tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post4004148146063764284..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: "Like The Duke Lacrosse Scandal But Worse"kcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-23004931265974374112012-06-13T22:14:46.641-04:002012-06-13T22:14:46.641-04:00While I agree that what happened in the lacrosse c...While I agree that what happened in the lacrosse case is much worse, are you still willing to say there is "no equivalent of Mike Nifong"?<br /><br />Maybe you DO need to check the latest at the Legal Insurrection site...<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/7v7yqas (link goes to Legal Insurrection site's latest post on Angela Corey filing perjury charges against Zimmerman's wife by editing testimony in the bond hearing & not stating it was editied...))flicka47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00166088475816625100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-82817916546809698812012-06-08T09:44:30.625-04:002012-06-08T09:44:30.625-04:00"There’s no equivalent of Mike Nifong, or any..."There’s no equivalent of Mike Nifong, or anyone resembling him, in any of the various prosecutor’s offices who have evaluated Zimmerman—calling into question the merits of any comparison between the two cases"<br /><br />Dear MrJohnson<br /><br />Given the recent revelations about the Sanford Florida prosecutors threats aginst critics I wonder if you are willing to reconsider this statment from your comparison? See Legal Insurrection web site for detailsPhaedrushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05300091061497918944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-66517744290710379942012-05-22T21:22:20.278-04:002012-05-22T21:22:20.278-04:00There is absolutely nothing improper in attempting...There is absolutely nothing improper in attempting to keep a person in visual range. The use of the word "pursue" implies that Zimmerman was attempting to catch it attack Martin. The use of that word is part of the smear just as the "something happened" was in the Duke case. Shame on you.Abdul Abulbul Amirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05053690570915734728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-50401087292912967292012-05-18T15:10:29.589-04:002012-05-18T15:10:29.589-04:00Have you been following the case? Have you notice...Have you been following the case? Have you noticed how all the evidence that is now coming out supports Zimmerman? That it's pretty clear that the prosecutor issued charges she couldn't actually support, in a politically charged case?<br /><br />I used to have a lot of respect for you. Your behavior in this case is causing that respect to drain away. Which is too bad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-90105260364574455102012-05-08T00:54:34.707-04:002012-05-08T00:54:34.707-04:00Yes, there is no point to adding to this dead thre...Yes, there is no point to adding to this dead thread, but have to get this off my chest:<br /><br />Florida's Stand Your Ground law is legally arming street gangs. (Anyone who has not been convicted of a crime must be issued a concealed weapons permit, even if they have multiple arrests!). <br /><br />Some of the consequences are detailed in this article: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/05/07/a-night-inside-south-floridas-gang-wars/<br /><br />Gangs arrange for a car pool: one gang member carries the drugs; another drives; another legally carries a concealed(!) weapon. <br /><br />The guns-for-all crowd have their ideology. They are beyond hope.<br /><br />Florida law enforcement and prosecutors opposed SYG. SYG puts the police, as well as the rest of us, as well as (the now deceased) Trayvon Martin, at grave risk.<br /><br />Credit for this insanity goes to a shamefully spineless state legislature. Incidentally, as with most such issues, the spinelessness is bipartisan. (Not a single Democratic Senator in the Florida Senate voted against the SYG law.)<br /><br />Nothing, just nothing, is more important than getting a nice campaign contribution with which to get re-elected.<br /><br />Jim PetersonJim In San Diegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959286127760699852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-11230488454791009382012-04-29T15:30:29.157-04:002012-04-29T15:30:29.157-04:00"There’s no academic equivalent of the Group ..."There’s no academic equivalent of the Group of 88, or Richard Brodhead, in the Zimmerman affair—calling into question the merits of any comparison between the two cases."<br /><br />I would suggest that for the Zimmerman case the MSM == Group of 88. Especially considering what is going on at NBC and the subsequent firings.Tucanae Serviceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11935170696138248693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-90402563169320745352012-04-24T23:38:57.452-04:002012-04-24T23:38:57.452-04:00Not sure why my prior comments responding to MOO G...Not sure why my prior comments responding to MOO Gregory didn't pass muster, but am disappointed.No Justice, No Peacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-7681794382990780452012-04-24T00:46:06.095-04:002012-04-24T00:46:06.095-04:00MOO Gregory: as usual, an excellent analysis base...MOO Gregory: as usual, an excellent analysis based on application of informed logic to the known facts.