The Death Penalty

So I guess the penalty for shoplifting now is death.

Selling individual cigarettes on a street? Death.

Running away from a cop? Death.

Running toward a cop? Death.

Resisting arrest? Death.

Being mentally ill in a city park? Death.

(And since the cops are overworked, what with having to learn how to drive tanks and all, thank God for the well armed citizens helping to patrol our streets.)

Wearing a hoodie while carrying some skittles and a soft drink? Death.

Playing your music too loud? Death.

Knocking on someone's door late at night? Death.

Texting in a movie theatre? Death.

Just being "threatening" in general? Death.

Well, it certainly does streamline the criminal code. And apparently we're all OK with that, right?

Right.

Anyway, the fact that a couple of those dead guys were white proves that we live in a post racial society, right?

Right.

Stand Your Ground, or: Getting Away With Murder

It goes without saying that the Zimmerman verdict is shocking.

But not particularly surprising.

The Florida law seems to be designed to protect the shooter.

And so, with no eye witnesses, and the other person involved dead, (and more importantly a black male), Georgie gets to walk away clean.

However, I have a feeling that the rest of his life (after the triumphant appearances on Fox News, of course), will be bitter.

And possibly brief...

Extra Credit: As an intellectual exercise, run through the possible legal scenarios if Zimmerman were a 30ish black man and Trayvon a white teenager.

Little Man With A Gun

When you look at Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law closely, you begin to realize just how difficult it will be to convict George Zimmerman of anything.

The law, which was of course championed by the NRA, is designed to make it easy to shoot people who are "threatening" you.

Even if you are not protecting your home or property.
Even if you started the altercation.
Even if the police advised you not to get involved.
Even if you shoot a person who is only armed with that lethal combination of Skittles and ice tea.

Oh yeah, and as far as actually being in a "life threatening situation", well, we'll just have to take Mr. Zimmerman's word for it.

Because the other person involved is dead.

For Trayvon Martin