If you’re a wannabe cop loser with a gun who starts stalking a kid in the dark, you’re responsible

[kpete]

JOSH MARSHALL JULY 12, 2013, 1:36 PM

If you’re a wannabe cop loser with a gun who starts stalking a kid in the dark, you’re responsible for the outcome.

I know that sounds harsh or flippant. But I really do feel like this is what the whole case comes down to.

http://editors.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/07/my_take.php?ref=fpblg

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. Pretty much!! K&R!!!!

[Skittles]

2. THANK YOU

WTF is wrong with these Zimmerman defenders???

[ellisonz]

14. Gun on the Brain.

Also, deep-seated racist beliefs.

[movonne]

18. The same thing that is wrong with the repug party..no

brains...

[juajen]

3. Yep, I totally agree.

Trayvon certainly wasn't looking for a fight, and he had no idea who or what the person was that was stalking him. He had a right to defend himself, and I don't remember hearing that Zimmerman told him that he was employed by complex security. If Trayvon was getting the best of him in the fight that ensued, good on Trayvon. It appears that Zimmerman did not make "good decisions" any way you look at it. He should be convicted, IMHO.

[lindysalsagal]

4. Especially if you're the adult with the car and all the neighborhood watch training.

He had so many moments he could have done the right thing, and each time, he was determined to do the wrong thing. It wasn't just the bullet, it was being there, getting out of the car, following him, starting a fist-fight, and then, finally, pulling the trigger.

He could have even just backed away and aimed the gun, and that would have protected him, if that had been necessary. Of course, it wasn't.

I think the prosecution should have listed every opportunity zimmerman ignored to do the right thing.

[Rex]

5. And just think, if Zim had waited for the cops to show up

they would have found out that Martin was staying in that neighborhood and sent him on his way. No one would be dead and it would be just another day.

You have to own up to killing someone, no matter if it was murder or self-defense. Own up for what you do in life. So far Zim has been doing completely the opposite and I think it shows the jury just what he is all about.

[Hoyt]

6. +1. All rest is BS. Hope jury doesn't get bogged down into "who mounted who." It's Irrelevant. n/t

[Little Star]

8. Exactly!

[PoliticAverse]

7. Moral responsibility and legal responsibility aren't necessarily the same. n/t

[world wide wally]

9. After all the ridiculous rulings by the Supreme Court and mind boggling legislation passed or

attempted to be passed, if we legalize murder and acquit Zimmerman, we have gone beyond the point of no return in this country.
It will be time to find a new place to believe in.

[npk]

10. But that is precisely what real cops do all the time in this country

The sad part about all of this IMO, is that if Zimmerman actually had been a cop, this would have been perfectly acceptable in almost every state in this country. How many times do "real cops" do just what Zimmerman did. Follow a "suspicious" looking black male, get into self initiated confrontation, and then pull out their gun and fire. I think Zimmerman is guilty of second degree murder, but it's so damn easy for so many people like Zimmerman to think the way they do, when they see so many cops get away with at the very least manslaughter on an every day basis.

Case like the Zimmerman are a direct result of so many, not all though, cops behaving like this is the wild wild west and whatever they say is law. Want to prevent future Travoyn Martin victims, start prosecuting the cops who act in the same callous disregard for life as Zimmerman did.

[JDPriestly]

11. True on a moral level, but on a legal level, the jury decides.

And we shall see.

I think Zimmerman is guilty. I will be very sad if he doesn't at least get manslaughter.

But the fact is that we give defendants the benefit of the doubt. The prosecution has the burden of proving murder 2 beyond a reasonable doubt.

It's up to the jury to decide what all the facts showed them.

This is our system. There is no better one that I know of.

So when the verdict comes down, whether we agree or not, we need to support the jury's work because if we were the defendant we would want the benefit of the doubt.

[Hekate]

12. Zimmerman is a wannabe cop and a fantasy vigilante

Nothing harsh or flippant about that opinion -- I came to that realization long ago.

And a kid is dead because of that loser.

[madokie]

13. Spot on

[FiveGoodMen]

15. Amen!

[h8okra]

16. No need to be...

a cop wannabe, a loser or have intent to harm. You start it, you own it. If not Murder 2 or Manslaughter then a lesser charge of which you should be found guilty. But you should be judged guilty.

[libodem]

17. .

[pokerfan]

19. Oh sure, boil it down to brass tacks...

and I agree with all of it. The basic facts are George profiled an innocent 17 year old kid doing nothing wrong, walking home from the 7-Eleven, as a fucking punk god-damned asshole, followed him in his vehicle and then on foot, created an altercation and then killed him.

Mark O-Mara's closing was terrific if the charge was first-degree murder, but it's not first degree murder, which requires prior intent to murder. I don't believe George had that prior intent. He just wanted to make sure this fucking punk god-damned asshole wasn't going to get away again and in doing so caused Trayvon to fear for his life and stand his ground. George's response was to kill him.

[mckara]

20. That's a Fact, Jack!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

21. I agree, and so does this guy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017131101

Thanks to MrScorpio for posting. This man tapped into my anger, indignation and pain over this incident/case, to the point I was in tears by the end.

[ReRe]

22. K&R

[truebluegreen]

23. Agree completely.