# Zimmerman-Martin Trial - The Verdict is in! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445 "2013-07-14T01:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/41 "2013-07-14T12:56:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > And they may have been right, legally speaking. I’m sad because I think Martin may have felt a “fight or flight” fear response to a stranger with a gun, chose to fight rather than run, and died for it. Zimmerman should feel terrible about the choices he made. And the law should be changed so that if you follow an unarmed, law-abiding stranger with a gun for no reason, and a fight starts and you shoot him, you should be held culpable by the justice system. I haven’t been following all the evidence at trial because I’ve been so busy, but from what I know, this is the sense I get. The jury could only find him guilty of the charged crimes, not of being wrong, violent, and reckless. I guess it is legally possible in FL to recklessly provoke a heated confrontation, then during it have a right to self defense if you believe your life is in danger. That’s seriously messed up, but not the fault of the prosecutors or jury. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/42 "2013-07-14T12:57:26Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > So I’m this 17-year-old visiting my dad. I just went to the store to get some candy and a drink, and I’m headed back to my dad. I suddenly notice that there’s a dude following me. This guy could be a mugger, or worse. So I turn around and ask him why he’s following me. > > At this point, what can I do or say to keep this dude from harming me, or worse? > [@Acsenray](#): > > Kill him. That’s the lesson I get from this; TM’s biggest mistake was in not going for the kill. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/43 "2013-07-14T13:04:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I don’t think the prosecution had a real shot. I’m not sure if they could have won this with what they had. I have not followed the threads (and I’m not going to go back and read tens or hundreds of pages), but for me it comes down to this: If you start a fight, you can’t claim self defense if you shoot the guy who’s kicking your butt. So I think there was a chance. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/44 "2013-07-14T13:07:31Z")
[The Tampa Bay Times is reporting on its examination of “stand your ground” cases](http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/florida-stand-your-ground-law-yields-some-shocking-outcomes-depending-on/1233133): > [@](#): > > If you claim “stand your ground” as the reason you shot someone, what happens to you can depend less on the merits of the case than on who you are, whom you kill and where your case is decided. > > … > > • Defendants claiming “stand your ground” are more likely to prevail if the victim is black. Seventy-three percent of those who killed a black person faced no penalty compared to 59 percent of those who killed a white. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/45 "2013-07-14T13:35:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think he’s a wannabe doofus with a gun who followed an unarmed kid for no reason. The kid, possibly scared for his life (for the rational reason of being followed by a stranger with a gun) might have lashed out in what he thought was defense of his own life. And he got shot. And I have yet to see anyone state that Mr. Martin would still be alive if he’d been armed. :rolleyes: I wonder why not. 😕 Oh, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/46 "2013-07-14T13:42:57Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > So in parts of the US you can attack somebody and then if they fight back you’re allowed to shoot them? Good system. Yes, its sick, isn’t it. The dead boy cannot speak. The message is, if you’re going to shoot someone, make sure they’re dead. If both people are “standing their ground” the one with the gun wins. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/47 "2013-07-14T13:59:56Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > And they may have been right, legally speaking. I’m sad because I think Martin may have felt a “fight or flight” fear response to a stranger with a gun, chose to fight rather than run, and died for it. There is no evidence that Martin knew Zimmerman had a gun when he punched him. None. Even the prosecution didn’t try to claim that. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/48 "2013-07-14T14:02:20Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I guess it is legally possible in FL to recklessly provoke a heated confrontation, then during it have a right to self defense if you believe your life is in danger. That’s seriously messed up, but not the fault of the prosecutors or jury. Really? If YOU feel your life is in danger (whatever preceded it) you don’t think YOU have a right to defend yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lion)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/49 "2013-07-14T14:03:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have not followed the threads (and I’m not going to go back and read tens or hundreds of pages), but for me it comes down to this: If you start a fight, you can’t claim self defense if you shoot the guy who’s kicking your butt. So I think there was a chance. How did Zimmerman start a fight? If I approach you and you knock me down and start pummeling me do I not have a right to defend myself? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/50 "2013-07-14T14:06:08Z")
> [@Lion](#): > > How did Zimmerman start a fight? If I approach you and you knock me down and start pummeling me do I not have a right to defend myself? If someone is stalking me, and then attempts to detain me, do I not have the right to defend myself? Had Zimmerman stayed in his truck as he was advised, and had Zimmerman not initiated a confrontation, then Martin would be alive and Zimmerman would not have to look over his shoulder the rest of his life. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445/51 "2013-07-14T14:14:59Z")
There are already plenty of threads debating this case, we don’t need another one. Closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zimmerman-martin-trial-the-verdict-is-in/663445.md?page=2)