standards.

Yes, we will find out by the by. This trial will be a long and tortured one as evidenced by just the seating of an impartial jury going on right now.

[CarlV]

I sure wish I could figure out what exactly you are trying to get across Pete. You are giving me a headache.


Carl

[Oerets]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

He did have damage on the back of his head, from it being slammed into the ground.

For all this, are we all prepared to stand by the results of the trial? Will there be riots if not guilty, and would they be justified?

Pete

You don't think there are going to be protests no matter what the verdict is?

If the trail is an assassination of Trayvon's character, vilifying him who can not speak. Who's to say what will happen.

The truth is all Zimmerman needed was a cell phone to call the police. He did call and disregarded the orders given. Played cop, someone lost their life and he should pay now.

Now as to the "what if a police officer is beaten, most of the time it is against the law. But cases have gone against officers for assault and even Manslaughter with convictions.



Barney

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by CarlV

I sure wish I could figure out what exactly you are trying to get across Pete. You are giving me a headache.


Carl

Me, too.

[barbara]

https://www.bja.gov/Publications/NSA_NW_Manual.pdf


Please note the highlighted paragraph on page 22 titled 'REMEMBER'

[piece-itpete]

If the police don't do their job then one who tries is not wrong. Very simple.

I suspect none of us would put up with that crime rate.

Pete

[BlueStreak]

"This guy looks like he's up to no good, or
he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking
about." He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male."

"Now he's just staring at me."

"Yeah, now he's coming towards me."

"He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male."

"These assholes they always get away."

"Dispatcher: Are you following him?
Zimmerman: Yeah
Dispatcher: Ok, we don't need you to do that."

Night-time, raining............

He sat in his truck, watching Martin and talking on the phone. Martin saw him and started to approach him. Martin then turned and ran.

Not sure what the guy in the truck was up to? Maybe Martin thought the man in the truck, watching him and following him around while talking on the phone was "...up to no good." This we can't know because Martin is dead. But, I often walk at night and would certainly find such behavior creepy.

He chased the guy down when he was told not to. He exited the vehicle and engaged him. There was a struggle, Zimmerman fired during the struggle. Martin was killed.

"He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male."

To my mind two things come to light in this statement.

1).To be fair, reaching into the waistband could lead one to believe Martin was, in deed, carrying a gun. But, if he had been. Why did he run?

2). If you don't see the racial element in the second sentence, then I am compelled to say;

I know you righties are going to howl when you hear the word "racism" and that's okay. Pavlovs dog was trained to slobber when he heard certain sounds too. The dog couldn't help it and neither can you.

Zimmerman should be found guilty. But, he very well might not be.

And THAT's a shame.

Dave

[Charles]

I'd shoot some sumbitch who was trying to kill me.

I would figure, that at that point, that we were reduced to "diplomacy by other means".

Takes two to tango,

Chas