Getting punched in the nose gives you the right to shoot the person.

[madaboutharry]

Is this the argument the defense is now trying to make?

Once you're punched in the nose, you are so stunned and rattled that you can never gain you're composure and have no choice but to shoot and kill the person who punched you.

This is just looney.

[lame54]

1. I thought it went...

Having a gun drawn on you gives you the right to punch somebody in the nose

[avebury]

2. And how do we know it was a punch?

It could have just as easily been an elbow as Trayvon was trying to get away from Zimmerman.

We have only Zimmerman's story that the gun was in the holster. This is a man who looked Sean Hannity right in the eyes and lied through his teeth. Zimmerman is a man without credibility.

[yardwork]

13. Yes. We only have Z-boy's word that he was attacked

He has no credibility. Lots of proven lies and a history of violence.

[MADem]

29. It could have been a head butt, as T was held down by Z.

I don't buy a thing this "defense" is saying--they're trying every which way but loose to paint a bully as a saint, and a kid buying frigging candy and ice damn tea as a thug.

Not working with me--I just keep hearing "fucking punks" in my head....and it wasn't the dead kid saying that.

[Democrats_win]

3. Turn the other cheek?

If Zimmerman walks, we'll have to do that. Oh, and the rich radical GOP will once again claim to be the victims....Outrageous world America has become.

[bunnies]

4. And you can even start the fight!

Cool huh?

[Aerows]

19. That's the main point here

If Zimmerman would have stayed in the damn truck, none of this would have happened. But no, he went LOOKING for a fight.

[bunnies]

21. Yep.

Didnt get enough of playing cops & robbers as a child, apparently. But hey, he doesnt even regret any of it. Its was "Gods will" and all.

[NoOneMan]

5. Zimmerman didn't know that wasn't a fatal blow

Its not like he ever got hit during his 6 hours a week of boxing, wrestling and juijitsu gym.

Besides, did you hear about Trayvon's ringtone?

[madokie]

6. Insecure people carry guns

and that is why they are so dangerous.
Those of us who are secure in our person don't feel a need for a gun.
Pulling a gun on me and not shooting me would be a big mistake for the gun holder. beentheredonethat

[sinkingfeeling]

8. +1000 (except for the last sentence).

[msongs]

7. 2a gives you the right to shoot the person, or any person you w ant for that matter, correct? nt

[indepat]

9. Florida and some other states have given a broad license to kill certain others

on a whim, forever depriving them of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which is anathema and seemly unconstitutional on its face.

[exboyfil]

32. Only if you are not black

and the victim is not white. Black shooter and white victim = Voluntary Manslaughter. Just ask Trevor Dooley.

[Jenoch]

11. Only if you claim to be in fear for your life or great bodily harm to yourself or others.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

42. 1a gives you the right to say things which are not supported by the facts or rational thinking. n/t

[NutmegYankee]

45. 2a doesn't give any such right.

It just gives people a right to own an object.

[Blue Bike]

10. Nose and head, madaboutharry

The head exists. No cherry-picking of body parts in order to make the injuries less significant.

[Avalux]

12. Especially if you're a soft, passive, uncoordinated blob, as the defense says.

There was no way GZ could have defended himself other than to use a gun.

[yardwork]

14. Then he should have stayed home.

[Auntie Bush]

24. Or at least stayed in his car and waited for the police.

He was on a hunt and wanted to impress the police with his ability to protect the neighborhood and maybe get accepted into the police force. Look how great I am!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

15. The small laceration on the nose indicates that Zimmerman could have hit himself with the gun barrel.

[Auntie Bush]

25. I've been wondering why the state hasn't brought up that possibility.

[naaman fletcher]

28. Because its absurd

And just the product of message board cheerleaders who want to pretend Trayvon never hit him.

I think Zim is guilty if manslaughter, but lets face it: there was a fight In which Zimmerman was injured.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

36. The prosecutor seems to be a reluctant one.

[libodem]

41. Exactly

Ding. Ding. Ding.

[blm]

31. Or that he fell when he stumbled earlier then blamed Martin for the injuries

so he could claim self-defense. There was none of Zimmerman's DNA on Martin's hands or body, now, were there?

[truebluegreen]

40. I thought that too.

And the abrasions on the back of his head could have been caused the same way--the kick of the gun.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

43. Do you seriously think that "the kick of the gun" could cause "the abrasions on the back of his head

How would that happen?

[truebluegreen]

44. Just a thought.

But if Z was lying on the ground, shooting M at very close range, the gun would necessarily be pretty close to his own face. Maybe the recoil bloodied his nose; could it also cause his head to bang against the ground?

I dunno. I was just trying to picture it.

[HeroInAHalfShell]

16. do you feel your life is threatened?

IF you do then shoot who ever is hitting you!

Is the measure of fearful for life different or the same for everyone? is the the same for every individual?

[CatWoman]

18. you must be one hell of a wimp

almost each and every one of your posts are the same: someone was "fearful" for his life.

If that "someone" had left the boy alone and not followed him in the first place.............

................. If that "someone", being so feaking scared for his life, had not left the safety and confines of his vehicle............

That "someone" would'nt be on trial now.

or are you channeling that "someone"?

are you using fear as an excuse to just blow "someone" away at the first opportunity?

[HeroInAHalfShell]

20. If I feel my life is threatened I will shoot you till you do not move.

[Kingofalldems]

22. Oh boy. Another tough guy with a gun

Looks like you just threatened someone.

[HeroInAHalfShell]

23. If some punk started hitting me, I feel my life is in danger.

[Hugabear]

39. You can't be serious

So all someone has to do is hit you, then you feel you have the right to murder them?

[HappyMe]

30. Yup.

A real "hero".

[yardwork]

26. What a way to live. /nt

[kestrel91316]

37. And my guess is, anytime you experience any fear whatsoever, you believe that your life is

threatened.

Coward. You and Zimmy both.

[frylock]

38. then don't put yourself in a situation where you feel your life is threatened..

it's really that simple.

[blm]

33. Why did Zimmerman put himself in a position to fear for his life?

Did he not think stalking a teenager would make the teenager fear for HIS life?

[Finnmccool]

34. That's wrong it's what a reasonable person

would do, meaning your average Joe

[Lizzie Poppet]

17. In the vast majority of jurisdictions...

In the vast majority of US jurisdictions and in most such situations, a person is permitted to use lethal force when they are physically attacked. There are some exceptions, such as when the "attacker" clearly represents no significant, substantive threat to the person attacked, but those situations are unusual.

The Zimmerman defense seems to be making this a key aspect of their argument, and apparently Florida law backs them up.

I have a huge problem with this, of course. Not with the basic idea that using deadly force in response to physical assault can be permitted, but with applying that principle to someone who initiated the confrontation and whose behavior made the other party fearful for their safety. Zimmerman's actions precipitated the entire encounter, and that places responsibility for the outcome on his shoulders, IMO.

[Auntie Bush]

27. + 1000

[Nuclear Unicorn]

35. 70% of rapes involve an unarmed attacker

but the would-be victim has a right to use deadly force to resist.