BS: 20 years for firing warning shot

Subject: BS: 20 years for warning shot
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 04:54 PM

It is nice to know that Florida applies laws equally to all citizens.

CBS News

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 04:59 PM

Yep, difficult to see the justice in that. I expect Juicy Brucie, Fugitive From Sanity, Goofball, and maybe Jolly Jack Tar will defend it though.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 05:55 PM

The story is a few days old. Seems there might be more to it as a btw.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: pdq
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 06:30 PM

"Alexander's case was prosecuted by Angela Corey, the Florida State's Attorney who is also prosecuting George Zimmerman. Alexander was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and because she discharged a firearm during the incident, the case fell under Florida's "10-20-life" law, enacted in 1999, which mandates a 20-year sentence for use of a gun during the commission of certain crimes."

Same pathetic State's Attorney who bypassed the Grand Jury system and charged George Zimmerman with 2nd degree murder.

This charge seems silly since she was living in the house at the time and her "husband" was sleeping in his long-haul truck. Also, nobody was hurt,

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 08:57 PM

draw and fire only if you intent to kill, not wound, not maim but to kill. You only draw your weapon when your life or someone Else's is in immediate life threatening danger. I have drawn mine twice both times it was with full intent to use it and I was completely justified. Thankfully the criminal stopped and decided it was not in his best interest to try my patience

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 09:01 PM

Uppity nigra wench! Shoulda known better than to try somethin like that in Florida!

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 10:28 PM

You don't fire "warning shots."

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 10:44 PM

And ya don't get 20 years for this kind of bullshit, either.

And here's to the judges of Mississippi,
Who wear the robe of honor as they crawl into the court.
They're guarding all the bastions of their phony legal fort.
Oh, justice is a stranger when the prisoners report.
When the black man stands accused, the trial is always short.

Here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Mississippi {Florida} find yourself another country to be part of

- Phil Ochs

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 10:57 PM

I've been aware of this case for a week or two...

Very fucked up...

Zimmerman walks and this woman get 20??? The wildest fiction writer couldn't have come up with this story...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 11:19 PM

Ms Alexander has spent the last two years in jail. Only 18 more to go. This came into focus again because of the Zimmerman case as some already know. Possibly, she will get some intervention. The prosecutors should have some supervision. They blew the Zimmerman case as well as the Alexander case. Seems like in Florida, if you shoot, shoot to kill. Don't leave witnesses.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 12:42 AM

Is racism a tenet of justice in Florida? If justice is blind can it descern black and white and if so how? Is the law an ass? Can these judges and prosecutors sleep well at night with a clear conscience? Is contemt of court justified when decisions of the court are worthy of nothing but contempt?
Questions and more questions but no answers!

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 08:16 AM

If the facts are as presented, the sentence is excessive. Discharge of a firearm is illegal, but 20 yard? Blame the prosecutor for over-reacting. Obvious overcharging, which she has a reputation for, and the reason she was brought in on the Zimmerman case.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 09:05 AM

Don't blame the jury. Blame the way the Florida law against "aggravated assault with a deadly weapon" is written:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/19/marissa-alexander-gets-20_n_1530035.html

The same law mandates a twenty-year sentence: in other words, the legislature gives the judge no choice in the matter. It also forbids parole for a crime involving the firing of a weapon. So she gets twenty years even though nobody was hurt. One of the legislator who wrote the law says he never intended it to apply to a situation like this: he was thinking of holdup men.

BTW, Alexander's jury (which took 12 minutes to convict) seems not to have been especially white.

Also BTW, Florida's actual "stand-your-ground law" appears to have helped black defendants slightly more than whites:

http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/kyle-wingfield/2013/jul/17/stand-your-ground-and-race-numbers/

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 09:18 AM

According to CBS, she was convicted of assault because she pushed past her husband, went to the garage, came back with the gun and fired it, according to 911 call, more or less in her husband's direction. (Later he said she fired "in the air." That certainly makes for reasonable doubt in her favor.)

But no "self-defense" and no "stand-your ground" allowed.

Despite what you're sure to be told, her husband had not physically attacked her at the start of the incident, she'd already gotten away from him, she renewed and escalated the confrontation by returning with the gun, and she fired it - to intimidate him - without immediate cause.

