Video Supposedly Proves Self-Defense
Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 22 June 2012
by Damir Fras (link to original)
(Germany) on 22 June 2012
by Damir Fras (link to original)
Translated from
by Ron Argentati.
Edited by Jonathan Douglas.
African-American youth Trayvon Martin was shot to death by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Zimmerman gives his version of events in this video.
George Zimmerman has a good lawyer. One week before the so-called neighborhood watchman is to return to court to face charges that he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, his lawyer went public with a police video that purports to prove Zimmerman acted in self-defense.
The video was shot on Feb. 27 of this year, one day after Martin was killed. In civilian clothing, Zimmerman gives his version of events to police investigators. He says he was pushed to the ground by Martin. Martin then attempted to smash his skull on the asphalt sidewalk. As evidence for that claim, the video shows two bandages on the back of Zimmerman's head, as well as one across the bridge of his nose.
Should everyone be allowed to carry a gun?
A bit later, Zimmerman said he was attempting to free himself from the struggle when his jacket slid upward, allowing Martin to see the pistol on his belt — and he went for it. At which point Zimmerman said he grabbed the weapon himself and shot Martin in the chest.
It's entirely possible that it happened exactly that way. It's also possible that Martin started the altercation as Zimmerman claims. Perhaps the neighborhood watchman and would-be policeman is actually telling the truth. To prove otherwise would be extremely difficult.
The Trayvon Martin case has aroused the American public. The sequence of events of the shooting has been the subject of debate for months. Every aspect has been discussed at least once — from the possibility of Zimmerman's racial bias to the possibility that Martin might still be alive had he not been wearing the hoodie that first aroused Zimmerman's suspicions.
Occasionally, the subject arises about whether Florida's far-reaching right to self-defense should be quickly changed — whether anyone has a right to shoot another person to death merely on the suspicion that he might be up to no good.
But one subject is rarely the topic of debate by an otherwise opinionated American public -- and if it is ever discussed, it's never done in the public arena. And that's the unavoidable fact that Martin would still be alive had Zimmerman not been carrying a gun.
It's exactly this debate that is so urgently necessary. Virtually every Tom, Dick and Harry is allowed to carry a gun in the United States. Instead of asking whether or not it might be wiser to change that, Americans are seriously debating the question of whether young people might avoid being shot to death by choosing the right clothing to wear in public. Can that be possible?
George Zimmerman has a good lawyer. One week before the so-called neighborhood watchman is to return to court to face charges that he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, his lawyer went public with a police video that purports to prove Zimmerman acted in self-defense.
The video was shot on Feb. 27 of this year, one day after Martin was killed. In civilian clothing, Zimmerman gives his version of events to police investigators. He says he was pushed to the ground by Martin. Martin then attempted to smash his skull on the asphalt sidewalk. As evidence for that claim, the video shows two bandages on the back of Zimmerman's head, as well as one across the bridge of his nose.
Should everyone be allowed to carry a gun?
A bit later, Zimmerman said he was attempting to free himself from the struggle when his jacket slid upward, allowing Martin to see the pistol on his belt — and he went for it. At which point Zimmerman said he grabbed the weapon himself and shot Martin in the chest.
It's entirely possible that it happened exactly that way. It's also possible that Martin started the altercation as Zimmerman claims. Perhaps the neighborhood watchman and would-be policeman is actually telling the truth. To prove otherwise would be extremely difficult.
The Trayvon Martin case has aroused the American public. The sequence of events of the shooting has been the subject of debate for months. Every aspect has been discussed at least once — from the possibility of Zimmerman's racial bias to the possibility that Martin might still be alive had he not been wearing the hoodie that first aroused Zimmerman's suspicions.
Occasionally, the subject arises about whether Florida's far-reaching right to self-defense should be quickly changed — whether anyone has a right to shoot another person to death merely on the suspicion that he might be up to no good.
But one subject is rarely the topic of debate by an otherwise opinionated American public -- and if it is ever discussed, it's never done in the public arena. And that's the unavoidable fact that Martin would still be alive had Zimmerman not been carrying a gun.
It's exactly this debate that is so urgently necessary. Virtually every Tom, Dick and Harry is allowed to carry a gun in the United States. Instead of asking whether or not it might be wiser to change that, Americans are seriously debating the question of whether young people might avoid being shot to death by choosing the right clothing to wear in public. Can that be possible?