If we can't get justice for Trayvon, can we get justice for Marissa Alexander?

[OmahaBlueDog]

Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville, Fla. was sentenced to 20 years in prison on July 12 for firing warning shots inside her home in an effort to protect herself from her allegedly abusive husband.

The Fla. mom was hoping that the Fla. "Stand Your Ground" law would apply to her case as she was defending herself against her husband at the time she fired those warning shots, according to CBS News.

Alexander had requested a new trial based upon her state’s "Stand Your Ground" law, but was denied that request.

After those shots were fired in August 2010, Alexander explained to police that they were fired to avoid “a brutal beating by her husband, against whom she had already taken out a protective order.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/fla-mom-gets-20-years-jail-for-firing-warning-shots-against-abusive-husband



If we can't convict Zimmerman, perhaps we can get clemency or a pardon for Marissa?

[leftyohiolib]

1. if i remember this correctly when she did get away from him.she left saying "i got something for

your ass" she ran and got a gun then started firing. i think that was what was being pointed to as not syg

[TheDebbieDee]

5. But a twenty year sentence? Most people don't get that much time

after actually killing a person. See George Zimmerman about this.

[onenote]

13. The court had no discretion in sentencing

Mandatory ten years for commission of a felony with a gun; ten more years for firing the gun. These are laws that often are supported by groups that want stronger gun laws.

[Azathoth]

28. That's the 10-20-Life minimum sentence law that people were rejoicing over

when they thought they could use it to put Zimmerman away forever even if he got convicted on a lesser charge.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. Let's see: she fired warning shots pre-emptively.......

Didn't kill or even wound anyone. The Governor should pardon her......

But Flori-duh has a Governor whose actions also defy explanation so this woman may rot in jail after standing her ground without killing anyone!

[roody]

3. No, wrong color, wrong gender.

[ceonupe]

35. No result of

Gun control advocates mandatory min. For crimes using guns.

Judge had no choice jury was not told penalty. Conviction of using a gun in domestic violence 10 year min. ) firing a gun in commission of felony another 10 years

You can blame gun control groups pushing zero tolerance gun laws that take options away from judges or you can blame the

Same state atty Angela Corey over charged here just like in Zimmerman case.

[Decoy of Fenris]

4. She fired blindly at roughly where her kids were, after retreating, -then- coming back to the scene.

No sympathy.

[TheDebbieDee]

6. So you're saying she DESERVES a 20-year sentence for that?

That's is beyond stew-pid!

[Decoy of Fenris]

7. Aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of children?

I certainly don't think she's any degree of stable.

[TheDebbieDee]

11. And you think she's gonna get the proper psych treatment in prison?!?!?!

Spending 20 years in prison will make her MORE stable?!?!?!

[Decoy of Fenris]

12. So? Should that excuse her putting her children at risk? Firing blindly? Actively seeking conflict?

We can crow on and on about how jails are for "Rehabilitation", but to be blunt, I don't think they are. They're to keep dangerous elements of society away from others who would be suceptible to them. This woman has proven herself a dangerous, possibly a deranged, element of society, and should be isolated. She certainly shouldn't be allowed near children, given her penchant for firing at them.

[TheDebbieDee]

16. We pay some company $77K/year to keep someone in prison. It would be much cheaper

and in the best interests of her family to get her the help she needs at a mental health facility.

You're right, prison is for criminally violent people, not pot sellers, crackheads and other non-violent offenders. this woman is a non-violent offender.

[Decoy of Fenris]

17. Wait. Wait wait wait. Firing a gun, blindly, with intent to intimidate, is -not- violent?

The best interests of her family seems to be "Get this lunatic locked up"! Nine Hells, sure, she may need psychiatric care as well, but first thing's first; get her away from the kids, and get the gun out of her hands, preferably with a thick wall between her and the rest of the outside world.

[TheDebbieDee]

18. But the real issue is: How many people did she kill?

So, should she be treated as a murderer even though she hasn't killed anybody? What are you - the Minority Report?

GZ made the same assumptions about Trayvon Martin. You're no better than GZ with the assumptions that you make about other people. I hope YOU don't have a gun!

