<p>“Zimmerman claimed to carry his gun because he was threatened by some pit bulls in the neighborhood. So you are wrong on that one.”</p>
<p>Bay–you seem to accept Z’s claims as gospel. strange really. what would Z say about why he carried guns, because he walked around fearful and suspicious, of course not. This man called 911 to report children playing in the street and expected police action to stop them. out of the realm of normal imho.</p>
<p>If he was afraid of dogs, why wouldn’t he call animal control? Surely the dogs could be a risk to others in the neighborhood wouldn’t they?</p>
<p>Since it was hypothesized that Zimmerman could have been dead if he didn’t have a gun, I’m wondering if Martin had a weapon that I forgot hearing about?</p>
<p>This is pretty old news.</p>
<p>“The first time the dog ran free and cornered Shellie in their gated community in Sanford, Florida, George called the owner to complain. The second time, Big Boi frightened his mother-in-law’s dog. Zimmerman called Seminole County Animal Services and bought pepper spray. The third time he saw the dog on the loose, he called again. An officer came to the house, county records show.”</p>
<p>““Don’t use pepper spray,” he told the Zimmermans, according to a friend. “It’ll take two or three seconds to take effect, but a quarter second for the dog to jump you,” he said.”</p>
<p>““Get a gun.””</p>
<p>“That November, the Zimmermans completed firearms training at a local lodge and received concealed-weapons gun permits. In early December, another source close to them told Reuters, the couple bought a pair of guns. George picked a Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm handgun, a popular, lightweight weapon.”</p>
<p>[George</a> Zimmerman: Prelude to a shooting | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/25/us-usa-florida-shooting-zimmerman-idUSBRE83O18H20120425]George”>http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/25/us-usa-florida-shooting-zimmerman-idUSBRE83O18H20120425)</p>
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<p>No, I don’t “accept” Z’s claims “as gospel.” I do not accept anything “as gospel” because I am not religious. I was merely relaying his rationale for carrying a gun. Why is that strange at all? What is really strange is that so many want to conclude that Zimmerman is a murderer before he is tried.</p>
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I disagree. People with guns act differently than people without guns. Martin was (as the pro-gun fanatics love to point out) over 6’ tall. Zimmerman thought he was a criminal. Those are facts. (And no, people are not “murdered twice a day from being hit in the face and head.” Such homicides are actually extremely rare - so rare that they don’t even keep track of the number of murders committed without the use of a weapon of some sort - <a href=“http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf[/url]”>http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf</a>).</p>
<p>Zimmerman’s “courage” was tucked into his waistband. This is a classic example of a guy thinking he’s doing the right thing (I don’t see any reason to doubt that Zimmerman honestly thought Martin was a criminal) and feeling like he was prepared to confront the “bad guy” because he was carrying his “equalizer.” You can pretend that we “just don’t know anything” all you like. We do know the basic outline of what happened, and there’s simply no way Zimmerman follows Martin if he doesn’t have a gun. No gun, no one dies. I know you don’t want that to be true, and you’ll deny it. That’s why the pro-gun bloggers are so locked into justifying what Zimmerman did, and defaming Martin. This instance throws the covers back and exposes the reality of having every Tom, Dick and Harry who thinks he’s a hero walking around with a handgun.</p>
<p>People screw up. Zimmerman screwed up. He’s not the first.</p>
<p>He won’t be the last. </p>
<p>More innocent people will be killed by bullets shot from the guns of “hero” wannabes like Zimmerman. That’s what scares the gun nuts. They don’t want people to know that they’re all really pretty much like George Zimmerman, and that doesn’t fit with the “I’ll shoot the bad guy” fantasy.</p>
<p>"“Don’t use pepper spray,” he told the Zimmermans, according to a friend</p>
<p>Isn’t that heresay?</p>
<p>Does Seminole animal control post that information on their website?</p>
