Same here in NJ. One punch is self-defense. If you then hit them again instead of trying to flee, it is assault.
Spoken, I assume, by someone who has never been trapped under someone taking a beating/ having your head smashed into something. One time off the pavement and you are severely disoriented, hell some people would be unconscious all together. Zimmerman didn't know this guy, he didn't know how far he would go before he stopped. Frankly, I think he showed restraint by only shooting one round. He wasn't thinking kill or be killed, he was thinking I need to nuetralize this guy before he kills me.
No, this is spoken like a guy who HAS gotten into fights - which is why I don't freak out. I can remember back to a time when that wasn't the case - to a time when being in a choke meant struggling like hell and freaking out or being hit rocked me.
I don't presume that Zimmerman has some extensive fight experience which is why I'd assume he'd be frightened and disoriented. Still, after those first initial seconds, I think most people realize they're not going to die.
Again, that's not the issue here.
As for B's comment - well I don't care if its a gated community or not, if someone comes up to me and rides up on their high horse, acting like they own the place, I'm going to tell them to fuck off as well. I won't start whailing on them because I'm a decent human being. I don't believe that Martin just started wailing on Zimmerman unprovoked either. I think you guys are stretching the story a little too far. Some guy is chasing you down and questioning you - you don't know who they are. If they get a little too close to you or a little too cavalier in their approach, they should assume they may have a beat down come their way.
So yes, liberals = pansies.
Super conservatives? Well they need to back the fuck up too, because what they say, is the same as any other civilian. They have no more right to be in anyone's face or to 'protect their neighborhood' by bringing an inquiry on everyone in their neighborhood. You get in a stranger's face? You may not like the repercussions. The law shouldn't protect you from being a dumbass that doesn't extend common courtesy to other human beings. No one owed Zimmerman anymore respect than the average person.
These last statements may make it seem like I'm indicting Zimmerman - but I'm not. What he did wasn't a crime. It doesn't mean it was smart. Anyone who defends his actions as smart - is just as far off their rocker as the people saying his actions were evil and malicious.
Btw, all you civil rights, right wing huggers that use the argument - "Well he was just trying to detain him until police came" need to pipe down because you're the first ones that will say that your civil rights should never be infringed. Being detained by another civilian doesn't jive well with that argument. Heck, most on here would have a shit fit if a police officer even questioned them without having more probable cause than simply being at the wrong place, at the wrong time.