TREYVON MARTIN v GEORGE ZIMMERMAN

TOO MANY WRONGS IN THIS TRIAL TO MAKE

THE VERDICT "INNOCENT"

In keeping up with the trial between Martin and Zimmerman, I’ve come to the conclusion that there were too many wrongs which allowed this situation to happen in the first place.

First, I hold the custodial parent as the ultimate culprit in this matter. This would never happen if the boy’s mother could control her son and hadn’t sent him to his father. Although he was under his father’s care his mother was the custodial parent and kicked him out of his home because she couldn’t control him instead of seeking help in this matter from people more qualified.

Secondly, the choice of gang related wearing-apparel did not help matters when worn with the hood up. Since it was raining I can see why the hood was over Trayvon’s head. Still a poor choice in clothing.

Then is the fact that Mr. Zimmerman was told to not engage the “suspicious male”. Why did he make the decision to go against this advice? It seems that he wanted an altercation. What other reason to go against what the dispatcher advised?

Here is a very good reason why Neighborhood Watch should never allow anyone who has a record of violence and prejudiced slurs to become a working member, let alone be in charge of the watch program. The fact that Mr. Zimmerman could carry a gun enforces the saying, “If you bring a weapon with you, you have all intents to use it.” On a non-confrontational community watch a weapon does not belong. And if you are patrolling in your car, the excuse of “needing it to shoot a bulldog” does not hold water.

The content below was taken from the Orlando Sentinel website posted Monday, July 15, 2013 at 12:39pm

We don't know everything that happened in the 13 minutes that passed between the time Zimmerman, 28, called police and a paramedic pronounced 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead.

But this much isn't in dispute: Zimmerman was armed. He was alone. And while waiting for police, he somehow got into a fight with the person he thought suspicious.

All three of those actions are strongly discouraged by the National Sheriffs' Association, which oversees about 20,000 Neighborhood Watch programs.

There are practical reasons for those rules.

And this absolutely heart-wrenching one: A family of a teenager is now coping with a death that probably could have been avoided.

"There is no reason in the world to carry a gun for Neighborhood Watch," said Chris Tutko, a retired police chief who now directs Neighborhood Watch for the sheriffs' association. "It gets people more into trouble than out of it."

A manual published by the association for its "USAonWatch" program makes that very clear.

"It should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers and they shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles," the manual states. "Members should never confront suspicious persons who could be armed and dangerous."

Zimmerman is reportedly the self-appointed leader for the group at his complex of town homes. A sign at the gated entrance warns it is surveilled by Neighborhood Watch, and says, "We report all suspicious persons and activities to the Sanford Police Department."

That's a prudent step for any neighborhood. In fact, Neighborhood Watches are popular in Central Florida. In Orlando alone, there are 905 block captains listed with Orlando police.

Some groups are highly organized and walk their neighborhoods in scheduled patrols. More often, though, neighbors just get acquainted with one another, exchange phone numbers and learn to report anything out of the ordinary that they notice as they move through life's predictable moments: taking out the garbage, walking the dog or getting the mail.

Even the basis for Zimmerman's initial phone call is questionable.

Here's why: The sheriffs' association manual lists the type of suspicious activity that should be reported to police. Among the examples: "Someone peering into car windows" and "broken doors or windows."

Nowhere does it list walking while black, which is all Trayvon appeared to be doing as he made his way back to the house of his dad's fiancée after a candy run to 7-Eleven. Trayvon was armed only with a package of Skittles in his pocket.

It stands to reason that Mr. Zimmerman was extremely overzealous in not following the rules of the Florida Neighborhood Watch in which he had to know the “non-confrontational” training that is given to every citizen who signs up to take part in the program. After all he was elected to run the Watch. I will say again, why does anyone bring a weapon with them unless they have made a conscious decision to use it?

Killing Treyvon Martin is just wrong on all sides of the matter. This will set precedence for more situations like these. God forbid that this happen.