Similarity to Zimmerman case: almost none.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 09:23 AM

It's the mandatory 20 years without parole that's the real scandal.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 10:08 AM

I shall not contribute to this thread any remarks about your dysfunctional gun-laws I shall not contribute to this thread any remarks about your dysfunctional gun laws I shall not contribute to this thread any remarks about your dysfunctional gun laws I shall not contribute to this thread any remarks about your dysfunctional gun laws I shall not contribute to this thread any remarks about your dysfunctional gun laws I shall not

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: olddude
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 11:35 AM

MGM that is why we need federal CC hand gun laws not letting the states do their own thing. Every state is different and it is all nuts up. Rap is absolutely correct you don't fire warning shots .. ever

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: meself
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 11:40 AM

"One of the legislator who wrote the law says he never intended it to apply to a situation like this: he was thinking of holdup men."

Never a good idea to have fools for legislators ....

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 11:42 AM

Life would be better. For the twats in the government who suck the dicks of the NRA and block any attempt at getting your stupid, insane, useless, antiquated gun-laws out of the wild-west era and into the 21st century. IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 11:50 AM

The irony is that "stand-your-ground" laws and concealed-weapons permits are intended to *deter* violence.

In theory, you're less likely to attack if you know the other guy may have a gun and doesn't have to retreat.

In theory.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 01:34 PM

Excellent self-control there, MtheGM.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 04:38 AM

Oh shit. I agree with Primitive Tribesman.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 09:12 AM

Growing up at last, Cranium?

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST,charles
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 11:11 AM

Should have got more years, can't understand why People in the US are allowed access to guns, it's a recipe for disaster.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 11:23 AM

But they need them to protect themselves from 'aliens', 'home invasions', 'the bad guys' and 'mad-dog killers'.

And the saddest part is that they don't even realise how ridiculous and paranoid they make themselves sound when they claim those kinds of things.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST,charles
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 11:38 AM

Ha ha ha well said Backwoodsman

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 01:40 PM

Maybe if she'd actually shot him dead her claim to have been "standing her ground" would have led to an acquittal. Or doesn't that work if you're black?

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:03 PM

It probably wouldn't work for anybody. Her husband hadn't been attacking her physically, and even if he had been, she raised the ante by going out, getting the roscoe, and coming back and firing it.

Whatever may have happened, the original incident was over the minute she left the room.

And as I said yesterday:

>Florida's actual "stand-your-ground law" appears to have helped black defendants slightly more than whites:

http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/kyle-wingfield/2013/jul/17/stand-your-ground-and-race-numbers/

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:18 PM

When you look at the Alexander case next to this other one, Florida looks curiouser and curiouser.

http://sdvoice.info/black-woman-gets-20-years-for-firing-shot-at-wall-white-man-

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:37 PM

A less contentious account:

http://brandon.wtsp.com/news/crime/310642-jury-delivers-not-guilty-verdict-love-triangle-trial

Wald's wife would not testify against him (and contrary to popular superstition she could if she wanted to), claiming she had "blacked out." So the only established fact is that Wald shot a man who, he says he believed, had invaded his home and was assaulting his wife.

Which I believe is justifiable homicide in just about every state. Whether it happened that way, who knows? However, juries are required to give defendants the benefit of reasonable doubt.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:58 PM

You call that less contentious? The guy was a lawyer! That's a clear cut case of the good old boys network. It's who you know.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 04:20 PM

Around here I'd expect any jury to go out of its way to hang a lawyer, given the opportunity.

If your source has actual evidence of corruption, it should say so. We have juries - instead of panels of bribable judges - to keep those shenanigans to a minimum. Not saying its impossible, but it would ordinarily be unwise for a prosecutor to throw a case. And state law should have prevented any of the killer's judge pals from presiding at his trial.

BTW, if the verdict hadn't been unanimous, he wouldn't have been acquitted. There'd have been no verdict and, possibly, a retrial.

According to this story, Wald's wife said she was "elated, absolutely elated" at his acquittal. Etc., etc.:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/brandon-defendant-accused-of-murdering-wifes-lover-to-testify/2123822

Not even Florida law can be judged by the outcome of one or two bizarre cases with unexpected outcomes. God knows how many thousands of normal cases go to trial in Florida every year.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 04:59 PM

And if Flores was truly in a drunken stupor, as she said, she was incapable of giving consent and was, indeed, being raped.

Subject: RE: BS: 20 years for firing warning shot
From: GUEST,SPB at work
Date: 20 Jul 13 - 06:20 AM

So tell me if I have go thtis right....

If you kill your attacker, it is self defence so you are aquitted
If you fire a warning shot and the attacke is not killed or injured it is a 20 year sentence.

so - If you use self defence without use of a weapon - would that be a life sentence.

and - if you tell you asailant to go away, would that be a death sentence?