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Well, the real problem, as has been stated numerous times before, is that there is spin coming from every possible angle on the Martin/Zimmerman case, which makes it very difficult to know what the real facts are. While I disagree with this statement, suzuki, it's about the only place where we differ:
It is irrelevant if he followed the boy/man and even taunted him.
Granted, the 911 operator's instructions are not legally binding, but IMO they were good advice, and I think that by following Martin, it's easily possible that he made Martin fear for his life. If you're walking alone after dark and a vehicle follows you, stops, and the driver gets out and pursues you on foot, you would most likely feel threatened (I know I would). It may be that Martin felt that running away wasn't an option anymore, and if you can't run, you have to fight.
While I own a gun and will likely have my permit to carry soon, and I support the everyone's right to defend themselves in the face of danger, I do have a problem with chasing someone down and starting a confrontation (if, of course, that's what happened - we just don't know). I think that as someone who has chosen to carry a weapon, you have a higher responsibility than "normal" people to avoid conflict, simply because deadly force, by definition, is a last resort, and you don't want to create situations where employing it may be necessary if it's at all possible to avoid them.
Now, if Martin had approached Zimmerman's vehicle, tried to pull him out of it, and gotten shot for his trouble, it'd have been an 8th page story and never have become national news, and rightly so. However, it's not 100% clear whether the shooting was righteous or criminal, at least as far as the information filtered through the media indicates. Hopefully the police will do their jobs thoroughly and well, and will either exonerate or indict Zimmerman as appropriate.
As I said in my earlier post in this thread, we all need to withhold judgment until after the investigation (and trial, if there is one) is complete. I personally am not on either side here; I just think that some of Zimmerman's actions were ill-advised (as were some of Martin's), and it's a shame that what seems to have been a misunderstanding had to lead to a death.
Mountain bikes are for slow people, and reptiles are far better pets than cats & dogs!
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