Comment: Re:Why so hung up on a race? (Score 1) 1005
As for a confrontation ending up with a dead body, let me ask you something. If someone who had a full 6 inches in height on you, was on top of you, slamming your head into the ground, would you just let him do it? Or would you use whatever means are available to you to prevent this attacker from bashing your head in? There's a concept called disparity of force. This is a concept that comes up time and time again in cases of lethal use of force in self defense. Without using this case (I'll get to that in a bit), an example of disparity of force would be this. An 80 year old woman is attacked by a 25 year old man without weapons, just his fists. This constitutes disparity of force because there is no way that 80 year old woman can provide the same amount of force back to that man, without the use of a weapon. In this case, she would be justified pulling the
Ok, so how does this relate to this case? If you were to put Martin in Zimmerman in the octagon, and let them go at it, they'd likely be a fairly even match. Martin is 6'3" 160lbs. Zimmerman is 5'9", and around 180lbs (the estimates that put him at around the 240-250 mark were based on the infamous mugshot that the news loved showing of Zimmerman, that was also 5 years old). However, with Martin physically on top of Zimmerman (two eyewitnesses, and Zimmerman's own story state this) and his hands on his head, there is little Zimmerman can do to stop what's going on. Slamming someone's head into the ground is lethal force. The disparity of force, assuming this version of events is true (and there is practically no evidence to suggest that it is not, at this time), is very evident, with Zimmerman left with little choice but to draw his weapon and fire.
You may believe that it doesn't matter who started the confrontation, but leaving fantasy land, and entering the real world, it actually does matter. Carrying a gun does not make you guilty, as you seem to be implying. If Zimmerman started the confrontation, and provoked Martin, he is a cold blooded murderer, and deserves to spend the rest of his years in prison. If, however, Zimmerman's only crime (which isn't a crime) was following a suspicious person, and it was Martin that instigated the confrontation, then the death of Trayvon Martin should rightly be ruled a justifiable homicide.
Comment: Re:Error My Ass (Score 1) 1005
There is plenty of evidence that damn near proves that Zimmerman did NOT suffer any substantial injury.
Wait, wait, wait...
Soooooo, in order to use lethal force to defend myself, I have to wait until AFTER I have sustained substantial injury?
Are you fucking stupid? Or just insane?
"Derp, derp, derp, Imma let you bash my head in a few more times before I try to defend myself, derp."
Comment: Re:My friend is trying to protect his neighborhood (Score 1) 1005
So it's impossible for a person to kill another person without using a weapon?
Only with lasers, as far as I know.
Comment: Re:My friend is trying to protect his neighborhood (Score 1) 1005
Comment: Re:Error My Ass (Score 1) 1005
What's interesting is that you're trying to argue a point that has already essentially been resolved, even by the likes of NBC. Whether Zimmerman provoked Martin, or Martin attacked Zimmerman, we don't know. However, what is conclusive is that up until the point of the confrontation itself, Zimmerman was doing absolutely nothing wrong, illegal, or anything at all that could be used against him in this case.
Comment: Re:Error My Ass (Score 1) 1005
Reading Comprehension > You, sir.
Besides, it wasn't "Shoot First" considering Zimmerman's broken nose, gash on the back of his head, and grass stains on his shirt. Looks more like, hit in nose, throw to ground, and bash head into ground, first. But of course, we have no idea what actually happened.
In your case, ignorance is not bliss...
Comment: Re:Error My Ass (Score 1) 1005
I feel very safe knowing that I live in a "Castle Law" state that allows law abiding citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection. In essence, if anyone ever tries to hurt me or my family, they'll get nine 00 buck pellets, or two
Comment: Re:Error My Ass (Score 1) 1005
Also, you are incredibly ignorant of how the "stand your ground" law works. If someone initiates or provokes a fight, and the other person is killed as a result, the "stand your ground" law cannot be used. It does not "...basically mean you can start a fight as long as the other person is mad enough, then you can shoot them." If Zimmerman started, or provoked the fight, he would be guilty of murder.
Another area you are ignorant of the law is a weapon isn't necessary for justifiable use of lethal force. Anytime where you are in a situation where serious injury or death is imminent, you may use lethal force to defend yourself. If Zimmerman's side of the story is true, and the evidence we do have at least supports it, Martin had him on his back, after breaking his nose, and was bashing his head into the ground. We could argue whether that constitutes serious injury or imminent death (I tend to believe that having your head smashed into the ground multiple times falls under that category), and if it does, he was in the right to defend himself the way he did.
Of course, the real problem is that we do no have any idea what led to the actual confrontation. And anything we speculate on is just that, speculation. Zimmerman may very well have provoked Martin, but without evidence, and a trial, we cannot state that he is a murderer.
I'm not saying that Zimmerman didn't provoke the altercation that led to Martin's death. What I'm saying is, we don't know what led to that. Following Martin around, is not provocation.
Comment: Re:Why so hung up on a race? (Score 1) 1005
If only more people were like you and didn't believe everything they watch on the 6 o'clock news, we'd live in a much better place. What was written here is essentially what we know, which isn't enough to put a man on trial.
All we know for a fact is that there was some kind of physical confrontation (evidenced by Zimmerman's injuries, and grass stains on his back) and that an unarmed person was shot as a result of said confrontation. We do not know what caused the confrontation, and who started the confrontation. Those are absolutely crucial pieces of information in order for a Grand Jury to indict Zimmerman for murder. Without that information, and evidence showing that Zimmerman started the confrontation, this case cannot, and will not ever go to trial.
Comment: Re:DSLR (Score 2, Interesting) 402
Comment: Idiot Author (Score 1) 189
Comment: Re:Lameness (Score 1) 1613
I'd mod this up if I could. A single bad decision can make or break a company. If Jobs didn't really have any contributions, then how come his return to Apple coincided with their comimg back from the brink of bankruptcy? Regardless of what you think of the man, without him, the state of our technology wouldn't be where it is today. That's the contributions of a single man.
Comment: Take that unlimited budget, and... (Score 1) 480
Blade Runner Sequels and Prequels Happening 334
from the he-was-a-replicant-people dept.