Zimmerman Affidavit of Probable Cause

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Now that there's been an arrest & trial coming up, I hope media coverage will be less one-sided.

It would be nice

[ladyjane]

I don't believe the media is one sided in this case. I have seen both sides on CNN...it galls me when they say his apology was sincere; but there are people who believe it, so hey...whatever. I don't blame the media for that. They are giving both sides. I think most people think it is outrageous that this man was following this kid with a gun. I don't draw my conclusions about him from anything but his words on that tape...and the fact he had a gun and shot and killed a person who was unarmed. He put himself there....not the other way around!!! I find it extremely difficult to comprehend how anyone can think that is normal, rational behavior.

As for the trial, I don't have a lot of faith in the system, but it is what it is. We just all have to live with whatever the jury's conclusion is. Had to do it in the Casey Anthony trial. Our judicial system, while not perfect, beats any other country.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I've seen both sides on CNN, too, just far more of the family and the prosecution's side. And I think the "white Hispanic" use by the NYT was an attempt to play the race card.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I've seen both sides on CNN, too, just far more of the family and the prosecution's side. And I think the "white Hispanic" use by the NYT was an attempt to play the race card.

I don't pay much attention to stuff like that. As for CNN covering them, I am sure they are pushing for it .... maybe Zimmerman's attorney has asked the brother to stop??? Just a thought because he was on quite a bit previously.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I don't normally either but it seemed like that was such an unusual way of referring to a single person, it intrigued me & I looked into it a bit to find a lot of people were wondering why they did it in just this story, found out a lot of people picked up on it and repeated it throughout media and found others wondering if they would use similar combinations of terms to describe future members of different races/ethnicities and if that is to be the new way of describing those with mixed-race parents by media. So it got my attention. Have way too much time on my hands recently and I'm noticing lots of things I never did before.

[tjdmom]

What I don't like is how the media has spun this whole story from the beginning, editing out certain things so that it sounds like he said something that was not really what he said at all. Showing old pictures of both of them. And then saying video's showed he had no visible injuries and then oops, when they looked more closely he did have injuries so I am not reading anything on it anymore until we have all the facts and I just thought the media was supposed to report things with as little bias as possible but I'm not sure that happens anymore. As for Mr Zimmerman, I don't believe he broke any laws by carrying a gun and if in fact he did need to defend himself with that gun then that's just sad all around. On the other hand, I too have a 17 year old son and I know first hand how young and impetuous they can be but it's just so incredibly sad and tragic and I wish that he were safe and sound at home with his mom right now.

[ladyjane]

I really do not understand how no one gets the fact that Zimmerman clearly said he was FOLLOWING Trayvon. He had a gun and he was following him! He was not just out for an innocent walk carrying his legal gun. Forget the law....the law is protecting him and imho it is a disgrace. He admitted he followed him...enough for me. I don't give a darn what the end result is in court...he will always be reckless in my eyes and honestly, a killer.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I don't believe the media is one sided in this case. I have seen both sides on CNN...it galls me when they say his apology was sincere; but there are people who believe it, so hey...whatever. I don't blame the media for that. They are giving both sides. I think most people think it is outrageous that this man was following this kid with a gun. I don't draw my conclusions about him from anything but his words on that tape...and the fact he had a gun and shot and killed a person who was unarmed. He put himself there....not the other way around!!! I find it extremely difficult to comprehend how anyone can think that is normal, rational behavior.

As for the trial, I don't have a lot of faith in the system, but it is what it is. We just all have to live with whatever the jury's conclusion is. Had to do it in the Casey Anthony trial. Our judicial system, while not perfect, beats any other country.

So they weren't one sided when they edited the 911 call to make Zimmerman sound racist? They weren't one sided when they used an old picture of Trayvon to make him look very young and innocent and an old picture of Zimmerman to make him look like a monster?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I really do not understand how no one gets the fact that Zimmerman clearly said he was FOLLOWING Trayvon. He had a gun and he was following him! He was not just out for an innocent walk carrying his legal gun. Forget the law....the law is protecting him and imho it is a disgrace. He admitted he followed him...enough for me. I don't give a darn what the end result is in court...he will always be reckless in my eyes and honestly, a killer.

