Earlier on Saturday, jurors had three questions for Healey. The jury asked Healey the following questions:
1) Is the defense of self-defense separate for each person in each count?
2) Are we determining if deadly force is justified against each person in each count?
3) If we determine deadly force is justified against one person, is it justified against the others?
There is a guns rights protectionist on the jury.
The social understanding in "Stand Your Ground" is growing in Florida and it enforces the need to carry a gun regardless of who you are. At least that is the understanding whether or not one actually has a gun and carries it.
I'd say this is about gun sales, but, it isn't. It is about an understanding the public now has about the gun laws as discussed in the media. This is about social permission for death based in 'liberties' as promoted by political pundits.
It is like fashion. When platform shoes came into fashion they were laughable, right to the point where they were then considered sexy. The longer a trend exists in a society the more honed it becomes to it.
Florida is becoming insensitive to killing. The unjustified deaths are finding Young African American Men once again. The perception of danger in Florida is connected to Young Black Men and therefore the fear alone is justified as understood by the jury pool. No one will admit they are bigoted in any decision because innate fear over rides rational thought and behavior.
In other words, "Sure I was scared and acted but it had nothing to do with the color of his skin. He gave me reason to fear him and I feared for my life."
One doesn't have to own an elephant to understand they are big and possibly dangerous in the wrong hands. Where does that come from?
One doesn't have to own a gun or have a carry permit to understand sometimes they are necessary to be used. Where does that come from? It comes from a learning curve.
I don't believe for one minute that man had the right to kill anyone. The jury trial was thorough. There was testimony to find a guilty verdict of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. I am convinced of it. But, the air between the testimony and the ears of the jury is tainted with something and that is the understanding some or all jurors could find themselves fearful, too.
This country's justice system relies on a jury of peers. If they are convinced they would be in fear for their lives in that circumstance then they will justify the innocence of anyone, including those that are vigilantes like Trayvon's killer and those that simply hate as in this case with the killer of Jordan Davis.
It is a paradigm change in dynamics that are social and not economic. In a society people interact at work, at play and it is that interaction that will mitigate the understanding of such issues. If one works in an office that believes it is foolish to scoff at Stand Your Ground as an unneeded liberty, the chances an employee will confront that peer understanding is very slim. The ideas become more popular and is enforced when juries find defendants innocent.
Imagine what the average citizen thought after Trayvon's killer was found innocent. Those that were shocked by the decision of the jury had to rethink their understanding of the circumstances in society. "How does all this effect me?"
The more self-defense wins in court in cases like this, there is the possibility more will occur as insensitivity grows. Guns are very powerful things and as one person once stated, "You don't know what it's like until you shoot one."
Some laws are wrong. This is one of them. But, so long as politicians find it advantageous to talk about liberties as a 'new found friend' the more laws will stand causing problems in society, including murder.
How did oppression prevail after the Civil War? Why was Lincoln persistent in pushing for more and more freedoms of African Americans? Why was the 13th Amendment not enough? Why have there been so many subsequent Constitutional Amendments basically saying the same thing. "All Americans regardless of race are equal." Because they sincerely are not equal. They are equal under the law, but, they are not equal in the business of living in this country. The law doesn't control everything.
We saw heroic acts by the Late President Nelson Mandella, but, in the wake of his freedom and leadership the economic plight of the people continue. The wealthy in South Africa were able to discern a way to allow Africans to carry out a vote and have leadership, but, deprive them of real equality in being able to earn a good wage and have upward movement.
Society is a very odd thing. It works to benefit people and create economies such as the "Speak Easy." Legalizing economic potential results because of social pressures. But, it can also work to inhibit freedom and equality. "The Equal Rights Amendment" failed. Until today I have yet to understand why.
Florida reached a tipping point that was exhibited by Trayvon's death. I am so tired of hearing Black Mothers state, "This is your child, too."