<br /><br />To anonymous: To clarify: I am not in favor of strict gun control (I am a life-long gun owner and an expert marksman). I am in favor of safe use of guns - this inevitably means some reasonable controls on who can carry guns, when they can be carried, and when they can be lawfully used.<br /><br />To a number of others, who argue the evidence demonstrates conclusively that Zimmerman was only defending himself, and therefore he should not be prosecuted:<br /><br />a. The chief police investigator testified at Zimmerman's bail hearing that Zimmerman initially gave accounts which both conflicted with each other and conflicted with the physical evidence. This individual actually believed, at the time, Zimmerman's story was not credible and he should be charged.<br /><br />b. A witness saw one person chasing another through the community moments before the gunshot. <br /><br />c. Two audio experts have analyzed the last 911 tape, in which someone is heard crying for "help, help", just before a gunshot. They conclude that the person crying for help is certainly not George Zimmerman, although they had (at the time) no recording of Trayvon Martin's voice to see if it was him.<br /><br />d. No witness apparently viewed the start of the final confrontation (who is still alive).<br /><br />e. In most states, if you are the one who starts a confrontation, you lose the right to claim self defense if your victim defends himself. Therefore, Zimmerman would only have a defense of self defense if he did not initiate the confrontation. There is evidence he chased Martin throughout the subdivision. The only evidence that Zimmerman did not start the confrontation comes from Zimmerman's own self-serving statement, which, according to the chief investigator, conflicts with Zimmerman's first explanations, and is not consistent with the physical evidence at the scene.<br /><br />f. Two weeks ago, the mother of a 13 year old witness who saw part of the confrontation, but who was not interviewed by the Sanford police, was asked by an interviewer if her 13 year old son believed Zimmerman had acted in self-defense. Her response: "not at all".<br /><br />We shall have to wait and see. If Zimmerman broke no law, he should be found not guilty. If he broke the law, he should be punished.<br /><br />Jim PetersonJim In San Diegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959286127760699852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-13450138806671982412012-04-24T00:08:53.311-04:002012-04-24T00:08:53.311-04:00to the 2:54 and a couple of others:
It is fundame...to the 2:54 and a couple of others:<br /><br />It is fundamentally wrong that a teenager shopping for candy is shot dead by an armed vigilante who chased him across a community the teenager had a right to be in.<br /><br />No parent on the planet wants their children to be chased by armed strangers, least of all when they are not breaking any law.<br /><br />I suspect you are not a parent?<br /><br />The legal system will sort out what laws, if any were broken. If Zimmerman broke any laws, he can and should be prosecuted. If none were broken, then we must work to change the law, so this fundamentally wrong situation does not occur again.<br /><br />You are quite right, there is a meta-narrative here. The meta narrative is that human life is precious, and should be guarded carefully by all of us. This is true even if armed vigilantes must control their fears and call the police first. <br /><br />Some of the people I and my cadre were forced to remove from weapons training while I served as a training office in a Basic Combat Training Company during the Vietnam war were fearful of many things: ghosts .... goblins .... Black people .... teenagers wearing hoodies ....<br /><br />I ask all of you who think there should be no prosecution: would you feel the same if your son were shot dead under these circumstances? If you answer "yes", I do not believe you.<br /><br />Would you feel the same if a black vigilante had shot a white teenager on his way back from the 7-11, while breaking no law? Please answer honestly, even if you keep your answer private.<br /><br />Jim PetersonJim In San Diegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959286127760699852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-33922426609407372752012-04-23T22:00:01.590-04:002012-04-23T22:00:01.590-04:00From Victor Davis Hanson--
