Self Defense laws

 http://www.shouselaw.com/self-defense.html

 So the question here is "When is it legally excusable for someone to use deadly force against another?". When I hear this questions I immediately think of self defense laws that have been practiced in thousands of court cases all over the country. This seems to be the only fair reason for someone to use lethal force. I would consider that it is best that when people are defending themselves that they use a non-lethal weapon but not every situation has a non-lethal weapon available. For example, some people carry pepper spray and security guards can carry a taser. If they were attacked and used these weapons there would be no question that they were not trying to kill the person. If you happen to be a person that does not feel threatened you may not carry any kind of weapon and in the event that you are attacked you grab the closest weapon in sight to defend yourself like a knife, or baseball bat. When you defended yourself you may accidentally kill the person. I believe this is fair under the circumstances that you intended to defend yourself and did not mean to kill the person.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57406291/video-shows-zimmerman-with-cops-dad-speaks-out/
Under the circumstances that Trayvon Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, I don't believe this was an act of self defense.

Martin, 17 year old walking home from convenient store

A point made in this case is that Zimmerman claimed that Martin had attacked him and he shot him because of this. However, when he was brought into the police station there were no documented injuries or marks on his body. Bruises and scars are major factors with cases of brutality and murder, Zimmerman showed no such signs.

Also, now that I have read more into this case, I can see that George Zimmerman was the neighborhood watchman, but he has a record for violence. In July, 15th 2005 He was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence during a friend's underage drinking arrest. Obviously, he is not the angel that some are trying to state that he is.

Zimmerman arrested in 2005 for battery on a peace officer.

This may not be just an issue of race but an issue of a 28 year old man that had nothing better to do than stalk a 17 year old because it made him feel empowered. Zimmerman was a person who was obsessed with taking charge and applying his own idea of order to every little thing he could. Dispatcher reports show that he reported trash in front of kohl's, teenagers playing basketball and climbing a fence, kids playing in the street, a car that he thought was suspect because it was driving slow, black men "prowling" the streets, potholes that might damage cars and even more insignificant reports. This guy had way too much time on his hands. His conversation with the 911 dispatcher shows that he was asked if he was following martin and he stated "yes" yet Zimmerman still pursued martin even after Martin ran away. Zimmerman was the aggressor.


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/20/george-zimmerman-s-911-call-before-trayvon-martin-s-death-audio.html



Apparently Martin was on the phone with his girlfriend who told him to run away from Zimmerman because Martin knew he was being followed. Zimmerman decided to take the law into his own hands and shoot Martin without any sign of force. Zimmerman should not be carrying a weapon just because he is a neighborhood watchman. Yes he had a license to carry it but he used it in an act of murder not self defense. He is a vigilante and should suffer the consequences for using excessive and lethal force on an innocent minor. I believe that lethal force should only be used in the act of self defense and lethal only by accident (not intentionally killing the person when defending yourself). It is a shame when aggressors like Zimmerman try to use this defense to hide their actions because they want some kind of empowerment or recognition because they feel they deserve it. I believe Self defense is the only reason to use lethal force but in cases like this it is not applicable.