Good citizen George Zimmerman helps in rescue: Seems like George Zimmerman is in fact a concerned citizen. Police have confirmed that he helped rescue a motorist trapped in an...

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Seems like George Zimmerman is in fact a concerned citizen. Police have confirmed that he helped rescue a motorist trapped in an overturned vehicle.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-emerged-hiding-truck-crash-rescue/story?id=19735432

It would be ironic if the rescued driver was black. But I don't think it really mattered to George.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Another report now claims that a family of 4 people were rescued from the overturned vehicle. George and another person helped with the rescue:

http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2013/07/22/zimmerman-helps-save-family-of-four-from-overturned-vehicle/

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

I hope Obama has something to say about this brave American ... something nice, not snarky.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

The threats to Zimmerman are real. This poor woman is getting threats on her cell phone, and she is not even related to the case:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/winter-park-woman-getting-zimmerman-death-threats/nYxZj/

Maybe the president could put out an appeal for people to be nice. He could be the one getting these calls.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I think I have this figured out. It's really not about GZ it's about the GUN! If GZ would have just beaten this kid to death in a hand to hand confrontation, no problem. It's the gun that has everyone pissed off. GZ was just doing his job and if you listened to any of the testimony TM was the aggressor. I can't believe folks are supporting the bad guy here so it has to be the gun.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Now the City of Sanford is being wrongly implicated:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/sanford-mayor-unhappy-department-justice-over-zimm/nYwGj/

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

Perhaps one of you folks can explain something for me. Under the stand your ground law, didn't Martin also have a right to stand his ground or does that only apply to Zimmerman?
Forgive me, but I'm a little confused about that.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

I'm not an expert, but the way I understand it is this:

1 - Florida has a Stand Your Ground law, that allows a person to defend himself if he fears death or injury from someone. It has a certain set of legal parameters.

2 - Florida also has other self-defense laws, with another set of legal parameters.

Zimmerman's lawyers chose to defend him under the #2 set of self-defense laws.

They seem to have chosen correctly, and pled their defense well.

dbmaxwell Loc: Mogadore, Ohio

Neighbor is in law school and I had asked him something along the same lines. This is how he explained it to me.

When Zimmerman was following Martin there was no overt threat but a covert one. If he had confronted Zimmerman at that point then Zimmerman would have still been the aggressor and Martin the victim.

When Martin disappeared for those four minutes and Zimmerman went back to his vehicle, the first incident ended. When Martin reappeared and attacked Zimmerman, it was a whole new incident, even though it was related to the first one. Martin was the aggressor and Zimmerman was the victim.

The example that he used was a carjacker attacks a person as they get in their car. The car owner shoots the aggressor. Self defense. The car jacker tries to run away and the car owner chases him and shoots him, he went from victim to shooter because the treat was over.

Made sense to me, hope it helps

Frank T wrote:

Perhaps one of you folks can explain something for me. Under the stand your ground law, didn't Martin also have a right to stand his ground or does that only apply to Zimmerman?
Forgive me, but I'm a little confused about that.

Racin17 Loc: Western Pa

i read this on a post someone sent me today:

if you shoot me its a robbery gone bad, but if i shoot you its a hate crime and i'm a racist and a biggot??

that about sums it up

lacsar Loc: Columbia SC and Newland NC

Frank T wrote:

Perhaps one of you folks can explain something for me. Under the stand your ground law, didn't Martin also have a right to stand his ground or does that only apply to Zimmerman?
Forgive me, but I'm a little confused about that.

If as in the case of Martin and Zimmerman, Zimmerman would have the right to stand your ground because Martin was the aggressor. Zimmerman would not have to back away or retreat from his aggression. Zimmerman was in the proper place and on the Neighborhood Watch. Martin was just the Hood.

This was not, a stand your ground case. It was a self defense case. The media are the ones talking about Stand Your ground.

We have Castle Doctrine in my state. It's similar to Stand Your Ground. If we didn't have it, the criminals would have more rights on our property than we would have.

sshinn1 Loc: Phoenix

Frank T wrote:

Perhaps one of you folks can explain something for me. Under the stand your ground law, didn't Martin also have a right to stand his ground or does that only apply to Zimmerman?
Forgive me, but I'm a little confused about that.

It's easy - the stand your ground law doesn't apply, it wasn't used in the defense, it has nothing to do with this case. This was a case of self defense. Yes it only applies to Zimmerman. You have the right to defend yourself if you are getting beaten and having your head slammed into the ground. You do not have the same right to defend yourself if someone insists on assaulting your fist with their nose. See the difference?

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Frank T wrote:

Perhaps one of you folks can explain something for me. Under the stand your ground law, didn't Martin also have a right to stand his ground or does that only apply to Zimmerman?
Forgive me, but I'm a little confused about that.

You are not confused, you are baiting. Anyway, yes, Trayvon also had a right to stand his ground if Zimmerman was beatin' the crap out of him, but.... What he did was punch Zimmerman in the noise and took the advantage of Zimmerman... what the hell, you already know what happen, so what is your point?

retlaw Loc: Northern New Jersey

MisterWilson wrote:

I hope Obama has something to say about this brave American ... something nice, not snarky.

That would be good -- but do not expect it.

BTW, I just saw this report on the news and the media called GZ an "unlikely hero" for saving that family. The media simply continues their unjust character slander of GZ. They should be held accountable for their actions!!

13oct1931 Loc: Lebanon, Indiana

GUNS don't kill people----BULLETS do. Manufacturers may produce guns by the millions--it's o.k. with me...but we should have a DEATH penalty on the manufacture, sale, or possession of BULLETS (maybe even arrows) ALYN