"Perhaps before t...From Victor Davis Hanson--<br /><br />"Perhaps before the second-degree-murder charge is thrown out, the prosecution can so entangle Zimmerman in testimony that they can recharge him with perjury or conspiracy and then plea bargain him down to a year or two. The case is now not concerned with justice, but with politics, defusing threats of violence, and salvaging the careers of so many who so foolishly rushed to judgment."<br /><br />http://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/it-was-the-power-stupid/?singlepage=true<br /><br />This sounds more and more similar to Duke Lacrosse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-33052849179616893302012-04-22T06:40:25.593-04:002012-04-22T06:40:25.593-04:00The key similarity is that for many people, the Na...The key similarity is that for many people, the Narrative trumps reality. <br /><br />It's looking more and more like Zimmerman is innocent. And yet for a lot of people (apparently including the prosecutors), that sort of evidence doesn't matter.sabrilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-64572874501388517272012-04-22T00:50:02.774-04:002012-04-22T00:50:02.774-04:00KC, why no comment on the Special Prosecutor's...KC, why no comment on the Special Prosecutor's "performance?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-76267672525671453532012-04-21T11:07:36.173-04:002012-04-21T11:07:36.173-04:00Steve Sailer's reflections on the media's ...<a href="http://isteve.blogspot.com/2012/04/stereowiping-and-zimmerman-teletravesty.html" rel="nofollow">Steve Sailer's reflections</a> on the media's (mis)handling of the Martin-Zimmerman case.AMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08872008617279528583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-13556527715626175162012-04-20T21:40:51.482-04:002012-04-20T21:40:51.482-04:00Professor Johnson,
I've faithfully followed y...Professor Johnson,<br /><br />I've faithfully followed your blog writing here since shortly after you began DIW. I respectfully disagree completely with your analysis. I see obvious parallels between the Zimmerman and the Duke lacrosse cases. Of course, they're not identical and we have to see how the Zimmerman case plays out.<br /><br />I'm surprised you made the "obvious point" that in the lacrosse case, nothing happened. I thought it was commonly understood "nothing happened" in that context was shorthand for nothing illegal happened. Strippers were hired. Strippers did what strippers do, however briefly. Words were exchanged and strippers left. That's something, but we say "nothing happened" in good conscience because it's understood none of the alleged illegal behavior actually happened.<br /><br />To draw a distinction between the lacrosse "nothing happened" case and the Zimmerman "shot to death and unarmed teenager" case presumes something illegal happened in the latter case. We don't know that yet. If the Zimmerman case is tossed (not likely) or the jury acquits him, which I think is entirely possible, both cases can claim "nothing happened" as a shorthand for "nothing illegal happened."<br /><br />I think the three loci of misconduct you identified in the lacrosse case has ample parallel in the Zimmerman case, beginning with the prosecutor. Thankfully, few prosecutors approach the level of misconduct displayed by Nifong, but Angela Cory is taking some serious criticism for bowing to political pressure and overcharging the case. Alan Dershowitz has gone farther, suggesting she may have made a "grave ethical violation" by excluding exculpatory evidence from the charging affidavit. If she has the evidence, she'll be a hero, but she's taking heavy criticism for not putting anything substantial in the charging document. It's too early to tell, but Nifong wasn't revealed to be a monster until much later in the process. <br /><br />Your second point centered around the "litany of dubious behavior by members of the Duke faculty and administration." While Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, The New Black Panthers, and even Barack Obama aren't members of the academy, they certainly represented a concerted effort by individuals and groups to capitalize on an apparent racial injustice and fan the flames of hatred for their own political gain. Just like the Group of 88, Reverends Al, Jesse, and their ilk weighed in with wildly unsupportable accusations and character assassinations in an attempt to further their own cause. Both groups had great initial success taking control of the "narrative" and spinning it to their own ends.<br /><br />Finally, the media behavior in the two cases is far more similar than you state. Nearly all of the widely read or watched media outlets immediately took a side. NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN and others continued to run accurate, but not timely photos of Martin long after more recent photos were available. The continued to refer to Zimmermann as a "white" Hispanic, despite having rarely used the term in the past. It fit the narrative they were promoting. Analysts were hired to dissect audio and video "evidence," nearly always reaching conclusions that fit the mainstream media narrative. There was so much mind reading going on of Zimmerman and Martin, Miss Cleo was ready to demand royalties. This is so much like the early days of the lacrosse case.<br /><br />I suppose you might be wary of any other case being hooked to the coat tails of the lacrosse case. After all, if everyone believes these two cases are quite similar and Zimmerman turns out to be a racist vigilante gunman, it could indirectly tarnish the lacrosse case. However, I like the comparison so far because the lacrosse case is the most visible example of true justice winning out over public opinion influenced by people with a race/class/gender agenda aided by lazy or sympathetic media.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-24868042841541236762012-04-20T10:10:20.559-04:002012-04-20T10:10:20.559-04:00KC:
