k, yeah...when I was in grade school they use to show us movies about pot and how it makes ya wanna jump out a window.

Not gonna even discuss this topic. As an avid ganja user for 35 years, nothing you can post is going to convince me pot heads are violent..in general.

I don't remember writing that "pot heads are violent..in general".

Have you ever felt "fear, anxiety, panic or paranoia"?

Oh, since you've smoked marijuana for 35 years, I guess we can ignore all research done on the subject.

I'm staying open for the outcome. I haven't picked sides like you and msharmony obviously have. So, no the pot angle isn't going to change how I feel.

No, I don't have any interest in the latest pot research.

I'm completely open on the outcome, but the evidence so far does not indicate a crime. Let some information come out proving George is guilty and my opinion will change. Just because I haven't committed to a position, doesn't mean I can't have a provisional opinion.

I'm just struggling with the part of who instigated the confrontation.
I know you say it doesn't matter...it seems it should or I would have been right to shoot the guy who knocked out my teeth (in my post) and that just doesn't seem right.

No, that's not right.

If you punch someone, they have the right to defend themselves. If you kicked a guy and he knocked you on the ground, sat on your chest and started punching your face and pounding your head into the street, you would have the right to use deadly force. The point that you can no longer fight and are being beaten is where a fight turns into a situation where you life might be in danger.

It's being released that Martin had drugs in his system. Wow, so this proves I was right on about the druggie part go figure.

It was a punk who was now shown to have drugs in his system and who was currently on suspension for drugs.

My best friend of 18 years blew his brains out while high on pot. Everyone reacts differently. I have also had shoplifters who have faught like hell because they were high and psycotic.

I have an opinion. Im not on the jury. Im glad it went to court so that jurors can hear ALL of whats relevant and justice can be done. I am content with it being in the courts. I was upset at the notion that someone may have lost their unarmed child to a man with a gun and anything less than thorough investigation be done before just clearing the gunman and justifying his actions.

I Was also upset that this grown man was being held to such lenient standards compared to the boy.

Both had apparently used drug/alcohol but the boys drug use was a topic to clear the shooting.

The MAN had a history of documented aggression AND aggressive accusation, and the boy had sprayed graffiti. And the Graffiti was being used as an excuse to clear the shooter.

The boy died and had his character destroyed while the grown man with just as much undesirable history was being believed on his word that he was just 'defending' himself,,,after clearly stating some animosity and intent on a phone call previously.

Just seems to me both could have done wrong, but the grown man should have known better than the child and not basically stalked him that night. If he hadnt, the Martins would not have had to have lost their child to a gun that night.

So, yes, I hold Zimmerman more responsible as the adult and I dont think shrugging it off as a 'clear cut' case of the hero against a thug was good enough or should have been good enough for the Martin family.

,,, and now that I have bantered

I will repeat that, even with my PERSONAL opinion of holding the adult in the situation responsible, Im mostly glad that this dead child will have a justice process to get to the bottom of his death.

I have an opinion. Im not on the jury. Im glad it went to court so that jurors can hear ALL of whats relevant and justice can be done. I am content with it being in the courts. I was upset at the notion that someone may have lost their unarmed child to a man with a gun and anything less than thorough investigation be done before just clearing the gunman and justifying his actions.
taking a case to court costs money. taking a case that could have been resolved is a waste of money. i'm all for due process, but cases that go to court for emotional reasons just seem frivolous to me
I Was also upset that this grown man was being held to such lenient standards compared to the boy.
the media, and emotional people are making this one sided standards, on both sides
Both had apparently used drug/alcohol but the boys drug use was a topic to clear the shooting.
the only drug use that matters is who was on drugs THAT night
The MAN had a history of documented aggression AND aggressive accusation, and the boy had sprayed graffiti. And the Graffiti was being used as an excuse to clear the shooter.
so they both had a past, big deal
The boy died and had his character destroyed while the grown man with just as much undesirable history was being believed on his word that he was just 'defending' himself,,,after clearly stating some animosity and intent on a phone call previously.
both are having their character dragged through the mud. the man has to live with it, the boy's family could profit from it
Just seems to me both could have done wrong, but the grown man should have known better than the child and not basically stalked him that night. If he hadnt, the Martins would not have had to have lost their child to a gun that night.
the grown man probably knew better, but was dealing with a person who, since he tested positive for drugs, was not sober thinking. even if he was only a little bit high, he still was not sober
So, yes, I hold Zimmerman more responsible as the adult and I dont think shrugging it off as a 'clear cut' case of the hero against a thug was good enough or should have been good enough for the Martin family.
the point is that it's not about sensationalizing what happened and making it hero vs thug. it's about truth, justice, and the american way. clear cut cases are not shrugged off, they simple don't merit the time, money and effort spent (wasted) just to appease the masses
,,, and now that I have bantered

I will repeat that, even with my PERSONAL opinion of holding the adult in the situation responsible, Im mostly glad that this dead child will have a justice process to get to the bottom of his death.
clear cut cases are part of the justice process, until you realize that you can continue on with your bias views. thankfully america is still a place where there is freedom to do that

msharmony you continue to use words like boy, and child to describe Martin. He was neither.

He was a man.

17 years old, 160 lbs @ 6 foot 3. It is clear you think of him as a boy becuase you see yourself as someone who could be his mom. I understand your empathy, but it is misplaced.

There is no logic in claiming that Zimmerman started any fight. He had called the police on very similar circumstances, and the police were able to nab one of the people who were breaking into the houses in the area. Zimmerman KNEW that the police could be anywhere from 2 minutes out, to 20 minutes out, and given that you know they are coming to start a fight would be idiotic knowing an officer could be watching from a distance.

Without some evidence to show how the start of the fight went down, it becomes completely irrational to assume Zimmerman started it.

Given all of the evidence I agree that this should have never gone to trial. It was political, and it was to calm down the riotous nature of the thugs in the area.

Plain and simple.

The black man was high on weed and no telling what other kinds of halucinogens that were not tested for. Could have been crack or PCP. Probably so high like Rodney King, that only a bullet could stop him. Thank goodness Zimmerman stopped him before he could hurt others.

A 17 year old is NOT a man. He has no legal rights as an adult. He can not vote, he can not join the military, he can not have a beer...he is a minor, that makes him a child.

A friend of my son's was over 6 foot in jr. high, he was still only 15.

It's no more illogical to assume Zimmerman started this confrontation than it is to assume Martin was a thug, started it and deserved to die.

this minor child was able to obtain an illegal substance. use said substance, and while under the affects of said substance, not only able to defend himself in a physical altercation, but apparently get the upper hand on a "grown man". had the grown man not been armed, who knows how far this minor child would have gone

I don't know about where you live but here in Texas at 17, you are an adult.

A 17 year old in Texas can buy smokes, join the military, vote?

So what, a 17 year old got weed, that isn't hard to do.
Doesn't make him an adult because he smokes pot.

Doesn't matter. a 17 y/o will be treated the same as an adult. I personally don't agree with it. But in the legal world it is a fact.