[Decoy of Fenris]

22. Does it matter?

If I walk into a theater and fire over the heads of the watchers, is it not endangerment? Am I not directly and recklessly perpetuating a criminal act against people? Simply because I don't hit someone, should I not be held fully accountable?

And don't look at me and ask -me- if this law is just; It's a Gun Controller's law through and through. She used a gun, in a crime: Minimum sentence 20 years. If you want to pin this on anyone, go complain at the GCRA group: They sponsor laws like this. It's not my, or gun owners' fault by any stretch.


In regards to my "Assumptions", you can take your words out of my mouth and dispose of them properly. I don't care what color, sex, race or creed she adheres to: She endangered children and an adult, with premeditation and intent. That's a surefire way to get locked up.

[TheDebbieDee]

31. You bet your a$$ it matters. You are dragging all kinds of $hit into our debate

just like a troll would. I'm not wasting any more time countering your "throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks" arguments.

Good day to you, sir/ma'am/whatever the hell you are and PHUCK stupid-a$$ Flori-duh!

[Decoy of Fenris]

32. If by "Shit" you mean relevant equivalence and fact-based discussion, sure.

However, if you're done, you're done. Take care, and have a pleasant day.

[burnodo]

20. What evidence do you have that she fired blindly?

Or put her children in danger?

[Decoy of Fenris]

24. She fired into the wall next to her children.

And firing blindly? Basic gun safety rule: Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you aim to kill. Anything else is firing blindly; normally called an "Accident" with prodigious air quotes.

[burnodo]

29. says who?

she shot toward her children?

And from what gun-nut book do you get the idea that guns would only be used for killing? I thought the gun-nut defense was always about defending yourself.

[Decoy of Fenris]

30. From the news articles.

And where have you been in regards to the gun-nuttery? I think maybe twice I've mentioned believing in the ability to own a gun for self-defensive purposes. Otherwise, I regard gun-nuttery as a hobby on par with stamp collecting, if stamps could kill. Dangerous, incredibly powerful, and should be wielded responsibly.

[HiPointDem]

21. go away

[TheLion]

8. Yeah, well, it's Florida

"Stew-pid" is a matter of res ipse loquitur

[NoPasaran]

9. Right, and if she had actually hit one of her kids

She'd be on DU's list of "responsible" gun owners.

[Decoy of Fenris]

10. I'm one of those. :) Haven't killed anyone yet.

I applaud the woman for standing up for herself, but in no current law can you retreat from a conflict, obtain a means to escape (the vehicle), grab a firearm, -reengage in the conflict-, and then claim Self Defense. That's called "Looking for a fight". Sometimes, you just have to live with the consequences of your actions.

[Politicalboi]

14. Looking for a fight worked for GZ

I don't think she deserves 20 years, but maybe 5, and her gun rights taken away.

[Decoy of Fenris]

15. And Z was in the wrong as well.

He's guilty as fuck of outright murder. Just because Z got away with it doesn't mean it's right.

[HiPointDem]

23. gee that's just what zimmy did

[Decoy of Fenris]

25. When did Z retreat, rearm, and return? I must have missed that. n/t

[TheDebbieDee]

19. But she DIDN'T hit one of her kids! She shouldn't have gotten

20 years for this.

[hfojvt]

26. she had a chance to plea bargain for 3 years

but turned it down, because she does not "think she did anything wrong".

[Decoy of Fenris]

27. Blame Gun Control laws. Minimum sentencing, courtesy the gun control lobby.

As I tell the Gun Control folks: Be careful with your legislation. You may never know what the result will be.

[burnodo]

33. A fairly thorough report on the Alexander case

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/marissa-alexander-sentenced_n_1510113.html

[OmahaBlueDog]

36. Thank you for that

Based on the fact that no one was killed, and the outcome of Zimmerman, and the originally offered plea deal, I'd assert that clemency on the basis of time served would be in order.

[aikoaiko]

34. That was the zealous Angela Corey's big score.

While the facts are very different, I'm not convinced she should be in jail at all.