BLACK SHEEP said:
I would say that anyone who takes up arms against someone who is unarmed is lacking faith. I've been a gun owner most of my life and I have no problem with people defending themselves. But even during the 1800's if you shot an unarmed person you were likely going to be convicted of murder. Stand your ground is an evil law. If I don't like you all I have to do is shoot you while nobody is looking and for my defense claim "I feared for my life or feared bodily injury." I'm sick of the attitude of American gun owners. They put their politics above common sense and above God's Word. I believe there's people on this forum who value their guns more than life itself and who would give up their bibles before their guns, and who love their guns more than the Lord Jesus Christ.
If the Lord were here now he would ban guns. I know he will when He returns!
America is the only civilized country with an extreme cowboy mentality toward guns.
Your opinion on the trial is certainly respectable. I'm still undecided because I can't get past the fact that the whole thing could have been avoided if Rambo just listened to the 911 operator.
But regarding an unarmed assailant, I think your view is a tad narrow. Many states have laws specifically allowing for the use of deadly force when there's a significant disparity between the assailant and the victim, say an 80 year old grandmother against a 200 pound man, for example. In the case of Martin/Zimmerman, the gun didn't come out until Zimmerman feared for his life, which tends to happen when one's head is being slammed against the concrete repeatedly. When you knock a man to the ground, that's simple assault, but when you continue to pummel a man who's already on the ground either by fist or foot, it's considered felony assault and borders on criteria by which a person can reasonably fear for his life.
This is why the verdict couldn't have been anything else. Because even if you argue that Zimmerman could have listened to the 911 operator, by the same token, Martin could have backed off after Zimmerman was on the ground. I have never in my life continued to accost somebody who I've knocked down because I know it crosses a line, both legally and morally. Anger will knock a man to the ground, but murderous rage is what fuels any further assault; "monkey stomping", slamming a head against the concrete, these are actions of somebody trying to kill a man.
And this is why the shooting was justified.
Dodo_David said:
It sure does take gall to claim what the LORD would do without any biblical evidence to support the claim.
Or even with the Bible, for it doesn't tell us everything and certainly doesn't give license for rash speculation. But I think Blacksheep is trying to say that when Jesus returns it will bring an end to the age of war, violence, and bloodshed. And I do look forward to that day with yearning and anticipation.