Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Zimmerman redux

Over the past several weeks, the mainstream media has been reporting on the rollout debacle that has been the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). This undoubtedly pained many media outlets to have to accentuate the negativity coming out of an administration for which they’ve been in the proverbial bag for nearly five years. If there was just another story (any story) the MSM could pivot to which would merely distract from amateur hour at the White House, they’d be on it posthaste.

It was apparent from rumblings on Twitter earlier today that MSNBC and CNN found said distraction.

George Zimmerman was arrested Monday after he cocked and pointed a shotgun at his girlfriend, shattered a glass-top table, then pushed her out of the house and barricaded himself inside after she ordered him to move out, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

He surrendered peacefully a few minutes later and was hauled off to jail, where he was being held without bail on domestic-violence and aggravated-assault charges. .

It was the second time in three months that the former Neighborhood Watch volunteer, who was acquitted of murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was handcuffed after being accused of domestic violence and threatening a woman with a gun. .

In a September blowup with his estranged wife, police filed no charges. This time, authorities did not buy his story, one that he quickly got into public circulation.

Even prior to killing Martin, Zimmerman had a checkered past, including allegations of domestic violence. But he never actually took someone's life until that fateful night in February 2012. So to say these latest allegations of domestic violence are somehow vindication of the sentiment that Martin was killed in cold blood is terribly misguided.

In the four months since Zimmerman was acquitted of Martin's killing, he has hardly been able to breathe without every single move of his being under public scrutiny. Heck, he can't even get pulled over for a simple moving violation without that becoming national news. Add it all up: Since the shooting of Martin a little less than two years ago, Zimmerman was charged with murder only after political pressure was applied, waited nearly a year for his day in court, had to fear for his life after the acquittal (not to mention his verdict resulting in violent protests) and is now having to endure serious financial problems due to the myriad legal expenses.

Now am I implying here that we should feel remorse for Zimmerman? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! He did indeed bring this chain of events upon himself by ignoring the police dispatcher's orders to not pursue Martin that fateful evening. But he chose to pursue anyways, which ultimately led to the death of a teenager.

My whole point in highlighting what Zimmerman has endured over the past 21 months is you have a man who is already prone to violent behavior, so it almost seemed inevitable he would resort to violence once again given the enormous strain he's undoubtedly felt. But I reiterate, it was his poor decisions that set these proverbial wheels in motion. Zimmerman is still better off than a dead teenager and the family and friends who continue to mourn him.

So if indeed the allegations of choking his girlfriend (as well as pointing a gun at her) are proven in court, Zimmerman deserves to be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law. But, again, the outcome of this trial will have nothing to do with the "not guilty" verdict handed down this past July.

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