<p>Zimmerman’s statements to police have not been made public, and they’re pretty key to the police understanding of what happened. According to Time Magazine, online version, Zimmerman made two inconsistent claims to police. First he claimed he was being beaten and fearing for his life and shot Martin to defend himself. But he also (again, according to reports) claimed that he only pulled his gun and shot Martin because he thought Martin was armed and reaching for his own gun. (Perhaps with his third hand, since the other two were busy beating Zimmerman?) These inconsistencies, if the report is true, would be a problem for Zimmerman, obviously. </p>
<p>[Report</a> Details Zimmerman’s Injuries on Night of Trayvon Martin Shooting | NewsFeed | TIME.com](<a href=“http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/16/report-details-zimmermans-injuries-on-night-of-trayvon-martin-shooting/]Report”>Report Details Zimmerman’s Injuries on Night of Trayvon Martin Shooting | TIME.com)</p>
<p>I’m surprised nobody is mentioning that Z was on a drug called restoril, which is temmazepan, a hypnotic. You aren’t even supposed to drive on this drug.</p>
<p>It points out one of the big problems with carry laws. Somebody on a hypnotic can own and carry a gun around and can be allowed to make decisions about what to do with that gun, while on a drug prescribed to end insomnia. Some of the side effects are interesting: aggression, hallucinations, memory problems. But, he can still carry a gun.</p>
<p>So, if somebody on Restoril is driving a car and hits somebody, they will be brought to trial, most likely. Perhaps in addition to the “do not drive or operate heavy machinery” warning, they should add, “do not carry firearms while on restoril” ???</p>
<p>It is an issue.</p>
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<p>Of course I mentioned it a while ago. I also mentioned that he’s on Adderall which is used to treat ADHD.</p>
<p>sorry, BC, I’m sure you did.</p>
<p>Problem is that a tox screen was not done on Z - so he can always say he didn’t take it that day or hadn’t been taking it.</p>
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<p>From the article I already posted pages back:</p>
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<p>[George</a> Zimmerman claims he was fighting for his life. How deadly is an unarmed teenager? - Slate Magazine](<a href=“http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2012/05/george_zimmerman_claims_he_was_fighting_for_his_life_how_deadly_is_an_unarmed_teenager_.html]George”>George Zimmerman claims he was fighting for his life. How deadly is an unarmed teenager?)</p>
<p>Whether Zimmerman would have proceeded in the same manner if he had not been armed is speculation. Don’t forget that he was also “armed” with a live cell phone connection to the police department, and expected (armed) officers to show up any moment. That alone would have provided Z with a high level of confidence about his own safety, whether he had had a gun or not.</p>
<p>I say that whenever I don’t know what to say too.</p>
<p>Actually. it is not unusual for a distraught parent to deny that he/she hears the voice of his her missing child scraming, or sees their child dead.People who want to believe it was not trayvon ignore that little detail. You will hear that Mr martin was in denial, in order to make it less real to himself. he was not trying to provide evidence for people who killed his son.</p>
<p>If Zimmerman had decided to shoot Trayvon, they both could have lived. It goes like this, “back up and stand still or I will shoot” See? easy!</p>
<p>It can’t be mentioned because the police chose to let him leave with nothing more than a buccal swab, and some dabbing of the scratches on the back of his head.</p>
<p>Looks like ZM is not only a murderer but a liar too. Judge orders ZM back to jail in 48 hrs.</p>
<p>[Judge</a> revokes George Zimmerman’s bond ? USATODAY.com](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-01/zimmerman-trayvon-martin/55331072/1]Judge”>http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-01/zimmerman-trayvon-martin/55331072/1)</p>
<p>The Tampa Bay Times published today an interesting report on Florida’s stand your ground law. The law is full of holes.</p>
<p>[Stand</a> your ground law, Trayvon Martin and a shocking legacy | Tampa Bay Times](<a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/stand-your-ground-law/]Stand”>http://www.tampabay.com/stand-your-ground-law/)</p>
<p>I am pleased to see Z be held accountable for his lie about funds, and also having a second passport. Of course he still deserves due process, but imho he has demonstrated his character, (or lack thereof) by these actions. Doesn’t prove his guilt however I personally think it speaks to his credibility as it will be his account of what occurred that weighs heavily in this case.</p>