George Zimmerman Drama Starts Up in /r/nottheonion

In the US, you generally have to be in imminent fear of bodily harm to use force to defend yourself. The fact that someone is fat, or middle aged, or racist, or following you, or disregarding the suggestion of a 911 operator that he doesn't have to follow you, or carrying a gun, do not give you the right to beat the shit out of them. Even if they are doing all of those things at the same time.

Now I'm kinda chubby, approaching middle age, I have a license to carry a pistol. I'm not racist but I'm sure we all have our prejudices whether we acknowledge them or not.

One lesson I'm taking away from this case is that if I act stupid and get myself into a situation where I have to shoot some kid, even if I'm technically within my rights and found not guilty, I could go to jail. I could have my life ruined, I would be wracked with guilt. It would be a neverending jobstopper.

Another lesson I'm taking away from this case is that if someone is following me down a dark ally, I should get the fuck out of there. Don't confront them, don't punch them. Everyone should know the laws regarding self defense, even if they just plan on punching the other guy a little. That's a good lesson too.

Here's what President Obama had to say on the issue:

"I'd just ask people to consider, if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk? And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened?"

Anyone who's taken a self defense class in the US would answer "no." Being followed does not give you the right to use force against the other guy. Obama's a pretty smart lawyer, I think he knew the answer to that question, and I think he phrased his statement in a way that implied that we don't need to reexamine our "stand your ground" laws in light of the Zimmerman case.

We should all just remind ourselves not to be idiots. Don't play batman just because you have a gun, don't punch people who are following you.

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