by guest blogger Purple
Almost a month after the death of 17 year old, Trayvon Martin, the incident is garnering national attention and outrage. On February 26th, Trayvon Martin was shot to death in the gated community where his father lived in Orlando, Florida. He was visiting his father there. The shooter is 28 year old, George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain. Zimmerman deemed Martin “suspicious” as he spotted him walking in the neighborhood, after having returned from a nearby convenience store to purchase a pack of Skittles and an iced tea. Zimmerman called 911 to report Martin’s “suspicious” behavior and ignored instructions to not pursue Martin. He ended up confronting Martin and shooting him in what he claims was in self-defense. Recently, 911 calls and witness reports have been publicly released, and largely challenge Zimmerman’s claims of self-defense.
This case brings to light Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which has thus far provided Zimmerman immunity from arrest despite the numerous amounts of evidence from 911 calls and witness accounts. The Sanford Police Department in Florida maintain they don’t have enough evidence to dispute Zimmerman’s claim and arrest him. But, back to the “Stand Your Ground” law; the law was passed in Florida in 2005 and basically gives people the right to use deadly force if they feel they are being threatened without first trying to retreat. While I read the law was partially introduced in support of the fight against domestic violence, Trayvon Martin’s case allows me to see the potential for oppression with the law. Like any law, it can be misused and abused, and in this case, which reeks of racism, it can lead to injustice.
What do you think of the “Stand Your Ground” law? Apparently the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming all have laws similar to it.
For more information on the case, check out some of the links below… and also do your own research.
*Update: Late Monday, the FBI and Department of Justice announced plans to investigate the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgNvPdRVnyQ
http://www.wesh.com/r/30719969/detail.html
Yeah I hope he gets put away for this. Clearly as your post and other articles have pointed out, the dispatcher told him not to pursue the kid because he wasn't doing anything other than eating some skittles. I'm glad awareness is finally spreading.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! that's deep... the article sounded like Mr. Zimmerman got trigger happy with his 9mm, and from what the article stated, he is also Guilty as well... Trayvon Martin was not armed or carrying a weapon...The article also stated that the police dispatcher insisted that Mr. Zimmerman stand down, and he continued to follow the young boy anyway...He's a murder and no I do not think it was self-defense on his behave.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of the “Stand Your Ground” law?
I like the "stand your ground" law but in this case the Law told Mr. Zimmerman to STAND DOWN, and he didn't causing him to kill an innocent child...
When laws like this leads to death, some form of action should go into play... When regular people take the law into their own hands, they should really suffer the consequences....
The law is definitely flawed. Horrible. They could have come up with a better law to protect people.
ReplyDelete