If Zimmerman were dead, would Trayvon be walking free right now?

[bigbrother05]

The info so far points to a view that Zimmerman was acting more threatening toward Trayvon Martin, so under the Stand Your Ground Law, the kid would have had a strong justification to protect himself. An older, larger man was overtly following a young man who was on his way home, who was the real threat here?

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Obviously not.

And there is no getting around the blatant racism in that fact.

[bigbrother05]

3. Interesting that the states with similar laws are also strong concealed carry states

How could there be any problems where using a hidden gun to resolve a perceived threat is legally sanctioned?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Easily...but you have to be in reasonable fear of your life/GBI

You also have that burden...not the state. That is the same in all 50 states, including Florida. It has nothing to do with Stand Your Ground.

Its black letter law for those who actually want to know what the law says...

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Point.Set & Match.

[mucifer]

2. They drug tested Trayvon's body. They did not drug test zimmerman. What does that say?

[Fridays Child]

4. Seriously?

Just when I thought that the facts of this case couldn't possibly be more messed up than they already were!

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Every single day there has been something mind-blowing to consider.

It makes it that more unacceptable that the Sanford Police tried to spin a completely different story, using the Orlando Sentinel as the messenger.

[mucifer]

10. That's a quote from Trayvon's lawyer.

[Justice wanted]

5. They also tried to corupt witnesses. Person said Trayvon screamed for help and police said No

Zimmerman cried for help.

[X_Digger]

6. It does sound as if Trayvon would have been justified in using deadly force-

at least assuming Zimmerman took the first swing or tried to detain him.

It's not about 'feeling threatened', much as some media have portrayed it. Here's the statute, for clarification-

[div class='excerpt']776.012 Use of force in defense of person.

A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:
(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or

(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.

The 'forcible felony' here being aggravated assault, kidnapping, etc (again, assuming Zimmerman initiated physical contact.)

[barbtries]

11. it's obvious that zimmerman was the real threat.

witness Trayvon's dead body, with his skittles and his tea. and the big man who chased him down with the gun.