tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post5185628659751105645..comments2024-03-28T16:08:29.578-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Vindication: A Requirement, Not an OptionKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-47729405449376072222013-07-25T22:45:54.865-04:002013-07-25T22:45:54.865-04:00Juror says Zimmerman 'got away with murder'...Juror says Zimmerman 'got away with murder' http://usat.ly/1c6Lixk via <br /> @USATODAY <br /><br /><br />Now learning how the next Juror who spoke out really felt about the trial, why did she capitulate and vote for a not guilty verdict when she could have legally held up the Jury's decision by voting for manslaughter? It is closer to her truth and I believe under such circumstances they would have been required to call a mistrial and perhaps choose another jury? Am I right about this? <br /><br /><br />Pearlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-27238060591980741842013-07-21T17:11:39.335-04:002013-07-21T17:11:39.335-04:00@Outsida--
The event described in the article to ...@Outsida--<br /><br />The event described in the article to which you provided a link is scary indeed. I, too, would be alarmed to be confronted by camo-clothed and masked people out in the forest who were also carrying semi-automatic rifles. (And no, carrying a mere concealed handgun would not ease my concerns.) <br /><br />This is a trend of which I had not heard, so thank you for the information.<br /><br />Still, when hiking in somewhat remote areas—as, apparently, both you and I do—one never knows what or whom one might come across, or what accident or “weather surprise” might occur. <br /><br />In the National Forests of Northern California—my home state and region—it is marijuana and even opium growers who are damaging the environment and threatening those who stumble upon their fields. They are the reason that some Forest Service personnel now carry weapons when going about their regular business in remote parts of the National Forest.<br /><br />Here are a couple of links to articles about this:<br /><br />http://www.livescience.com/17417-marijuana-growers-national-forests.html<br /><br />http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/04/local/la-me-fort-bragg-20110904<br /><br />Some of us tend to feel “safer” in urban environments while others amongst us feel “safer” in the wilderness. But the fact is that the unexpected can happen <i> anywhere, </i> and like any good Boy Scout, we always need to “be prepared.”<br /><br />Friends laugh at the fanny pack that I haul along on even casual walks up into the Sandia Mountains behind my home: extra water, protein bars, first aid kit, two “space blankets,” storm-proof matches and tinder, compass, whistle, cell 'phone (of course), mirror, benadryl tablets, and three handy little multi-tools that complement each other. And always, a stout walking stick. <br /><br />Sounds like overkill for a casual walk? Well, you would be surprised how often trail accidents, weather surprises—or simply getting lost—happen in the Sandias that require emergency search and rescue services.<br /><br />Those who get lost are particularly hard to understand. Depending upon which side of the mountain one is on, simply head west and you'll hit Albuquerque, or head east and you'll hit NM 14 and civilization. Easy, peasy.<br /><br />But if a friend sprains or breaks an ankle—or worse—when the weathered granite on the trail acts like myriad ball-bearings, you just might be spending the night on the mountain or in the foothills before help arrives. <br /><br />Be prepared.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-70802863793798091002013-07-21T13:16:01.077-04:002013-07-21T13:16:01.077-04:00@Zee
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/omin...@Zee<br /><br />http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/ominous-alliance-militiamen-showing-<br /><br />There you go - Hikers in the woods encountering militia working as security for a mining company. It seems my experience was not so uncommon, nor are my concerns unwarranted about so many dubious private corporate security forces cropping up. <br /><br />Much of our public land and even some privately owned lands have oil and mineral rights under them that belong to corporations. Those rights were either sold by previous owners of the private properties or, in the case of public land, are nearly given away by our government for a pittance/year fee under the Mining Act of 1872 to corporate entities. <br /><br />I expect we'll be seeing more of this as corporations protect their assets. Even private landowners' property is now being invaded, trampled on, and ruined for those resources because the corporations are finding the market and technology favorable for extraction, not to mention the gutting of environmental regulations.Outsidanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-17948982195157088972013-07-21T09:20:27.486-04:002013-07-21T09:20:27.486-04:00I have a big problem with hate crimes laws in gene...I have a big problem with hate crimes laws in general. We shouldn't be in the business of punishing the motivation, only the actual act. If we're going to add years to a sentence because of the motivation for a crime, then logically the motivation, in and of itself, should be worthy of a prison term. As abhorrent as I find racists, I don't think we ought to be in the business of jailing people just because they're racist. And heaven knows, convicts don't go to Sing Sing and unlearn their racism.<br /><br />That being said, there is certainly plenty of justification for bringing other federal charges against Zimmerman. Certainly he deprived Martin of his civil rights. And Zimmerman should be charged and he should be jailed, because what he did - regardless of the racial elements of the case - is deserving of prison.Noodgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-60013327967180008122013-07-21T00:19:01.857-04:002013-07-21T00:19:01.857-04:00@CitiZen--
