The politics of hoodie wearing

actually the average price of an AK-47 in Afghanistan is around $400. The average price worldwide is $534. And most of those are in places where they are legal or quasi-legal. Everything costs more in the US and if we had sensible gun control laws they'd be very very black, black market, and very high.

Not a good example either. You can't drink an AK-47 a week. You can a fifth of whiskey (or in a day), which makes the profit margin and the replacement margin far higher on bootleg whiskey than bootleg guns. Also the punishment for whiskey possession would be just a tiny fraction of the penalty for an AK47. Again, a poor analogy. Read the 2nd amendment.

Guns were for use in the militia, which was government controlled
and was used in place of a standing army.

It doesn't exist in that form anymore. Nowhere in the Consitution does it mention self-defense. You failed to give any example of it. That's cause it simply isn't there. It's you being the judicial activist, David, not the original interpreter.

If you are a white woman, you can wear a hoodie without fear. If you are a white man, than the mini-skirts might get you strange looks.

Wrong, David, every time an innocent person is shot down, freedom loses. Any time a kid is killed as "collateral damage" in someone else's argument, freedom loses.

zimmerman and local officials concluded that Martin deserved to die

hawkeye says:

Quote:

zimmerman and local officials concluded that Martin deserved to die

I don't know about you, but I'm not comfortable with the idea that someone who at the very least provoked a confrontation with someone who had done nothing gets to be judge, jury, and executioner

of his mistake

Prosecutor to make announcement soon in Martin case

SANFORD, Florida (CNN) -
A special prosecutor plans to release new information within days about the controversial case involving 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was shot to death by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

Angela Corey said Tuesday the information will be released in the next three days. Her announcement came the same day that attorneys for George Zimmerman, who says he shot Martin in self-defense, told reporters they had lost contact with Zimmerman and no longer represent him.

"He has gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to," said Craig Sonner, Zimmerman's former legal adviser. "If he wants us to come back as counsel, he will contact us."

Sonner, who said the attorneys last were in touch with Zimmerman on Sunday, spoke to reporters in Florida with attorney Hal Uhrig.

Corey is deciding whether charges will be filed against Zimmerman in Martin's death. However, Sonner said Wednesday that he still believes Zimmerman's claim of self-defense.

"I believe that he's gotten a raw deal from the media, that the media has tried to convict him wrongfully," he said. "When the facts come out, it'll show he acted in self-defense, that the police department made the proper decision in not arresting him, as there was not probable cause to make the arrest."

"Something changed around Sunday," Sonner told CNN, "and (Zimmerman) cut off all contact and has started doing things without telling me he's doing them."

Meanwhile, Attorney General Eric Holder referenced the Martin case in a speech to the National Action Network's 14th annual convention in Washington on Wednesday, pledging that the Justice Department will "conduct a thorough and independent review of the evidence."

"I know that many of you are greatly -- and rightly -- concerned" about Martin's death, Holder said -- "a young man whose future has been lost to the ages."

The department's investigation, launched three weeks ago, remains open, he said, which "prevents me from talking in detail about this matter." Holder did note, however, that Justice Department officials had recently traveled to Sanford, Florida, where the shooting took place, to meet with Martin's family, community members and local authorities. The FBI is assisting, he said.

Uhrig said Tuesday that Zimmerman had, on his own, called Sean Hannity of Fox News and called Corey's office.

"One of the things every defense attorney tells his client is, don't talk to the prosecutors. Don't talk to the cops. Frankly, don't talk to anybody until we get control of the situation, and do it through counsel," Uhrig said.

He added that he was concerned about his former client's "emotional and physical safety" and said Zimmerman could be suffering from "post-traumatic stress."

Sonner said Wednesday that he believes Zimmerman called Corey because "he wanted to give his side of the story to the prosecutors, and we were going to arrange for that to happen. ... If he would have worked through me, I would have allowed him to make his statement."

Zimmerman would not return phone calls so arrangements could be made for him to meet with the prosecutor, Sonner said.

The case has sparked a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury. Thousands of protesters have descended on Sanford to demand Zimmerman's arrest.

Asked about potential pressure, Corey told CNN affiliate WJXT on Tuesday: "It's not pressure. I mean, the point is, when you are seeking justice, you've only got one course of action, and that's to do everything you can to find out the full truth." That, she said, involves analyzing physical evidence, talking to witnesses, "whatever it takes to get to that bottom line."

Asked about the case's effects, Corey said: "Of course it's affected my daily life, but what it won't affect is our sound judgment on this case." She said she is used to high-profile cases, but she is keeping the focus on Martin and on obtaining the answers his family deserves.

I'll say it again: If the kid had simply decked Zimmerman and walked away, three would be no dead bodies in the picture. On the other hand, when you sucker punch somebody and then pounce on them with the obvious intention of literally beating the life out of them, and particularly if you're dopey enough to do that to somebody with a pistol in his pocket, you should not be too shocked or surprised when you get shot and killed.