# Why hasn't the Neighborhood Watch shooter been arrested? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504 "2012-03-12T00:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 94
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1861 "2012-03-26T14:09:32Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Just curious (and this isn’t a loaded question, or intended to be), how many people hear would categorically denounce the act if someone murders Zimmerman? Or would people be willing to hem-and-haw about how they can understand the motivation? I certainly would denounce it without hesitation. I don’t like would-be vigilantes. They’re dangerous. Often, they hurt innocent people. The threats against Zimmerman and his relatives are disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1862 "2012-03-26T14:50:54Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Not at all. I’m stating exactly what was written, and what was said. Check the links and then check your hostility. > > I suspect that the writer of the article misunderstood the witnesses. They are clear in the interview in the other link I gave you that Zimmerman was straddling Martin on his knees and was pressing down on his back. But not kneeling on him. Standing above him. After he was shot. What is the problem with that, again? ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1863 "2012-03-26T14:52:39Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > I said nothing about the accuracy of the memory, only motivation. And that is bad also. Any black person that says any thing exculpatory about Zimmerman is looking at a minimum of shunning. When this story first started, they were some stories from black people in the subdivision about nice interactions with Zimmerman. Those people have learned to keep their mouth shut. Of course, they probably aren’t too thrilled with Martin’s father either, since his lawyer is talking about suing their homeowners association. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1864 "2012-03-26T15:01:44Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > And that is bad also. Any black person that says any thing exculpatory about Zimmerman is looking at a minimum of shunning. When this story first started, they were some stories from black people in the subdivision about nice interactions with Zimmerman. Those people have learned to keep their mouth shut. Huh? Where did this news come from? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1865 "2012-03-26T15:04:59Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > But not kneeling on him. Standing above him. After he was shot. What is the problem with that, again? I don’t know why it matters either way, but it wouldn’t exactly be “standing above him” if his hands are on his back. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1866 "2012-03-26T15:06:44Z")
[According to this site](http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/was-trayvon-martin-a-drug-dealer), Trayvon Martin (a.k.a. @NO\_LIMIT\_NIGGA) wasn’t quite the alterboy he’s been portrayed. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1867 "2012-03-26T15:10:32Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I don’t know why it matters either way, but it wouldn’t exactly be “standing above him” if his hands are on his back. Stand up. Bend over. Put your hands on the ground (or a foot above ground, as the case may be). There you go. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1868 "2012-03-26T15:12:20Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > [According to this site](http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/was-trayvon-martin-a-drug-dealer), Trayvon Martin (a.k.a. @NO\_LIMIT\_NIGGA) wasn’t quite the alterboy he’s been portrayed. Well yes, the blatant bias of the MSM for putting up angelic pictures of Trayvon as a 14-year-old juxtaposed with an old mug shot of Zimmerman was pretty clear from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1869 "2012-03-26T15:14:07Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > [According to this site](http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/was-trayvon-martin-a-drug-dealer), Trayvon Martin (a.k.a. @NO\_LIMIT\_NIGGA) wasn’t quite the alterboy he’s been portrayed. Yeah…and why was she wearing so much make-up…? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1870 "2012-03-26T15:14:39Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > [According to this site](http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/was-trayvon-martin-a-drug-dealer), Trayvon Martin (a.k.a. @NO\_LIMIT\_NIGGA) wasn’t quite the alterboy he’s been portrayed. From [here](http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/03/trayvon_martin_no_thats_not_hi.php): > [@](#): > > But the “Trayvon Martin” the page belongs to lists his school as Myers Middle School. All of his relatives are listed as living in Savannah, Georgia, where there is a Myers Middle School. > > The late Martin, who grew up in Miami Gardens, went to Norland Middle and Highland Oaks Middle schools, and more recently attended Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School. > > Trayvon Martin’s real Facebook page is here, complete with photos and information clearly depicting him, and updated before the date of his death. > > The bogus page probably belongs either to another Trayvon Martin, or to a kid who renamed his page in tribute. > > Not that it matters. **If you’re screwed up enough to believe that a 17-year-old unarmed kid deserved to die because he once wore sagging shorts and flipped off the camera, then you’re going to keep sharing that image regardless of who it depicts**. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1871 "2012-03-26T15:16:45Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > [According to this site](http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/was-trayvon-martin-a-drug-dealer), Trayvon Martin (a.k.a. @NO\_LIMIT\_NIGGA) wasn’t quite the alterboy he’s been portrayed. [Debunked](http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/03/trayvon_martin_no_thats_not_hi.php) ETA: Double ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1872 "2012-03-26T15:34:31Z")