You have it exactly right. It's a...@CitiZen--<br /><br />You have it exactly right. It's a clear-cut "But For" case.<br /><br />Sadly, the Florida jury did not see it that way.<br /><br />Maybe the next one--in a Federal court--will.<br /><br />Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-42839392010731721952013-07-20T20:19:30.268-04:002013-07-20T20:19:30.268-04:00It sure looked like a clear 'But For' case...It sure looked like a clear 'But For' case. But for Zimmerman getting out of his car after being advised not to, none of this would have happened. Unfortunately the American adversarial legal system is based on legal game playing starting with jury selection, and not on justice. CitiZennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-18778827324572077052013-07-20T17:04:18.675-04:002013-07-20T17:04:18.675-04:00Outsida (Part Two of Two)--
As far as your questi...Outsida (Part Two of Two)--<br /><br />As far as your question about “Neighborhood Watches” and “Citizen Patrols” go, I doubt very seriously that any such town- or city-sanctioned organizations would be other than specifically told <i> NEVER </i> to carry a firearm or other weapon when “on duty.” <br /><br />http://www.sacsheriff.com/crime_<br />prevention/documents/neighborhood_<br />watch_04.cfm<br /><br />(See the section on “Citizen Patrols.”)<br /><br />They have no “arrest powers,” are <i> NOT </i> sworn law-enforcement officers, and you can ignore anything and everything that they might “demand” of you, unless one of them is stupid enough to point a gun at you in flagrant disregard of the law. Then, you have to do whatever your instincts tell you to do.<br /><br />Regarding the Burlington Northern and Sante Fe railroad “cops,” well, the extent of their authority appears to depend upon the particular state in which you reside:<br /><br /><i> “BNSF Special Agents <b> may have investigative and arrest powers </b> both on and off railroad property <b> if authorized by the state in which they are working. </b> They carry interstate authority as provided by federal law (Title 49, USC, Section 28101.) This authority means that if railroad police are commissioned in one state, they can work in another, if that state has authorized railroad police, however to the limit allowed by the state they are in.” </i> (My bold emphasis.)<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/<br />BNSF_Police_Department<br /><br />I'm reasonably sure that this is something that you could determine by contacting your own State Police or equivalent thereof. Just a thought.<br /><br />What did the BNSF cops ask/tell you to do? <i> They </i> might have been overstepping their bounds! In which case, they should have been reported to “real” law enforcement.<br /><br />I have a CCP simply because any number of threats can arise during which having a firearm at hand <i> could </i> be helpful. But “militias,” “pseudo-law-enforcement entities” and “vigilantes” are the least of my worries: <br /><br />I often walk in the Open Space/National Forest area very near my home, though seldom alone. There are a number of strange personalities who choose to live up there in violation of the law, and who have been known to harass and threaten hikers. And in the same Open Space, a rabid coyote or hungry mountain lion are not unknown. <br /><br />http://www.abqjournal.com/main/10381/abqnewsseeker/905am-rabid-coyote-found-in-cortez-colo.html<br /><br />http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/25955/go/encounter-with-cougar-a-little-too-close-for-runner.html<br /><br /><br />Both Mrs. Zee and I have experienced random incidents in which people of uncertain identity have tried to force us off lonely roads at night. In these instances, one's car is actually the best defensive weapon available. But what happens if you <i> are </i> actually forced off the road and stopped? Would you prefer a tire iron or a 15-round Glock as your next line of defense, especially if you're out of cell 'phone range? <br /><br />Unless, of course, one is a total pacifist, (it doesn't sound like you are) in which case the only option is total submission. And yes, I count such people as my friends, though they are a partial mystery to me.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-49667680367448784562013-07-20T16:56:11.569-04:002013-07-20T16:56:11.569-04:00@Outsida (Part One of Two)--
Thanks for the infor...@Outsida (Part One of Two)--<br /><br />Thanks for the information regarding the testimony of Zimmerman's CCP instructor. I was unaware of that. I'll see if I can “Google up” any details.<br /><br />Still, in terms of proving Zimmerman's culpability for Trayvon Martin's death, it would depend upon which questions were asked of the instructor, presumably by the prosecution, who, as you observe, seemed none too competent.<br /><br />If all they asked was <i> “In your CCP training course, did you instruct Mr. Zimmerman on Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law, and did he seem to understand it?”, </i> that might not establish any culpability in the eyes of the jury.<br /><br />Perhaps this line of questioning for the CCP instructor would have a greater impact:<br /><br />“In your training course, did you teach Mr. Zimmerman that an all-important responsibility for CCP holders is to do their best to avoid any and all provocations or confrontations that might lead to violence, especially when armed?”<br /><br />If the instructor's answer was “yes,” as I am sure it would be, then:<br /><br />“In your training course, did you teach Mr. Zimmerman that another all-important responsibility is to <i> never </i> intervene, especially while carrying a handgun, in a situation that you don't fully understand? Did you teach Mr. Zimmerman that when observing suspicious behavior or even violence, that his sole responsibility would be to call the police immediately and otherwise stay out of the way unless his <i> own </i> life was in imminent danger?”<br /><br />If the instructor's answer was “yes,” as again I am sure it would be, then:<br /><br />“And the reason that these two “rules” are in place is because any number of <i> bad things </i> can happen to all involved if they are ignored?”