ABC just posted an Iphone video of G.Zimmerma...KC:<br /><br />ABC just posted an Iphone video of G.Zimmerman taken 3-4 minutes after the shot was fired. (Witness on the scene) There was more than enough graphic evidence to support Zimmerman's account. If the police saw the latest video I understand why they didn't charge Zimmerman.<br /><br /><br />I have felt from the start no neighborhood watch person would murder an individual after calling the police. Based on that belief, I probably came down on Zimmerman's side from the beginning.<br /><br />IMO, this case will never make it past the evidentiary hearing.<br /><br />BTW, as a matter of professionalism, I think you should acquaint yourself with the actual number of times the edited 911 (he's black) was broadcast, re-broadcast and published.<br /><br />Ken<br />DallasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-30462848976558382762012-04-18T23:46:37.566-04:002012-04-18T23:46:37.566-04:00Have now listened to the 911 tape, looked at the n...Have now listened to the 911 tape, looked at the neighbrhood map and the relevant points, heard the interview with the witness who observed Martin beating Zimmerman, looked at the police report which describes Zimmerman's injuries and the grass stains on his shirt. In listening to the 911 tape, I believe what some consider to be "huffing and puffing" is simply the wind, not Zimmerman at all. In fact, it seems that Zimmerman stopped following Martin and spoke with the dispatcher for some period of time explaining where to send the police officers and where/whether he would meet them...this was enough time for Martin to get away from Zimmerman and run home. On the tape Zimmerman comes across as a reasonable person who is trying to keep track of someone he considers suspicious (and he offers perfectly plausible reasons why he considers Martin suspicious) while waiting for the police. Frankly, the evidence seems to point to simple self defense on Zimmerman's part. I agree with zarkov01 on all points.<br /><br />Perhaps there will actually be some evidence of guilt of murder or maslaughter eventually, but, if this is a simple case of self defense (as it currently appears to me), no crime ocurred.<br /><br />ObserverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-88703981689524276542012-04-18T16:16:58.224-04:002012-04-18T16:16:58.224-04:00And here we go with the politicized prosecution fo...And here we go with the politicized prosecution for PR purposes. Grand jury? We don't need no stinkin' jury.<br /><br />http://pjmedia.com/blog/walking-papers-the-incredibly-thin-speculative-zimmerman-affidavit/?singlepage=trueLocomotive Breathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15501722094860082283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-82922616677155112412012-04-18T12:55:31.481-04:002012-04-18T12:55:31.481-04:00For all those concluding the guilt of Zimmerman, I...For all those concluding the guilt of Zimmerman, I like to remind them that the Duke approved politically correct phrase to use is "whatever (he) they did is bad enough"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-3199273287917684472012-04-18T05:00:49.288-04:002012-04-18T05:00:49.288-04:00I hope this is also my last post on the subject! H...I hope this is also my last post on the subject! However, I've been very displeased with the actions of the attorneys in the case, as they've made it a public spectacle. Early in the Crystal Mangum Hoax, I researched the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct to determine if Mike Nifong was violating them. I determined that he was obviously violating them, so I sent him a fax to that effect from my office to his office on my professional letterhead. <br /><br />I have not conducted the same due diligence for the Florida attorneys, but I suspect they've gone at least into the gray area. That includes the new prosecutor and all of the defense attorneys. That's very disappointing to me, and I hope somebody IS DOING the due diligence. <br /><br />______________________<br /><br />Note to Jim Peterson: You seem to be pretty passionate about gun control. So am I. If you are aware of any good websites or groups, please let me know. I am very much against handguns, concealed-carry laws, open-carry laws, stand your ground laws, etc. I would keep them locked up in homes or at gun ranges. Long guns I'm pretty cool with -- as long as they aren't assault rifles! <br /><br />______________________<br /><br />Note to Professor Johnson: Thanks for providing this forum for discussion and for your continuing effort on behalf of Justice in Durham. <br /><br />______________________<br /><br />Finally, Alan Dershowitz got on TV to say, "everything in the [Zimmerman] affidavit is consistent with self defense." The legal answer to that is, "So what?" It is the defendant's burden to prove traditional self defense at trial. It is not the state's burden. <br /><br />All a probable cause affidavit has to do is show there is cause to believe a violation of the law occurred, but Dershowitz seems to think it must also try the whole case from the defendant's perspective as well. He is 100% wrong. <br /> <br />In relevant part, the affidavit read: The police dispatcher told Zimmerman to wait until officers arrived. Later, Zimmerman was instructed not to follow Martin. A witness indicated that Martin contemporaneously said that he was being followed by a strange man. A struggle ensued, and witnesses heard Martin calling for help. Martin was shot dead in the chest by a gun in the possession of Zimmerman. Zimmerman admitted to the killing on the scene. <br /><br />I would agree with Dershowitz that there has likely been some over-charging with the second degree murder filing. Prosecutors have a long, sordid history of doing that, which I never appreciated, but they think it is like negotiating with a pawn broker -- start high and settle on a lower number. <br /><br />The facts in the affidavit, if proven at trial, would show Zimmerman twice ignored police dispatcher requests to stand his ground, and he then went to confront Martin. That, to me, is the bare bones for the "depraved mind" aspect of the 2nd degree murder charge. And, most significantly, that's all a probable cause affidavit has to do! (Still, I see this as being more likely a manslaughter verdict or an acquittal. But we'll see.). MOO! GregoryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-52197017076611116492012-04-18T02:54:35.828-04:002012-04-18T02:54:35.828-04:00Wow! It seems Jim In San Diego believes the "...Wow! It seems Jim In San Diego believes the "press reaction was necessary, timely, and highly productive". Really? ...with all the MSM bias! ...(again except for Fox). Clearly he has concluded that whatever happened is "fundamentally wrong" and believes he has enough information (from the vantage point of his living room, I suspect) and has subsequently eliminated any possibility of self-defense or a twist, as the facts unfold. It seems Jim and a few others on this list have their own meta-narratives and certainly lack the patience to see where the unfolding facts lead. I truly believe the 88 would be very proud of his (or their) rush to judgment. Sadly, have we learned nothing from what went on at Duke?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-89099713182144834442012-04-17T14:31:32.058-04:002012-04-17T14:31:32.058-04:00FYI: “George Zimmerman had bandages on nose and he...FYI: “George Zimmerman had bandages on nose and head after shooting, neighbors say…”<br /><br />CBS News: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 <br />According to his neighbors, George Zimmerman had bandages on his nose and head the day after he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26th. Zimmerman claims Martin jumped him, broke his nose and pounded his head into the ground…..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-26544426230592130152012-04-17T00:02:06.583-04:002012-04-17T00:02:06.583-04:00One final comment, as it relates to the subject of...One final comment, as it relates to the subject of this blog, and this thread. Then, we will try to let go.<br /><br />The brouhaha created by the press was absolutely necessary to provoke a review of the Trayvon Martin killing. The Sanford Florida police had already closed their files, and given George Zimmerman a free pass.<br /><br />The shooting occurred on February 26th, now 8 weeks ago. By the first week of March, the Sanford police had filed Trayvon's killing in the "justified homicide" file. <br /><br />The Sanford police investigation did not include either Trayvon's or Zimmerman's cell phones, or a canvas of the immediate neighborhood for witnesses. They instead excused Zimmerman, including his ignoring of the 911 operator's warning, "we don't need you to do that" (i.e., follow Trayvon). According to the Sanford police, this was not an "order", so Zimmerman was free to ignore it.<br /><br />But for the reaction of the press, including this blog, Trayvon would be just one of the 70 or so new homicides this year that the State of Florida has elected to excuse.<br /><br />If you believe, as I do, that this is fundamentally wrong, then the press reaction was necessary, timely, and highly productive. The case will be tried in a court of law, on the facts. At least, it will be tried.<br /><br />Jim PetersonJim In San Diegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959286127760699852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-80679288035230952202012-04-16T18:20:51.660-04:002012-04-16T18:20:51.660-04:00KC Johnson,
