You are 100% correct, Richard... The application of these laws is up to the local authorities... In Florida, the local authorities didn't even want to bring charges against Zimmerman...

You missed an important fact, Keith, in that it was Zimmerman who initiated the conflict by stalking Martin... By your "points of English Law" Martin had every right to defend himself... Even if it meant pounding Zimmerman's head into the concrete...

Nice piece, Number 6... Yes, there is something very wrong with America and it all could be fixed by making our elections fair... Right now we have 90% of elected officials who come from "safe districts" meaning there is no value in compromise... That creates grid-lock where there really is no "governance"... Like I have suggested over and over... We would do much better if we appointed our representative by a blind lottery - much like jury duty... That way we would get a cross-section of America without BIG $$$ buying and owning representatives... BTW, two very rich guys -the Koch brothers - have bought representatives in just about every state in the United States... They own - yes, own, - half of out North Carolina delegation in both the US House of Representative and our statehouse in Raleigh...

B~