I'm not so sure I've been able to trust the mainstream media about anything for some time now.

I hope they get this figured out and some good comes out of this horrible mess.

I'm trying to remain as neutral as possible and wait until all the facts come out. Let me tell you, the national media has done very little but demonize and sensationalize people and events.

The way the Florida law is written, the judge can decide its self-defense before jury selection even begins. Thus, this may never go to trial.

Innocent until proven guilty, sure, but there's no doubt in anyone's mind who did the killing here, so the reason he hasn't been arrested is because the DA can't get a judge who wants to try him. Unfortunately, it will take a juried trial to determine if a crime has occurred, but all it takes is a single judge to decide a crime hasn't (for self-defense incidents in Florida) for a murderer to walk free. And since the law passed some 7 years ago, this has happened several times.

I really hate the Rev. Jackson. The guy disgusts me.

I wouldn't be surprised if they honestly thought that was their job.

As facts come out, it seems that Treyvvon (sp?) was a 6' 3", 140 lbs 17yr. old wearing a hoodie while walking down a street at dusk/night in a neighborhood where he's not known. Honestly, black or white or latino or whatever, I'd keep an eye on him if I were walking down the same street.

I really hate the Rev. Jackson. The guy disgusts me.

Not to derail your discussion about not trusting the media . . . .

I heard a report this morning on NPR that according to several witnesses:

Zimmerman confronted Trayvon.
There was an argument.
Zimmerman was heading back to his car when Trayvon assaulted him.
Trayvon punched and kicked Zimmerman in the head.
Zimmerman then shot and killed Trayvon.

I have no idea if this is accurate but the NPR report said that the witness’s statements are backing up the injuries sustained by Zimmerman and the police report.

I have a feeling that this is going to be one hell of a grey area for both the prosecution and defense in this case. I hope they get this figured out and some good comes out of this horrible mess.

According to applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by the family's attorney last week, Fulton wants to trademark "I am Trayvon" and "Justice for Trayvon" for use in DVDs and CDs memorializing the slain teenager.

Honestly, the only reasonable way this event went down was Zimmerman confronts Trayvon, probably yelling at home, initiates a scuffle, then shoots the kid.

See my post above, it may very well be that's what happened. IE Zimmerman flollowed Trayvon, one of them started yelling at the other, Trayvon beat up Zimmerman, Zimmerman tried to get away, couldn't and shot Trayvon.

I think the hole thing will hinge on who started it (yelling and fight) and IF Trayvon did in fact follow Zimmerman back to his car before the fight broke out.

I think the point is that you shouldn't be allowed to stalk and harass someone, start a fight, then shoot them in self defense.

You should definitely do that. Maybe carry a gun, just in case.

Honestly, the only reasonable way this event went down was Zimmerman confronts Trayvon, probably yelling at home, initiates a scuffle, then shoots the kid.

The other conclusion is what? That a high school kid walking home just decides to beat up a much bigger dude?

EDIT: It's also important to look at the people involved. Look at PTC's photo from last page, where people might think that Trayvon looks scary because of the hoody (hint, it's code for calling all young black men scary). Martin had also been suspended from school for having a plastic bag that had probably once contained marijuana.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman has a history of unhinged calls to 911, reporting black males, has arrests for domestic violence and assaulting a police officer.

Get off your high horse. An unknown man wearing a hoody jacket at night in a residential area is gonna get second looks, whether he's in Martha's Vineyard or the Bronx (in the latter case, the real local hoodlums will personally investigate). Frankly, I think only a fool would completely disregard such a person if they were walking down the same street at night, no matter what race either of them is.

I think the point is that you shouldn't be allowed to stalk and harass someone, start a fight, then shoot them in self defense.

Next up in Florida - convenience store robber sees that shop clerk has a gun, kills clerk in self defense.

I guess I'm a fool then. Not that it even matters, but it was raining that night.

I don't think even that makes much difference. If the two got into a fist fight, Zimmerman still wouldn't have much reasonable fear of dying or serious injury. Also, people in the housing development had complained to both the neighborhood HOA and the local police about Zimmerman being aggressive before he killed Martin.

I think the point is that you shouldn't be allowed to stalk and harass someone, start a fight, then shoot them in self defense.

Next up in Florida - convenience store robber sees that shop clerk has a gun, kills clerk in self defense.

According to witnesses the beating Zimmerman took was started by Trayvon and happened while Zimmerman was trying to leave. Trayvon supposedly hit Zimmerman in the head, then when he was down repeatedly kicked him in the head as Zimmerman was trying to get to his car. There are also witness reports that after kicking him in the head Trayvon was positioning Zimmermans head onto a curb to 'curb stomp' him just prior to Zimerman shooting him.

That last point could be the reasonable threat of death, IF it is proven to be true. I also believe that IF Trayvon swung first and IF Zimmerman only attempted to flee (didn’t swing back) then it may be harder to find Zimmerman guilty.

Fact: Zimmerman shot and killed Treyvon. How do we know that? Because after the confrontation, Treyvon was dead.

Police analysis: They weren't sure what happened or why, and they neglected to do a proper investigation. Certainly not the kind of investigation called for by a kid getting shot to death.

Law: Ha ha what law! The sheriff thought that the district attorney might not agree to a murder charge, so he gave up right away.

I'm pretty sure this isn't actually true. Also, here's some video of Zimmerman just a few minutes after he was supposed beaten so severely by a high school kid he was stalking that he feared for his life:

http://abcnews.go.com/...urveillance-16024475

You can by his pristine condition that Martin must have really brutalized him. Good thing he had a gun. Much more beating, and his clothes might have gotten rumpled.

And tell me again why it is that Americans, of all of the developed world, seem to feel the need to carry personal firearms?

Responsible firearms use is easy, there is no reason for a normal citizen to own/carry/have access to one.

You guys are just so frucked up over there.

Wherever you're from rightarm, feel free and welcomed to visit and enjoy our beautiful and majestic country. It's warm and generous nature will pleasantly surprise you.