Interesting point. I assumed that since a firearm was used and it was being carried away from the home, the gun permit would be applicable as evidence that Zimmerman was legally carrying a firearm with the State of Florida’s OK.
Not intending to speak for Bricker or anyone else, I’m assuming that the retention of this particular piece of information by the prosecution would be covered under State law/SA rules and regulations of evidence. It could be treated differently than, let’s say, a dozen shoes that had no bearing on the charges but only because FLA firearm laws/SA rules said so.
Right. So Zimmerman, in the struggle of life, just coincidentally cocked his gun at an angle complementary with Martin’s position. And then hit him almost squarely in the center of his chest too. Not in his side, where his shooting arm was. Not in his torso or lower belly, where his shooting hand would have been closest. But rather, smack dab in the middle of his chest.
But… if the same person said they SAW Zimmerman shoot Trayvon like a dog in the street, and then later happened to mention that the Mole People from Planet RootCellar stopped by for coffee afterward, I think the prosecution might be interested in the first part, and the defense might be interested in the latter.
The articulation of the human arm is quite extensive. Taking into account that there are three joints involved in pointing a firearm (not necessarily “aiming” a firearm), wrist, elbow, and shoulder, you should be able to point your finger, or a firearm, at every square inch of a hemisphere without moving your torso.
Range of motion of a normal human wrist:
Flexion - Normal flexion allows 80 degrees from the neutral position. The neutral position is when the hand is extended even with the arm.
Extension - Normal extension is 70 degrees.
RadialDeviation - This motion should measure 20 degrees at the end point for normal range of motion.
Ulnar Deviation - The normal range of motion should be 30 degrees.
Pronation - The normal range of pronation is 90 degrees.
Supination - Normal range of motion for supination is also 90 degrees.
Range of motion of a normal human elbow joint:
Flexion - Is about 145 degrees.
Extension - Would be 0 degrees or straight out/fully extended.
The extent of the range of human shoulder movement is found at the site mentioned below -
Flexion and Extension
Abduction and Adduction
Rotation
He’d already received a broken nose, and repeated blows to the head. Martin was continuing to attack him, so it’s certain he was in reasonable fear of death or serious injury. You do realise, I hope, that the danger from repeated blows to the head isn’t bleeding… Although his face was, in fact, covered with blood.
He doesn’t have to have already received the lethal injury to be entitled to use self defence, that would be somewhat pointless.
Zimmerman was carrying a 9mm Kel-Tec PF9 double-action-only pistol. You don’t “cock it” before firing but you do need to pull the trigger back to engage the transfer bar system and fire the pistol.
You can act out the possible scenarios with the help of a friend who is willing to slap you around a little and a bar of soap, deck of cards, or pack of cigarettes to stand in for the pistols grip/handle. Lie down, let them straddle you, and see if you can reach the bar of soap. Pick up the bar of soap, point your index finger to simulate the pistol barrel, and see if you can point it directly at your friends chest. Take your time. it can be done.
As a 2nd experiment, have your friend use two hands to try and take your make-believe pistol from you while you struggle to keep it. Does the barrel ever point directly at their heart? Try this again but only allow them to use one hand.
FYI: It’s not a gun permit that’s being talked about, it’s his *application *for a gun permit. The application includes questions about things like prior criminal charges, mental conditions, drug use, etc.
Yeah, you point the gun perpendicular to the target because most people shoot standing up. That’s the whole fucking point. The trajectory of the bullet and it’s entry point are what you’d least expect if Z’s story is true. And at the same time, it’s what you’d most expect if both guys were standing apart from one another at arm’s length from one each other.
Even if charges are expunged they often need to be reported or there’s a catch-all question about being arrested etc. I’ve had to report my minor expunged misdemeanor to two state bars, several federal courts and when I obtained my CCP. All that for a $100 fine.
You must be confusing a street fight with some kind of walk 10 paces, turn-and-shoot type dual. This shot was fired from less than 20 inches away. During a struggle.
His situation would still make him ineligible for a concealed carry permit for three years, and even after that he would have to declare it.
Since he has demonstrated a tendency to be less than forthright about that in very grave circumstances, I will not be terribly surprised to find that he lied on something as relatively casual as a CC permit application and was therefore not in fact legally permitted to carry.
While I would not be surprised if he told the exact same lie he told when being booked into jail when he was filling out his application, I doubt I could muster up anything resembling actual disappointment if he managed to tell the truth.
This clip of Zimmerman will be his downfall. The bullshit becomes extra rich at around 35 to 45 min in.
Cliff notes:
Zimmerman claimed his face was covered his blood during the fight so he couldn’t see much. Um, okay, how again did Martin come away with none of his blood on his hands or under his fingernails? And also you mean to tell me that despite all this bloodiness, none of this blood managed to splatter on Martin’s hoodie? Not even a single drop of it on his sleeves?
Zimmerman’s hands were not pinned during the fight. Apparently he was using his hands to fend his face against blows. How Martin managed to get past Z’s flailing arms and grab his slick (ground was wet, remember), bald and supposedly bloody head repeatedly, beats me. Not one defensive wound was found on Martin’s hands and arms either. Mysterious.
Zimmerman emphasizes that Martin was trying to suffocate him during the gun pull. He even gestured to show how Martin had his weight essentially resting on Zimmerman’s face, seeing as how Martin supposedly had one hand clamped over his mouth and his other hand supposedly trapped by Zimmerman’s shooting arm. The interviewer points out the obvious, that this position doesn’t leave a whole lot of space in between the two of them; Z agrees. But when Z pantomimes how he shot Martin, look at how he holds his arm. How much is his elbow bent, if at all? What’s his wrist doing? How in the hell did he shoot Martin in the chest if he was pointing the gun even remotely like that?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Zimmerman intimates repeatedly that his gun was worn on his right back side. For instance, when the cops showed up, Zimmerman said he turned his back to the cop and raised up his jacket to show that he was armed. This implies the cop would have seen the gun from this position… Soooo, how again did he manage to pull out his gun while lying on the ground with a teenager on top of him?How again did Martin see this thing in the dark anyway? None of it makes sense.