Many people carry guns and they don't ever have a second thought about it its just like carrying a cellphone to them and so like any other activity like shopping going to the bank driving across town he had his gun on him and it was just on him when he saw a suspicious person wondering his neighborhood that had break ins he didn't just go I am going to follow this person and make sure I have my gun. No he should not have followed Trayvon period but he did and for all we know he stopped when 911 told him to and went back to where he was supposed to meet the cop. I highly doubt if he was just out to shot a black guy in his neighborhood because he is racist that he would have not started a fight with Trayvon. Florida law says if you feel your life is being threatened you can defend your self. If my head was that bloody I sure would have felt threatened because all it takes is one whack on the back of the head in a certain spot and he could have been the dead one.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I really do not understand how no one gets the fact that Zimmerman clearly said he was FOLLOWING Trayvon. He had a gun and he was following him! He was not just out for an innocent walk carrying his legal gun. Forget the law....the law is protecting him and imho it is a disgrace. He admitted he followed him...enough for me. I don't give a darn what the end result is in court...he will always be reckless in my eyes and honestly, a killer.

So now it's against the law to JUST follow someone?
He was part of the neighborhood watch, doesn't that mean you watch people you don't know? If this had been a serial killer or a pedophile we would be hailing him as a hero right now because he took the time to follow someone who he did not recognize in his gated community.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

So they weren't one sided when they edited the 911 call to make Zimmerman sound racist? They weren't one sided when they used an old picture of Trayvon to make him look very young and innocent and an old picture of Zimmerman to make him look like a monster?

It goes both ways. You are commenting on what bothers you. That is my point.

But, all in all, I believe common sense dictates here and says he was totally reckless. I don't give a hoot what the media says about any of it. That is NOT how I have come to my conclusion. I am basing my thoughts on fact...not on some thoughts about what might have happened or what his brother said happened. I heard his words and I know the other guy is dead...all I need to know. Maybe no one can prove he is guilty....does not matter to me. I say he is guilty as sin of being an irresponsible person who ended up killing a man because of his own irresponsible behavior.

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

So now it's against the law to JUST follow someone?
He was part of the neighborhood watch, doesn't that mean you watch people you don't know? If this had been a serial killer or a pedophile we would be hailing him as a hero right now because he took the time to follow someone who he did not recognize in his gated community.

But he didn't JUST follow someone ~ he killed him. An unarmed minor is dead - have we all forgotten that?

And he was specifically asked NOT to follow him on the 911 call. IMO, he went looking for trouble and guess what? He found it.

Certainly, I would not want this individual playing cop in my neighborhood. My teen-age son might appear threatening to him.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

So now it's against the law to JUST follow someone?
He was part of the neighborhood watch, doesn't that mean you watch people you don't know? If this had been a serial killer or a pedophile we would be hailing him as a hero right now because he took the time to follow someone who he did not recognize in his gated community.

JUST follow someone??? With a gun??? And saying he "looks suspicous"?? Do you not find that to be a bit reckless? Seriously?

Neighborhood watch is not neighborhood police. It is watch and report. That is what they are told to do. And, I am quite sure they are told not to carry weapons.

I can guarantee you that if this were your son, you would be seeing this in a whole different light!

This was NOT a serial killer OR a pedophile....this was an unarmed person walking home at night. Are you suggesting that it is ok to walk around at night with a gun...and FOLLOW people...even admit you are doing it...and kill them and then claim self defense? And, then everyone should say...oh it's ok because it MIGHT have been a pedophile? Scary stuff.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

But he didn't JUST follow someone ~ he killed him. An unarmed minor is dead - have we all forgotten that?

And he was specifically asked NOT to follow him on the 911 call. IMO, he went looking for trouble and guess what? He found it.

Certainly, I would not want this individual playing cop in my neighborhood. My teen-age son might appear threatening to him.

Oh...and then someone could say to you that your son MIGHT have been a serial killer or pedophile......

People need to think....this is vigilante type behavior and it is frightening.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

JUST follow someone??? With a gun??? And saying he "looks suspicous"?? Do you not find that to be a bit reckless? Seriously?

Neighborhood watch is not neighborhood police. It is watch and report. That is what they are told to do. And, I am quite sure they are told not to carry weapons.

I can guarantee you that if this were your son, you would be seeing this in a whole different light!

This was NOT a serial killer OR a pedophile....this was an unarmed person walking home at night. Are you suggesting that it is ok to walk around at night with a gun...and FOLLOW people...even admit you are doing it...and kill them and then claim self defense? And, then everyone should say...oh it's ok because it MIGHT have been a pedophile? Scary stuff.

Did you see the back of his head? He might not should have followed him but he did shoot in self defense.