Questionable self defense tactics against unarmed individuals.

Before I sat down to write this post, I walked to the convenient store down the street to buy myself some milk, a bag of chips and a pack of cigarettes. Much like another young man did a few weeks earlier. The difference being he went to buy some Skittles and an iced tea and I made it safely back to my home, the other young man did not.

On February 26th Trayvon Martin, 17, walked back home from a nearby convenient store wearing his, what is now iconic hoodie, and was shot dead by a local neighborhood watch caption George Zimmerman, 28. According to the Sanford Florida police report Zimmerman was armed with a handgun and police found him standing over Martin with a bloody nose and a wound in the back of his head. Martin was found with a Skittles and an bottle of iced tea, he was unarmed.

 Zimmerman claimed self defense. Protected by the state of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" he was questioned and then released. Witnesses have came forward claiming that Zimmerman was attacked by Martin which matched his story.

Later investigation uncovered questionable police conduct which caused Sanford Police Chief Billy Lee to temporarily resign.

The story has rocked the nation. Protests have been made all over the country by hoodied citizens asking for justice for Martin. Rev. Al Sharpton has become one of the causes biggest advocates calling the case a tragedy and doing whatever is in his power to find justice for Martin.

This is a very problematic goal to say the least. The sheer lack of evidence in Martin's favor is a tough brick-wall to knock down. There are very few things he might have going for him. One, the 9-11 dispatcher told Zimmerman to stay in his car and wait for police. Two, a phone call that Martin made to a friend saying that he was being followed and was scared. Aside from that, there is little evidance to dispute Zimmerman's claims.

This is not the first time that the "Stand Your Ground" law has been used to protect "Justifiable Homicide". Research done by the Tampa Bay Times and other Florida newspapers found that the law has recently been used at an increasing rate. It is important to relise that this law has been a problem for quite some time now.

The overwhelming question is not whether Zimmerman killed Martin in self defense or simply gunned him down. The question is if Martin did attack Zimmerman, unarmed, did he deserve to be shot in the chest because of it?

This case is hard to grasp onto, both sides have compelling arguments however neither have real hard evidence to back their stories up with. The fact is the two men met, one walked away, one went to the morgue in a body bag.

Should Zimmerman face a manslaughter charger? probably. Will he? likely not. The case is unraveling on both sides. More witnesses are coming out to support Zimmerman and more activists are compelled to stand up for the rights of Martin everyday. It's unclear if Zimmerman was attacked by Martin, why he shot him and if he would still be alive if he did not.

The more compelling question is would both be alive right now, maybe with some scrapes and bruises, had Zimmerman not got out of his car and discharge his weapon that night.