Maybe there’s a complaint about Zimmerman’s 2005 mug shot to be had but to complain about Martin’s babyfaced pre-teen photos just strikes me as desperate. When someone dies, they always pull out the ‘so full of life’ photos. Yeardley Smith, Todd Beamer, Ennis Cosby, Aaliyah… That’s just what they do. And Trayvon Martin’s most iconic image is the one with the hoodie where he does look 17. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1873 "2012-03-26T15:36:11Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > When someone dies, they always pull out the ‘so full of life’ photos. Yeardley Smith Lisa Simpson is dead? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1874 "2012-03-26T15:39:31Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > Maybe there’s a complaint about Zimmerman’s 2005 mug shot to be had but to complain about Martin’s babyfaced pre-teen photos just strikes me as desperate. Seriously? Why didn’t MSM go to Zimmerman family - I am sure they could have dug up some angelic looking pictures of him. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1875 "2012-03-26T15:50:39Z")
George Zimmerman’s family is in hiding and not talking to the media? George Zimmerman is still full of life so those pictures aren’t necessary? Incidentally there is a new, more recent picture of GZ. Google it. Yeardley Love, Ascenray. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1876 "2012-03-26T15:54:13Z")
The Florida legislators who wrote and sponsored the “Stand Your Ground” law have said that Zimmerman’s actions are not protected by the law. They have pointed out that a person is required to retreat to safety if possible and to only meet force with the same level of force. Zimmerman did neither of those. I do believe that when the police questions a suspect, like Zimmerman, the police need to think that it is possible that the suspect is lying. Now if the DA is reluctant to prosecute because he may not get a conviction, well, looking at the jury pool it looks like he could. In order for Zimmerman to make his claim of self defense, he would have to take the stand. Always a risky move for a murder defendant. What new evidence could come to light? Can John Edwards talk to Trayvon? No I don’t think so. We will only have one side of the story. Should we believe him? I don’t think so. He was told to not confront the person he saw. He didn’t. We can hear the screams for help on the 911 calls and the shot that cuts them off. Can the state get a conviction? I think so. And this is Florida. They love to convict people of murder. Heck, they even convicted two different people of murdering one person, with each of them acting alone! ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1877 "2012-03-26T15:57:09Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > And that is bad also. Any black person that says any thing exculpatory about Zimmerman is looking at a minimum of shunning. When this story first started, they were some stories from black people in the subdivision about nice interactions with Zimmerman. Those people have learned to keep their mouth shut. Or, you know, maybe they changed their minds! But no, that can never happen. Racist bigots can never be nice to your face and fool you. Must just be those poor “good” black people getting beaten down by the vast masses of the those OTHER types. > [@](#): > > Of course, they probably aren’t too thrilled with Martin’s father either, since his lawyer is talking about suing their homeowners association. Oh the projection is just incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1878 "2012-03-26T16:03:38Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Seriously? Why didn’t MSM go to Zimmerman family - I am sure they could have dug up some angelic looking pictures of him. Hear about the fake Trayvon Martin facebook page, Terr? You know the one with someone supposed to be Trayvon Martin wearing no shirt and his pants down around his knees and making the gang signs? You fall for it? This would all be so much easier for the apologists if the kid actually did get shot on his way to rob someone’s bike off their sidewalk or something, wouldn’t it? Then those black people woudl really have nothing to whine about. He’d have deserved to be dead. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1879 "2012-03-26T16:07:28Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > The Florida legislators who wrote and sponsored the “Stand Your Ground” law have said that Zimmerman’s actions are not protected by the law. > > They have pointed out that a person is required to retreat to safety if possible and to only meet force with the same level of force. Well, they should have written the law differently, then, because it doesn’t say that. They had law enforcement officials all over the state of Florida warning them about this, and they chose not to listen. It’s too late now to claim they wrote something they did not write. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/1880 "2012-03-26T16:10:04Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Lisa Simpson is dead? I had to go and check that myself. Looks like she is still alive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=93) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=95)