Trayvon Stood His Ground

Political strategy is bleeding all over the place. If you can’t win the fight you’re in, start another fight about something completely un-related. And if that fight also fails, start another fight. Etc.

The idea of Trayvon Martin using the Stand Your Ground law for himself in trying to defend himself against George Zimmerman is something I did not think of. And it makes perfect sense.

In my opinion, the failure of the police to collect evidence at the scene of the crime means that the police knew that Zimmerman had murdered Trayvon, and that the Stand Your Ground law would not protect him. Even if the investigators at the scene had truly suspected that Zimmerman acted in self-defense, I believe that the investigators would have collected evidence to demonstrate that Trayvon was the aggressor. (See this article asking if George Zimmerman should be required to prove self-defense: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judge-h-lee-sarokin/george-zimmerman-self-defense_b_1374135.html.)The fact that they did not points not only to their willingness and, unfortunately, eagerness to dismiss the incident as self defense, but also a troubling practice of not collecting evidence and not thoroughly investigating their cases in general, whether they be theft or violent incidences.

I know that there are many, many police departments out there that do incredibly good work, who work incredibly hard, and who are incredibly dedicated to their communities. And I am so sorry that the Sanford Police Department has cast a pall over the great work and commitment that these other departments do and have.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/craig-sonner-interview-lawrence-odonnell_n_1381578.html#s806817&title=Shooting_Death_Of