"If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon."

[Conan71]

and in related news: %70 seems high....but Floriduh's over 2/3 red neckie so nothing should sooprise us there....
In Florida, Nearly 70 Percent Of People Who Invoked 'Stand Your Ground' Walked Away Scot Free
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/06/03/493908/nearly-one-third-of-shooters-who-invoked-stand-your-ground-walked-away-scot-free/


This thread rocks with guilt!

That means they are actually examining cases and acting on them if 30% of those who invoke the defense aren't getting by with it.

Do you want to do prison time if you shoot someone who assaults you in front of your house?

[Teatownclown]

That means they are actually examining cases and acting on them if 30% of those who invoke the defense aren't getting by with it.

Do you want to do prison time if you shoot someone who assaults you in front of your house?

CoCo loco, why do you always come to the defense of the minority? and the victim-less?

[Gaspar]

There is no pride in being a victim. 

[TeeDub]

In Florida, Nearly 70 Percent Of People Who Invoked 'Stand Your Ground' Walked Away Scot Free

Sad.   In Oklahoma most everyone who kills someone else in self defense gets to go free.    I guess I am glad I live here and not there.

[nathanm]

Sad.   In Oklahoma most everyone who kills someone else in self defense gets to go free.

That someone claims they shot/stabbed/whatever someone else in self defense does not make it so. Many people have this bad habit of lying when the alternative involves a prison cell and a big guy named Bubba.

[Conan71]

That someone claims they shot/stabbed/whatever someone else in self defense does not make it so. Many people have this bad habit of lying when the alternative involves a prison cell and a big guy named Bubba.

So the take-away is: be afraid to defend yourself?

[nathanm]

So the take-away is: be afraid to defend yourself?

No, the takeaway is that every time one person kills another person it should be thoroughly and fairly investigated, and it should come as no surprise that in some cases people who claim self defense were not actually acting in self defense.

[Conan71]

No, the takeaway is that every time one person kills another person it should be thoroughly and fairly investigated, and it should come as no surprise that in some cases people who claim self defense were not actually acting in self defense.

So long as your idea of a thorough investigation doesn't go as far as Wevus' notion that everyone should stand trial who defends themselves, I've got no argument with that.

[nathanm]

So long as your idea of a thorough investigation doesn't go as far as Wevus' notion that everyone should stand trial who defends themselves

It was my notion and I stand by it as an ideal. Practically speaking, it ain't going to happen, so I'll take what I can get.

FWIW, the reason I think a trial is the best way to adjudicate guilt or the lack thereof is simply that it's the best means we have of arriving at something approaching the truth and that there's less opportunity for certain people to exert undue influence on the process and get away with something merely because of their community stature or wealth or fame or whatever.

[Conan71]

It was my notion and I stand by it as an ideal. Practically speaking, it ain't going to happen, so I'll take what I can get.

FWIW, the reason I think a trial is the best way to adjudicate guilt or the lack thereof is simply that it's the best means we have of arriving at something approaching the truth and that there's less opportunity for certain people to exert undue influence on the process and get away with something merely because of their community stature or wealth or fame or whatever.

*cough* OJ *cough* Simpson *cough* 

You honestly think that money and influence don't taint juries?  How about a national-scale media circus like the one Zimmerman has been subjected to?  He didn't ask for it either.  There's not a single potential juror within the state of Florida or even within the United States who will not be able to say they have not heard about the case beforehand and that they don't have some sort of preconceived opinion on the case due to proven selective reporting throughout this ordeal.

I'm assuming you've never sat on a jury for a week.  If you have, you'd realize a trial would be an un-due penalty on someone who lawfully defended themselves.

[nathanm]

I'm assuming you've never sat on a jury for a week.  If you have, you'd realize a trial would be an un-due penalty on someone who lawfully defended themselves.

Most murder trials don't last a week. I seem to remember The Innocent Man citing some numbers.

[Townsend]

The wife's been arrested for perjury.

[Conan71]

The wife's been arrested for perjury.

If her husband hadn't been a racist bastard none of this would have ever happened.

Wait...what?

[Teatownclown]

If her husband hadn't been a racist bastard none of this would have ever happened.

Wait...what?

You can run but you can't hide. Too much evidence. You've left tracks.

[Teatownclown]

She's a looker: a tad little white trashy look...the look of evil is in her eyes....


http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Shellie-Zimmerman-Arrest-6-12-12.pdf