I  seldom comment on politics or current events.   I have very strong opinions about the current state of affairs in our country but I am not often provoked into an argument.  In this case, what should be done is clear and because of how poorly this tragedy has been handled, I will make an exception.

If you simply look at the facts, what we know to be true about what happened that evening in Florida when seventeen year old Trayvon Martin was shot while returning from a corner store to get snacks, the way to proceed seems like common sense.

• Martin was walking home from the store talking on the phone to a young woman.
• Martin noticed a man was following him.
• From his phone call to 911 we know that that man was 28 year old George Zimmerman.
• Zimmerman speculated to 911 dispatchers Martin was up to no good and seemed to be under the influence.
• The police discouraged Zimmerman from following Martin but he did so anyway.
• Shortly after Zimmerman’s call to 911, neighbors in the area called reporting hearing gun shots.
• When the police arrived, they found Martin dead with a single gunshot wound to the chest.
• Zimmerman admitted shooting the boy.

There is lots of speculation surrounding what happened after Zimmerman’s call to 911 and leading to Martins’ death. Some say Zimmerman acted in self-defense and others say he shot the boy based solely on his suspicions.

Here is why Zimmerman, an adult, should be prosecuted based just on what information we know to be fact.  Zimmerman was following a young man, who became aware he was being followed.  At some point Martin turned to Zimmerman.  He may or may not have attacked him and he was shot and killed.  Even if Trayvon did attack Zimmerman (I personally don’t believe he did,) it was an act of self-defense.  He was being followed by a grown man.  Zimmerman had no business following the youth.  The police asked him not to.

Zimmerman shot and murdered an unarmed boy that he was pursuing.  He was the aggressor and catalyst for whatever violence ensued which resulted in the death of a child.  He clearly instigated what happened and should be charged accordingly.  Any attack that may or may not have occurred on Trayvon’s part was defensive by the very nature of the encounter.  He was being pursued.  No matter how you slice it, he was the victim.

It defies logic and rational thought that Zimmerman not be brought up on charges for killing this young man