Do you think that was the case with this gentlman? I certainly must question his decision making process as stringently as I can. I am a concealed holder and I do NOT want the actions of one idiot to come to define the rest of us. If I were involved in a shooting I would be ok with having the proctoscope. It would take a lot to get me to pull. I certainly wouldn't be following a young male of African descent (because I wouldn't know his age and I am not a racist) down the street because he looked suspicious. Would you? The Stand Your Ground Law no longer applies in this situation if he pursued Treyvon (and he said he did).
I am actually listening to the audio as I write this. The dispatcher asks him if he is following him. He says yes. The Dispatcher says we don't need you to do that. At that point...Zimmerman is no longer defending himself. Treyvon clearly knew he was being watched. He "walked towards Zimmerman" with his "hands in his waistband." That is a universal threat sign. Given that Zimmerman didn't pull I must question why not? Distance? Was it obvious that Treyvon didn't have a gun? How many people who carry on routine would ignore that? I see that as a threat indicator and alarms go off in my head. But once Treyvon runs (and Zimmmerman states this on the audio)...and the dispatcher tells him not to pursue...why then did he pursue? Understand I am not trying to delve into the legality of the situation around the shooting itself. I am questioning the decision making process of Zimmerman as far as the 911 call of Zimmerman's goes.
Strictly putting myself into the shoes of Zimmerman...I could NOT reasonably pursue a young male who appeared suspicous or even ran away. That violates SEVERAL general rules of safety and more important...ignores the purpose behind stand your ground laws. If you want to go chasing criminals...get a badge and do it right.
You don't even understand how the Castle law and the stand your ground laws work, let alone when they no longer apply.
Here let me refresh your memory since you forgot...
As a Resident of the State of Florida for my ENTIRE life, a Gun Owner, A Concealed Weapon Permit Owner, and as a Citizen of the United States I 100% agree with the Florida law.
I also live in Florida. I am a certified in the state of Florida as a Security officer and I have my CCW.
The Castle law removes the "duty to retreat" if you are attacked or someone enters your home, car, place of work or business criminally. Like breaking in through a window. The Stand Your Ground law covers everything else.The stand your ground law just like the castle law does not specify any need to retreat at all from a place you can legally be, period.
You can see the actual laws here:
Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine
The entire trayvon thing going on...was CLEARLY a violation of Florida law. There is a duty to retreat when that is an option, and standing your ground is only allowed when you cannot retreat (as in into your vehicle, your home). What happened to Trayvon was a disgrace because the man pursued Trayvon. Not to mention Zimmerman should not be allowed to have a gun because of his criminal record.
Anyway. The Florida law is GREAT.
If Zimmerman was indeed attacked while returning to his car, he is not guilty at all. He had just as much right to be there as Treyvon, and if Treyvon attacked him was under no obligation to retreat under the law. It is still not illegal to follow someone on the sidewalk as far as the law goes. So even if Zimmer was following Treyvon, he should not have been attacked.
As for his criminal record. Only 3 things can stop you from owning a gun in Florida. Being forcibly committed into a mental institution. Being convicted of a felony or crime of domestic violence even if a misdemeanor.
PS Zimmer does not appear to have anything on his record that would disqualify him from owning a firearm.
Have time to respond now?
Are going to sit here and tell me it no longer applies? Go read the law and answer my fist post. I mite at that point take you seriously. You obviously for all your bragging don't know anything about the law, situation or how it applies.
Here is the link to my post to you:
http://www.debatepolitics.com/polls/122610-florida-law-use-deadly-force-11.html#post1060365123