It seems that Zimmerman is presumed guilty by public opinion of murdering an innocent kid.
Loss of life is an awful thing. Especially a young life. And like everyone else, I am not made happier by this story.
But culpability is a bit different. Zimmerman was certainly the shooter, but the circumstances of the shooting dictate the legal and the moral position.
Personally, I am not so certain that Z is guilty of a crime and await information. It is not impossible he was attacked. If he was, then it is less clear that what he did was not self-defence. And if it was self-defence, then the case looks rather different.
One thing that is unhelpful: when the press offers photos of a victim as a child, rather than as the 17 year old he was, then you know they are attempting to inflame opinion. What was the character of this teenager? What was the character of Z? What actually occurred?
At this point, I don't know. Seems sensible not to judge, but regardless to have sympathy for his poor family and to wish the world was otherwise.
On more general grounds, am I supportive of a gun culture. Nope. But given this is what people seem to want, why are people troubled by its consequences. Reminds me of the hand-wringing over Gabrielle Giffords. What a terrible thing that easy access to guns results in miserable events. And what was actually done about it? Nothing.
The moral outrage ought to be aimed at the accommodation built into the law. It isn't. So teens die and congress people are shot in the head by madmen.
I guess those infinitely wise founders had things all worked out because having militias is a really important counterweight against federal tyranny. Ain't it just.
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