George Zimmerman's Spin

     George Zimmerman just won't stop talking.  He's fervently trying to wrap himself in the protection of Florida's  'Stand Your Ground' law.  The second component of the law is where Zimmerman is trying to hide. It says:

In any other place where a person “has a right to be,” that person has “no duty to retreat” if attacked and may “meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.”

 While GZ is trying to align his version to meet these parameters, it seems that this fits Trayvon Martin even more.  Trayvon Martin was walking home from the store; he had a right to be there.  He was followed by an armed male who thought he was 'getting away' and decided to follow him.  GZ was told to remain in his vehicle and not follow the teenager.  He thought Trayvon Martin was suspicious and took it upon himself to follow him on foot.  Trayvon Martin had 'no duty to retreat' and upon being stalked by an unknown armed male, may have felt trapped and endangered.

But all of that is beside the point.  The important factor of this is 'forcible felony'.    

The term "forcible felony" is important in Florida because the only time you can use a gun or other deadly weapon in self-defense is when you use it to stop or prevent a "forcible felony".
Florida forcible felonies are:
- Kidnapping
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Sexual Battery (Rape)
- Arson
- Treason
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Carjacking
- Home Invasion
- Aggravated Battery
- Aggravated Assault
- Aggravated Stalking
-Any other felony that involves the use or threat of violence against any person

 Ok, so there is nothing that says you can shoot a guy for wearing a hoodie, or concealing snacks. Seeing someone who you 'think' is suspicious, or even if you think he is on drugs is not reason enough to take a life.  He had the nerve to say he wished that there was something, anything that he could have done that wouldn't have put him in a position where he had to take his life.

Um, staying in your car and waiting for the police as he had been advised by the police dispatcher.  This man is a liar.  He is a murderer.  The truth will come out.

Too Far Off Track, or Morbid Fascinations

September 11, 2001 was one of the worst days in America's history.  I remember being at home, on 'vacation' and watching the television in shock. I was glued to the television.  When the news wasn't on, I was online. I was sickened and saddened and shocked, as was most of the world.

 I cried along with the rest of the country. I cried for those who died. I cried for those people who posted signs for their missing loved ones. I cried for the loss of a sense of security. I cried and cried.  I did not understand how people could kill other people who have done nothing to them.

 I just cried.

So, the news earlier this week about the death if Osama bin Laden was only bitter. My first thought was, where did they find him? Beyond that, it was just another senseless death.  It won't bring our soldiers back. It won't give those families the 10 years they have not been able to share with loved ones. I does not change anything.

This will not deter those who lack the skill, vocabulary, will, or imagination to do anything more than kill.

This will not assuage hatred.  This will not do anything.

Today, the President has decided that the pictures of bin Laden's dead body will be sealed.  He will not disrespect in death even this hatemonger.  There is nothing to be gained by those pictures being disseminated. 

The pictures would make his death a joke for some.

The pictures would be a war cry for some others.

Nothing about any of this is funny.