WOW. Nails it.

[Flatulo]

74. But Zimmerman initiated contact by pursuing Martin. That act renders any claim of self-defense

Ridiculous. An analogy - while armed, I follow a man in a car because I think he has stolen my son's bicycle. The man notices that I am following him, stops his car and gets out. I get out and accuse him, and a heated argument ensues. We begin to fight, and he knocks me down and appears ready to jump on me and beat me, so I draw my weapon and shoot him.

This is clearly not a valid case of SYG because had I not been following the man, there would have been no confrontation.

As I mentioned earlier, SYG does not give me the right to undertake actions that precipitate a physical confrontation, then draw and fire my weapon because I may be losing.

People who choose to arm themselves have an especially compelling obligation to avoid any and all confrontations, solely because there is a higher probability of death or serious injury.

Years ago a friend and I were in a public place where alcohol was being served, although I did not drink any. A local bully was drunkenly trying to pick a fight with me because he thought we were a gay couple. He was insulting and obnoxious, asking us who was the batter and who was the catcher. We were both legally carrying concealed 9mm pistols, having gone to the gun range that day and stopping for dinner on the way home. I left money for the tab, got up and walked out without finishing my burger. The bully did not follow. If he had followed and began beating me, I would have had a valid case for self-defense. But we took extraordinary measures to retreat and avoid further confrontation, as Zimmerman should have done.

If Zimmerman gets off, it will be a grave miscarriage of justice, and not just because Martin was black, or a kid, but because it will give the nod to people who have a mind to behave like idiots and chase down or otherwise confront anyone who looks suspicious to them.

When Zimmerman exited his vehicle, he sealed his own (and unfortunately, Martin's) fate.