# Mea Culpa: George Zimmerman case **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 11, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858 "2012-06-11T23:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/41 "2012-06-13T16:12:32Z")
I am so confused as to why this entire thing has not been focused on why this is such a stupid law, in the first place. That is the real issue isn’t it? Yes, this case is racially charged, and may come down to ‘well he says’ and confusing, scanty, hard evidence. But the core issue remains what a stupid piece of legislation this is. Or am I missing something? I’m also confused how you can be considered to be, ‘standing your ground’, when you’re following/pursuing someone. Huh? Florida is a funny place. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/42 "2012-06-13T16:22:14Z")
All I know now is that with the arrest of Zimmerman’s wife, this whole thing has taken on a reality show quality. I’ve stopped following it because I can’t trust any information that’s coming out. Its really annoying ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/43 "2012-06-13T16:22:24Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Florida is a funny place. Just keep in mind most of Florida’s population comes from relatively recent outsiders (aka Yankees mostly). So, don’t blame the crazyness on the long term inhabitants 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/44 "2012-06-13T16:23:01Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I’m also confused how you can be considered to be, ‘standing your ground’, when you’re following/pursuing someone. Huh? People just call it a “Stand Your Ground” law but it isn’t actually called SYG on the law books. The idea is that an individual who is in a place they are legally allowed to be do not have a duty to retreat from that area when threatened. See also “Castle Doctrine” or “Make My Day” laws in regards to the use of deadly force within a home. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/45 "2012-06-13T16:45:30Z")
I’m not really sure what you’re trying to say here. The relevant Florida law is [§776.013(3), Fla. Stat.](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String&URL=0700-0799/0776/Sections/0776.013.html), and it includes the language"has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force". ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/46 "2012-06-13T17:05:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m not really sure what you’re trying to say here. The relevant Florida law is [§776.013(3), Fla. Stat.](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String&URL=0700-0799/0776/Sections/0776.013.html), and it includes the language"has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force". There’s some serious egg on my face then. Since the OP started this thread my admitting he was wrong I shall continue that proud tradition by admitting that I was mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/47 "2012-06-13T17:20:32Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > There’s some serious egg on my face then. Since the OP started this thread my admitting he was wrong I shall continue that proud tradition by admitting that I was mistaken. Well, in the spirit of the thread, I BET YOU’RE ONLY APOLOGIZING BECAUSE YOU WANT ATTENTION. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/48 "2012-06-14T13:31:29Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > On the other hand, if his grandfather comes out of the time machine and kills him, there is no paradox problem. Getting a bit off topic here, but AFAIAC, **CalMeacham** fully justified his existence on this mortal coil just with that one sig line. > [@billfish678](#): > > Just keep in mind most of Florida’s population comes from relatively recent outsiders (aka Yankees mostly). So, don’t blame the crazyness on the long term inhabitants 🙂 Having married a sixth-generation Floridian and having had over 20 years to observe her extended family close up, it’s my hunch that the long-term residents are holding up their end of things quite well, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/49 "2012-06-14T13:47:35Z")
Oh, hush. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/50 "2012-06-14T15:09:05Z")
In a surreal moment, I absolutely agree with Yog’s statement above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858.md?page=2)