walking while black - Trayvon Martin

[Disciple]

Shitstorm, I agree that things have gotten WAY out of hand with the various factions who have their own agendas to push.

But, to be blunt, your attitude about if you served on the jury absolutely SCARES me. "(W)ere I on a jury - no matter if the facts pointed to Zimmerman's guilt - I would be reluctant to convict."

Every juror takes an oath to render a verdict based solely upon the evidence. No matter what political positions you wish to support or refute, you have a duty to render a fair verdict. Whether you believe the evidence proves Zimmerman guilty of a crime (TM is entitled to justice) or that you can find reasonable doubt of guilt for the crimes charged/lesser included offenses (Zimmerman is entitled to an acquital), you HAVE to vote the evidence. The right to a fair trial is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and is of PARAMOUNT importance here.

I am one who would abolish the "Stand Your Ground" statute. It is CLEARLY overly broad if it allows you to pursue someone who is unarmed and shoot him to death.

That having been said, there would, of course, always be some kind of self defense provision in the law. IMHO, New York got it right. If someone uses or threatens you with (non-deadly) physical force, you are not permitted to use deadly physical force in response. If and ONLY if faced with deadly physical force are you allowed to respond in kind.

I firmly support the requirement of passing a thorough background check to qualify for a pistol permit, as well as federal registration and a background check to purchase a firearm. There are MANY people who, because of extensive criminal records and/or mental health issues, have ABSOLUTELY no business owning firearms.

This is probably a good place to mention that I own 4 pistols and around 20 long guns.

BTW: I don't think Zimmerman was a cop wanna be. I think he crossed the line and graduated to full fledged vigilante. He knowingly and recklesssly took the law into his own hands, with predictable results.

New York? Surely you jest. New York is so far left (i.e., unrecognizable as part of United States under the constitution) that it could join the Soviet Republic if it still existed. Fuck New York.

You are mistaken about jurors. It's a common misconception. The People have the final say. While I understand where Lady Cop is coming from with the cases she cited, we have lots of bullshit laws under which someone could be prosecuted and lose their freedom and a conscious jury is the only remedy for that. Jurors are not rubber stamps for the law nor there to serve the judge. I would never convict anyone on anything the IRS brought or for weed, for instance. The former is unconstitutional and the latter is a goddamn plant. I did not say that I wouldn't convict Zimmerman (though I sure don't see any murder 2 there), just that I would be reluctant because of the very real and dangerous political agenda it would be used for. I care more about my rights and the rights of all Americans to self defense than I do about that case. I would have to weigh that legitimate concern in any decision that I made. No case exists in a vacuum and consequences have to be considered. I also don't think in terms of 'justice' for dead people. They're dead, okay? Dead people aren't around to enjoy any justice. The concern, for me, is getting a dangerous person off the street and any implications of the case beyond that.

You can learn more about your rights and duty as a juror here:

http://fija.org/

Shitstorm, are you suggesting that NY is leftist because it is illegal to use deadly force on unarmed people?

Hmmmm.

I guess you'd really blow a gasket if you knew about the duty to retreat before using deadly force unless you are in your own house.

I also don't understand what you mean when you say that the "People" have the final say. Would you explain that please? If we are talking about the same legal system, I thought Appeals Courts, including the US Supreme Court, had the final say.

What I meant by justice for the deceased was calling an unlawful homicide what it is, instead of blaming the victim. You'll notice the field day the right wing press has had with the fact that Martin was suspended from school for having a baggie with pot residue (open parentheses: the kid had it coming). Since you are so conscious of the policy implications of jurors' decisions, I'm sure that you can see the danger of acquitting Zimmerman when the facts call for a conviction: such as declaring open season on teenage male persons of color who wear hoodies and walk where others resent their presence. Hence my concern about the reluctance you voiced.

Note this prediction: Federal regulations of firearms will never become restrictive. Absolute political suicide for 75% of the federal politicians.

BTW: here in leftist NY, the Judge, when charging the jury, will charge them on nullification if asked.