Did you actually listen to the record...KC Johnson,<br /><br />Did you actually listen to the recording of the conversation between police dispatcher Shawn (Sean?) and Zimmerman? If you did, then you would realize the following.<br /><br />1. Zimmerman did not improperly pursue Martin.<br /><br />2. Shawn asked Zimmerman, "Are you following him? Zimmerman said "yeah." Then Shawn said "You don't need to do that." To which Zimmerman replied "Okay." Unless we get more evidence, we don't know if Zimmerman continued to follow Martin or not. BTW I don't think that that Shawn is a 911 operator. More likely he's a desk Sargent or a dispatcher.<br /><br />3. The police station video does not have enough resolution to determine if Zimmerman had a broken nose. But we can find out. Zimmerman was treated by medics and he saw a doctor soon after. You should not be assuming something not yet in evidence.<br /><br />4. You don't understand Florida's so-called "stand your ground law." Even if Zimmerman had a duty to retreat (old law), he couldn't if Martin punched him and then began hitting his head against the ground. It does not matter if Zimmerman "set in motion events ..." for a claim of self defense. If Zimmerman was in reasonable fear for his life or serious injury then he can claim self defense, and use lethal force. His following (if he did) does not mean he's supposed to just passively allow someone to beat on him.zarkov01https://www.blogger.com/profile/01062623377758910681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-87037214566780211502012-04-16T15:31:34.978-04:002012-04-16T15:31:34.978-04:00It has been a while since any thread here has prov...It has been a while since any thread here has provoked so much passion. It has touched a nerve, because culture is being attacked and defended.<br /><br />We know for sure an unarmed teenager shopping for candy was shot dead. We know that three minutes before his death, he was fleeing George Zimmerman, who was not a policeman, and had no legal right to accost Trayvon Martin, who was committing no crime.<br /><br />Nevertheless, somehow, the unarmed teenager ended up shot dead. <br /><br />Something is very wrong, with either George Zimmerman, or a Florida law which excuses homicide anywhere if the shooter claims to feel threatened.<br /><br />I served as a training officer in a Basic Training Company early in the Vietnam war. I and my cadre were forced to remove about 3 of every 100 trainees from the weapons training program because of emotional or mental issues that made them a danger to themselves or to others. <br /><br />They could not be trusted with firearms, not even after several weeks intensive training on firearms, and not even under the close supervision of highly qualified weapons instructors.<br /><br />It is statistically certain that Florida's Stand Your Ground law, coupled with its extraordinarily lax gun carry laws, is arming some of these misfits. This is because, among other things, legislators do not have enough personal knowledge of all the dangers of firearms.<br /><br />This is a huge, dangerous experiment. By all accounts, Trayvon Martin is just one victim of this experiment. <br /><br />Among the 70 or so new "justifiable" homicides in Florida each year are other victims like Trayvon Martin. We know this is so because of our ordinary experience with human nature, and our knowledge of the dangers of firearms.<br /><br />So far as I know, every single state allows self defense as a defense to a homicide. <br /><br />Unlike Florida, however, most states require the shooter to retreat to their home before using deadly force, and if they do not, the shooter has a huge burden of proof to justify his or her taking of someone else's life. My ideology is this is as it should be.<br /><br />The idea of guns for everyone is dangerous, because some people simply should not have ready access to firearms. This, coupled with just the idea that they can be used against other human beings without consequence threatens to return us to the Heart of Darkness.<br /><br />Jim PetersonJim In San Diegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959286127760699852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-28558427087778655692012-04-16T13:20:45.357-04:002012-04-16T13:20:45.357-04:00KC PUH-leeseeee tell me again there is NO comparis...KC PUH-leeseeee tell me again there is NO comparison to the Duke case. Wow I sure hope you don't become number 89. Let's see where we are now as events unfold. So far we have "MSM BIAS (except for FOX) - edited tape, cold, and head wound reporting" supporting one of their favorite meta-narriatives. That is clearly the same. The next is politics and government misconduct. We might not be there yet ...but it sure looks like we are getting close.... "“But it’s worse than that,” said Dershowitz."“I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection..." “It’s irresponsible and unethical in not including material that favors the defendant.” See: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/harvard-prof-alan-dershowitz-zimmerman-arrest-affidavit-irresponsible-and-unethical/ <br />If you are not careful Dershowitz might write Part two of your book, instead of you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com