<br /><br />If the instructor's answer was “yes,” as again I am sure it would be, then:<br /><br />“Did the 911-dispatcher tell Mr. Zimmerman that he need not further follow Trayvon Martin as police were on the way? In ignoring this request, did Mr. Zimmerman not a violate key element of your CCP curriculum?”<br /><br />If the instructor's answer was “yes,” as again I am quite sure it would be, then:<br /><br />“So, in your professional opinion as someone who is licensed by the State of Florida to instruct private citizens as to the circumstances under which they may use lethal force to defend <i> themselves, </i> did Mr. Zimmerman follow the training with which you provided him?”<br /><br />Here, of course, the answer would be “no,” so:<br /><br />“So again, in your professional opinion, did Mr. Zimmerman violate a number of important elements of the training that you gave him after you found him “fit” to carry a concealed handgun? And did 'bad things' occur as a consequence of these violations?”<br /><br />At this point, who knows what the defense might do (probably object), but the seed of Zimmerman's partial responsibility for Trayvon Martin's death might be planted in the minds of the jurors.<br /><br />That's what I would have asked.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-49603036658075453972013-07-20T15:20:22.769-04:002013-07-20T15:20:22.769-04:00Here's a Trayvon Martin tribute song called &q...Here's a Trayvon Martin tribute song called "Made You Die." It was released last year and is understandably gaining traction again after last week's verdict:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcmUAG210oM<br /><br />Interactive guide to the lyrics:<br /><br />http://rapgenius.com/Dead-prez-made-you-die-trayvon-martin-tribute-lyrics<br /><br />One of the rappers in the Trayvon tribute, Yasiin Bey (a.k.a. Mos Def), was seen in a recent video voluntarily being force-fed Gitmo-style. It is deeply disturbing to say the least. Proceed with caution:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ACE-BBPRsWillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-12556726208784514492013-07-20T13:32:11.134-04:002013-07-20T13:32:11.134-04:00@Zee
I didn't catch much of the trial, but I ...@Zee<br /><br />I didn't catch much of the trial, but I do recall seeing a tape of Zimmerman where he denied that he was familiar with the Stand Your Ground law when the police questioned him. Then during the trial there was testimony from a CCP instructor that the Stand Your Ground law is part of CCP training and that Zimmerman aced the class. I must have missed the part where the prosecution hammered that discrepancy home to the jury, or maybe they didn't. They seemed suspiciously inept, like an incompetent higher up was calling the shots for them. <br /><br />It wouldn't be the first time Zimmerman lied during this trial. Earlier he told the judge that he didn't have funds for his own defense, as I recall, but then it was found that he had a secret stash raised online from the website he set up after the shooting. <br /><br />Another thing that this trial has made me think about more is the increasing number of citizen patrols, neighborhood watch captains, and other volunteer law enforcers, as well as the many private police forces of various college campuses and industries. Who has what authority over us? <br /><br />Did my friends and I have to obey any orders from the uniformed officer with the 'BNSF Police' decal on his vehicle when we were walking down a public dirt road to take a national forest trail? (near the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line)<br /><br />We have so many of these semi- or pseudo-law enforcement entities that I really don't understand my rights or their authority. Who needs to fear militias when you have these under-color and undercover vigilantes roaming the streets getting away with murder. It does seem to help make a case for CCPs.Outsidanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-86949378176746748522013-07-20T12:37:49.772-04:002013-07-20T12:37:49.772-04:00@Karen--
Great information from reader “Eleanor,”...@Karen--<br /><br />Great information from reader “Eleanor,” proving that the Federal government still has the authority and responsibility to re-try George Zimmerman, charging him at the very least with manslaughter. <br /><br />However, I doubt that either Obama or Holder will have the <i> cojones </i> to do it.<br /><br />As you might suspect, I have quite a number of friends who are gun owners and concealed-carry permit (CCP) holders. When discussing the Zimmerman trial with some of them over breakfast a couple of days ago, they were uniformly in Zimmerman's “corner” until I reminded them that he violated cardinal principles that <i> should </i> have been included in his CCP training. Principles of which <i> we </i> were all aware, and which we respected.<br /><br />Zimmerman willfully <i> provoked </i> the events that caused Trayvon Martin to die and, therefore, he should be punished.<br /><br />When I threw in the fact that Zimmerman makes all <i> responsible </i> CCP holders—like us—look bad, most came around to my point of view that Zimmerman should have been convicted of manslaughter.<br /><br />Why Zimmerman's CCP training did not come up during the trial is incomprehensible to me, though because I did not follow the televised trial, it's possible that it <i> did </i> up and the jury chose to ignore it.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-85515985970978830422013-07-20T12:33:29.890-04:002013-07-20T12:33:29.890-04:00This whole thing was a mess from the beginning. Fl...This whole thing was a mess from the beginning. Florida law and its gun regulations allow, even compel, such occurrences. Florida has been made a more dangerous place to live because of them. Even more so for a person of color. Something very like this will happen again. Political posturing, the media frenzy and increasing polarity assure it.James F Traynornoreply@blogger.com