Oh I know that Cleve but the percentages are too hard to ignore. And they're too funny to leave alone.
I'm all for restricting gun ownership and favor severe restrictions.......
But you can't legislate responsibility, so no matter how restrictive you get, if that gun owner is not responsible there will be un-necessary gun accidents injuries and deaths.
My mom and her sister both had Alzheimer's and bad too.
Being a gun owner I know there's a chance that I could get that terrible disease - so I've told my spouse and kids to watch me for signs of it. Now I hope I'm lucid enough at that point to say "yes take them by all means. Turn these in to the police, sell this one and that one to registered gun owners/collectors".
Of course I might forget the lock combination and then this whole thing would be moot. But even if I'm NOT lucid my will says the exact same thing.
This of course is responsible gun ownership - thinking of the future etc......locking them up.

But in order to restrict gun ownership we have to put in place a system that restricts "illegal" guns from getting in the hands of the wrong people which is very hard to do and smacks at the 2nd amendment which neither party wants to deal with.

Best Regards
Vog

Well-
After the bail hearing testimony - a huge hole is in the prosecutor's case. They don't know who started the fight. This takes out any idea of proving premeditation. So this leaves us with Zimmermans story which is further buttressed by the recent photos showing a bloody head.
Did Zimmerman self inflict the wounds? He COULD have but if you're a chicken at heart I would doubt he'd have the guts to do it.
This will boil down to the SYG law and if it does - Zimmerman walks free unless there's evidence we don't know about (which is probably more true than not).
I hope this spells the end of ALEC.......

Best Regards
Vog

The prosecution seemed "unprepared" to say the least. But then again this was not like a normal bail hearing which I'm sure is all they really were prepared for.

But you're wrong about a lack of knowledge as to how the physical altercation was initiated. There is no need to prove "premeditation" for a 2nd degree murder charge in Florida.
The prosecution will be argue that "the defendant acted with enmity toward the victim" based on what was said or muttered just minutes prior to the shooting during Zimmerman's call to the police.

As bad as the detective who called to testify was on the stand, Zimmerman didn't help his case by claiming he wasn't aware of Trayvon's age during his so-called apology to the Martin family. (He described Trayvon as a "kid" during his call to the police.) So he has basically perjured himself already - which will go a long way in a jury understanding why some detectives did not believe his story - as will the other discrepancies in his 3 different statements describing to the police what went down which will all come out at trial.

Cleve-
By putting the detective on the stand the defense got a little tidbit of their lack of evidence. If Zimms is the only account - that he was walking back to his vehicle and attacked then the injuries which corroborate his story and the witness that said Trayvon was on top then his attorney was very smart to get that investigator to admit under oath they had no proof of who started it then it becomes a case of self defense under Florida's SYG law. It also proves no enmity
And as much as we may want to believe that Zimm was a racist the enhanced audio along with numerous previous phone calls to police where Zimm had to be asked to describe the alleged perpetrators seems to indicate no blatant racism.
I would hate to see Zimmerman walk but if the attorneys get this as a self defense under SYG I think he will walk.
I can just hear the snickering at Fox already. Then the "narrative" will change to "Trayvon was a young black thug already in trouble for drugs who assaulted George Zimmerman". And they will certainly accuse Sharpton and Jackson of over reacting which will give racial activism a bad name.
And that gives me the creeps............
although not "blatant" racism is still latent here in America.

Best Regards
Vog

To be honest, my biggest concern about this case was that Zimmerman was not arrested. How the trial turns out - I really don't care - so long as it is fair. Just like OJ - all you can do is roll your eyes and say - "Hey, It's the American justice system at work."

I'm more concerned that those involved with the lackadaisical handling of the case almost got away without notice - and with any coverup that might be involved - and if so, that all involved are exposed and pay for their dereliction of duty. I think that's what most people care most about - restoring faith in the justice system. That goes for most blacks too, I'm sure.

Just who originally WANTED an arrest to be made? The Police! Who rejected that based upon the law? A Prosecutor - the Judicial system - the very same system you want to restore faith in? What makes you think that the judicial system doesn't have good 'ol boys themselves? Why would a GOP appointed prosecutor in a wild west state, run by a conservative governor go against the local attorney for upholding an ALEC written and NRA sponsored law?
Why do you think the Police were at fault when in fact they recommended the arrest? Who told them "no"? It wasn't the Police Chief was it?

And what has come of the State Police and Sheriff's office inquiry into the police work of that night? Why has no news come of that? If it was bad work they would have notified the prosecutor immediately of the need to re-open the investigation as this would impact the charges (both positively and negatively).
This is the thing that has me concerned. If they verify that the Sanford Police did the right thing that night and the evidence wasn't tampered with AND the witnesses that we know of stick with their story - the fallout from a Zimmerman aquital will be that much worse.
I don't have any faith in a GOP run state to do the right thing judicially in this case - nor should you.
Now, the FEDs have less a burden of proof to go after a hate crime charge and no Rick Scott to influence them so there's hope............
But in Florida? I'm sorry but Zimmerman walks free - thats wild wild west justice for you.

Best Regards
Vog