Comments on: Viewpoint: Standing Up For “Stand Your Ground” Law

By: Peter and Mary Ribaudo

Peter and Mary Ribaudo — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:41:58 +0000

Regarding the Trayvon Martin / George Zimmerman case – An Absolute Trajedy. George Zimmerman’s family also suffers and his life is irreparably damaged whatever the verdict will be.

As it should be, George Zimmerman is on trial. However, our ‘Castle Doctrine’, ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, Right to Carry Licensure and all of our gun rights should NOT be on trial. The Anit-Gun Crowd on Federal and State levels will, of course, sieze the opportunity to further their agenda to deny responsible, law abiding citizens the right of self protection.

Yes, there are those who abuse any and all laws, that does not, however, mean that the law is wrong. Let each incident be tried on its own merits. More importantly, LET FREEDOM RING!

By: zach

zach — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:47:14 +0000

Too bad Fl is one of just a few states that does not recognize the right to openly carry a handgun. If GZ had been doing so that night, perhaps this whole thing could have been averted. Oh well, the Fl retail federation trumps our right to bear arms any day.

By: Fred Ingley

Fred Ingley — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:10:49 +0000

English Common Law, on which much of our Constitutional Rights are based allows one to defend one’s self, or other INNOCENT VICTIM. In other words the right of self defense has its roots much prior to the founding of our country. I understand that STAND YOUR GROUND was enacted due to too many prosecuting attorneys wanting to “beef up” their conviction rate started prosecuting victims who had used deadly force to protect themselves from death or great bodily harm instead of attempting to flee. Often that attempt to flee would have resulted in their own death. In fact in the “Facts” pamphlet which used to be issued with Florida’s concealed weapons permit an showed the example of a man being convicted of manslaughter resulting from defending himself FROM ATTACK (I think it was by several attackers.). The prosecutor convinced the court that the victim “COULD HAVE” possibly gotten into his vehicle and driven away rather than defend himself. Common sense tells me that the act of attempting to get into his vehicle would have left him open for the attack.
Stand Your Ground is a good, well reasoned piece of legislation which probably never would have come about had not numerous state attorneys (prosecuting attorneys) been overzelulous to obtain convictions resulting in innocent victims being made into criminals.
Additionally, as a prior law enforcement officer I can verify that police can not be everywhere to protect everyone. Even the US Supreme court has verified that. Too often they can only afterwords come to “work the crime scene”.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:37:06 +0000

REGARDING:
“- – - as George Zimmerman clearly did when he disregarded the instructions of the police dispatcher to NOT pursue Trayvon Martin.”

Here we have a perfect example of absolute certainty in the absence of facts, or possibly facts others haven’t received yet.

Part of the record is that GZ DID get out of his vehicle. After he did so, the 911 operator told him they didn’t need him to do that and he said, “Okay” and seemed embarrassed, just from his tone of voice. The following conversation with the operator was lengthy and didn’t sound like someone racing through the darkness after prey.

So the questions many would wonder are:
Did he continue to pursue?
If he did not pursue further, how far from his vehicle was he when he was advised against pursuing?
Did he begin to return to his vehicle?
Did he head toward the location the operator directed him to go to meet the police?
Did he confront or was he confronted?
Did he attack or was he attacked?
Who was screaming and why was he screaming?

It would be simpler to just lynch GZ since so many KNOW exactly how it went down, but it would be interesting to know from evidence rather than speculation, omniscience and editing.

David for justice for all

By: Rufus Lowgun

Rufus Lowgun — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:54:22 +0000

I support the Stand Your Ground law, but that law does not apply in the case of George Zimmerman. The law was never intended to allow you to escape the consequences of a confrontation that you yourself initiated, as George Zimmerman clearly did when he disregarded the instructions of the police dispatcher to NOT pursue Trayvon Martin. The law is also not intended to allow you to use deadly force when faced with being beaten up. Trayvon Martin was unarmed, and even assuming that things happened exactly as Zimmerman says, which is a BIG assumption, he still was not at any time in danger of losing his life. Stand You Ground simply does not apply in this case. If you know any cops, ask them about “wannabes”, and whether or not they think it’s a good to idea for armed wannabes to be patrolling our streets with all the deadly force of police officers, but none of the training or accountability.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:53:48 +0000

As a woman, I support the Stand Your Ground law. I should not have to worry about being sued if I shoot an intruder in my house. If an intruder wanted to harm me, I know I could be overtaken. I’m a petite woman; my sidearm is my equalizer. I have a chance to survive if I use deadly force, and I will use it! My children should not be denied their mother, & my husband should not be denied his wife.

By: bob hudson

bob hudson — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:37:45 +0000

Ok to all of you who do not believe in defending yourself. Fine, be a victim, it is not up to the rest of us , who do believe in defending our selves, to take care of you. But we seem to always do. So before you inject your worthless opinion about something you will not do for your self, keep your little silly rules about self defense to your self. it seems you have no idea about what you are talking about.

By: Listening and Learning

Listening and Learning — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:20:03 +0000

I personally don’t carry weapon but am not against the SYG…but more the misuse of it. Not going to even get into Trayvon Martin’s murder because wd all have an opinion but am definitely not opposed to having the right to defend myself were I ever attacked. Please correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t there a clause in the SYG law? The Aggressor Clause? Indicating that if you pursue me or confront me, you can’t at this point use the SYG law as a defense?

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:47:40 +0000

REGARDING:
“Or stupidly attempting to stop a robbery when your personal gun control is not that good.”

Interesting attitude — calling a woman stupid for shooting her robber and killer. Well, maybe she MADE him kill her by defending herself. Surely he didn’t mean to use the gun he had in his hand pointing at her — even if he shot first, which we don’t really know, what with no living witnesses and all. We DO know she was at work in her store and HE was robbing her at gunpoint just before they killed each other.

Still, I guess she is the stupid one if you say so.

David for wisdom and intellect

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:41:18 +0000

REGARDING:
“@ Bud – I don’t understand your comment. Sorry.
“Was Zimmerman Stand he own ground if not he has no right to use this defense.” ”

He obviously believes nobody should be allowed to defend himself unless he is on his own property. Those in public places are fair game to those who would attack them and only criminals should be allowed out in public, unrestrained.

Or maybe that isn’t what he meant, just what he said — more or less, the sentence structure is a bit shaky.

Implied — or maybe even stated — is that a person out in public has to avoid anybody who may be a threat or from that point forward, he is the attacker and has no right to defense. Obviously, this would be wise. Stay away from dangerous situations. Police and emergency personnel often use the philosophy, avoiding certain areas unless they have much back-up on hand. It can be rough on the people needing help possibly dying, being robbed or raped, but that’s THEIR hard luck. The police and/or EMTs can’t help you if THEY’re dead.

As to whether or not the law applied in the Zimmerman case, everybody knows but knows without all the facts. They’ve just made up their minds.

David for certainty
sometimes even facts