Trayvon Martin, Vigilante Justice

[TheL8Elvis]

I did not realize police had determined he was performing official neighborhood watch duties. Especially since the watch program was never registered and 'official'.

I'll have to look into that some more, thanks.

So looking in to it some more, the SPD changed thier minds - he was on a personal errand:

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/2...-answer-questions-about-teens-shooting-death/


Q. Why did Mr. Zimmerman have a firearm in his possession while acting in the role of a neighborhood watch member?

A. Mr. Zimmerman holds a concealed weapon permit issued from the State of Florida. He is authorized to carry the weapon in a concealed manner wherever Florida Statute dictates.

Neighborhood Watch programs are designed for members of a neighborhood to be “eyes and ears” for police and to watch out for their neighbors. They are not members of the police department nor are they vigilantes.

Training provided by law enforcement agencies to Neighborhood Watch organizations stresses non-contact surveillance of suspicious situations, and notifying police of those situations so that law enforcement can respond and take control of the situation.

Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred. He was in fact on a personal errand in his vehicle when he observed Mr. Martin in the community and called the Sanford Police Department.

 

[Rare Truth]

Because hiding in the bushed in the dark is apparently preferable to being home safe and having a scary man know your home address.

Yeah, Zimmerman should have stayed in his truck. He was afraid to even tell the police his address!

*big bad scawry man make possible boom on the bouncer dude who called himself *datniggy.*

 

[johnny karate]

Maybe a visual will help:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/who007/spd1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/who007/spd.jpg

Great find, Rare Truth.

 

[Noztradamus]

Actually, TM was already RUNNING home and he stopped for some reason. Why? He had time to make it home if that was what he wanted to do.

Actually, GZ was already returning to his truck and he stopped for some reason. Why? He had time to make it to his truck if that was what he wanted to do.

 

[Rare Truth]

So looking in to it some more, the SPD changed thier minds - he was on a personal errand:

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/2...-answer-questions-about-teens-shooting-death/


Q. Why did Mr. Zimmerman have a firearm in his possession while acting in the role of a neighborhood watch member?

A. Mr. Zimmerman holds a concealed weapon permit issued from the State of Florida. He is authorized to carry the weapon in a concealed manner wherever Florida Statute dictates.

Neighborhood Watch programs are designed for members of a neighborhood to be “eyes and ears” for police and to watch out for their neighbors. They are not members of the police department nor are they vigilantes.

Training provided by law enforcement agencies to Neighborhood Watch organizations stresses non-contact surveillance of suspicious situations, and notifying police of those situations so that law enforcement can respond and take control of the situation.

Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred. He was in fact on a personal errand in his vehicle when he observed Mr. Martin in the community and called the Sanford Police Department.

Are you under some strange impression the Neighborhood Watch Captain punches a clock or something? George was the CONTACT person, day or night.

Read the other literature I posted from the SPD, the NW guidelines they published and discussed at their meetings (with LEO's there - and Police Chief Lee to give a talk on one occasion), and the Retreat View Newsletters. It was 24/7 - eyes and ears. With specific instructions. Read 'em!

 

[johnny karate]

Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred. He was in fact on a personal errand in his vehicle when he observed Mr. Martin in the community and called the Sanford Police Department.

Why do assume that serving in the role of a neighborhood watch member and being on a personal errand are mutually exclusive activities?

 

[TheL8Elvis]

None of this precludes the notion that Zimmerman provoked Martin with threatening behavior.

That's true. What do you suppose GZ did that was worthy of provoking TM to viciously attack him ?

 

[TheL8Elvis]

Why do assume that serving in the role of a neighborhood watch member and being on a personal errand are mutually exclusive activities?

Because I have no reason to think otherwise. Because they went to the trouble to specify he was on personal errand seems to be a clear distinction to me.

You are big on the neighborhood watch rules and guidelines about approaching or following people. Why don't you present the rules that explain when one is on and off duty, and what responsibilities each of those states entails.

Then we'll have something to discuss.

 

[Noztradamus]

Eight small words spoken by George that could have altered everything:

I'm the Neighborhood Watch Captain. Do you live here?

∞ ,,,,, (-1)ⁿ (This)²ⁿ∑ ,, = _______________
n=0 ,,, (2n)!

 

[johnny karate]

That's true. What do you suppose GZ did that was worthy of provoking TM to viciously attack him ?

I have no idea. I wasn't there. And unlike other people in this thread, I'm not prepared to make assumptions and pretend they are facts.

 

[bookworm]

It appears that the preferred response of many on this forum to suspicious behavior (i.e. being followed) is to attack.

It seems that GZ was more civilized than them and preferred to just call the police whenever he saw someone suspicious.

(strange how it is a lot of progressive/lefties who are arguing that attacking rather than retreating and taking the law into your own hands rather than dialing 911 is justifiable, while arguing that the guy trying to look out for his community was a bit of a nut)

I also find it a bit strange that these people who are so against guns and violence and following someone you find suspicious have determined it's ok to violently attack someone who is following you......and smash their head against the ground, too.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

Yeah, Zimmerman should have stayed in his truck. He was afraid to even tell the police his address!

Yes, he should probably have stayed in his truck if he was scared. TM should have run home. Apparently neither were that scared.

*big bad scawry man make possible boom on the bouncer dude who called himself *datniggy.*

 

[Unabogie]

Yes, he should probably have stayed in his truck if he was scared. TM should have run home. Apparently neither were that scared.

Are you going to ignore the question about whether or not the location of Martin's death refutes what you just wrote? From the photos, I conclude that Zimmerman was blocking his way home. If I'm right about the location, do you agree?

 

[johnny karate]

Because I have no reason to think otherwise. Because they went to the trouble to specify he was on personal errand seems to be a clear distinction to me.

That was a point they made specifically in the context of the legality of Zimmerman carrying a firearm. You'll note that despite the question being framed to indicate Zimmerman was acting in the role of a neighborhood watch member, that fact is not denied in the response.

You are big on the neighborhood watch rules and guidelines about approaching or following people. Why don't you present the rules that explain when one is on and off duty, and what responsibilities each of those states entails.

Then we'll have something to discuss.

I'm not sure how that discussion would be relevant. It has been acknowledged that Zimmerman was acting in the role of a neighborhood watch member.

 

[bookworm]

Facts not in evidence.

I'm not blaming anyone. I tell my daughter to avoid dangerous situations. Is THAT blaming my daughter.

Tell me, if some kid goes to 7-11 to get skittles and he gets shot do you blame the victim?

I do if he's attacking someone and hitting their head on the ground. Whether he has skittles or not.

 

[johnny karate]

I also find it a bit strange that these people who are so against guns and violence and following someone you find suspicious have determined it's ok to violently attack someone who is following you......and smash their head against the ground, too.

I don't want to alarm you, but you might be in the vicinity of a tear in the fabric of space-time. Because apparently you've entered an alternate universe in which people are actually making that argument.

 

[johnny karate]

I do if he's attacking someone and hitting their head on the ground. Whether he has skittles or not.

Evidence that Martin attacked Zimmerman and hit his head on the ground?

 

[bookworm]

Actually, GZ was already returning to his truck and he stopped for some reason. Why? He had time to make it to his truck if that was what he wanted to do.

Why? Because the person who decided not to continue home jumped out and attacked him and hit his head on the ground.

 

[Unabogie]

Why? Because the person who decided not to continue home jumped out and attacked him and hit his head on the ground.

You're just making things up.

 

[bookworm]

Evidence that Martin attacked Zimmerman and hit his head on the ground?

A picture of a bloody head taken minutes after the incident? I don't find it very believable that he did that to himself.