Daniel Webster, the Director Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, did his homework, and the results confirm what our common sense would also tell us: If you repeal background checks, then criminals have an easier time acquiring guns… and have an easier time using them to kill people.
Normally it’s very hard to ascribe changes in homicide rates to any one particular factor, but Webster and his co-workers found strong evidence to support the idea that the repeal of the permit-to-purchase law was the cause. [...]
90 percent of states allow private sales to take place without background checks, suggesting that if Webster’s research is right, it’s possible that we might be able to reduce national homicides by nearly 25 percent if there were universal, federally mandated background checks. That would translate, given the 11,000 annual gun homicides in the United States, to 2,750 lives saved per year.
Why is this so difficult for people like the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre to grasp? Oh wait. It isn’t. They just don’t care because profits and (rapidly diminishing) power are their priority, not saving lives.
SANFORD, Florida —George Zimmerman surprised a Florida court today by taking the stand and apologizing to the parents of Trayvon Martin, who were sitting in the courtroom during Zimmerman’s bond hearing. “I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit older than I was,” Zimmerman said addressing Martin’s family directly. George Zimmerman can be released on $150,000 bail as he awaits trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a judge ruled Friday during a hearing that saw Zimmerman apologize to Martin’s parents for the teenager’s death.
Accused Murderer, George Zimmerman’s wife Shellie Zimmerman is questioned about her husband’s criminal history during the bond hearing for her husband.
Judge No. 3 is Kenneth Lester Jr., and he will preside at Zimmerman’s bond hearing Friday morning. Lester has the reputation as being tough but fair in the courtroom. “He basically told me it should not be hard to make the right decision if you follow the law,” his daughter tells the Sentinel.
Actually, it should not be hard to follow the law, period. I’m talking to you, George Zimmerman.
Lester has been a judge for 15 years. The reason he’s Judge No. 3 is that Judge No. 2, Circuit Judge John Galluzzo, had to say no because he once practiced law with Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s lawyer. And Mark O’Mara is also the godfather of one of Galluzzo’s kids.
Lester will preside at Zimmerman’s bond hearing this Friday.
He is popular with attorneys and has a reputation for doing things quickly.
Orlando attorney Wayne Klinkbeil was an assistant public defender assigned to Lester’s courtroom when the judge first took the bench in 1997. Lester, he said, is a very good judge.
He is consistent, a tough sentencer, Klinkbeil said, “very in control of his courtroom, very straightforward with expectations.” [...]
The judge has a great deal of experience with criminal trials, including high-profile cases. He gave Michael Reynolds two death sentences plus a life prison sentence for beating and stabbing a Geneva couple and their 11-year-old child to death in 1998.
Lester sentenced ax murderer and handyman John Michael Buzia to death in the slaying of a 71-year-old Oviedo man.
He also likes to play Beatles tunes on the piano. Let’s hope “Happiness is a Warm Gun” isn’t one of them.
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I once had a hairline fracture when I broke my nose in a car accident, so “hairline,” in fact, that the doctor thought it was “an old break.” It took weeks and weeks for the bruising and swelling to subside.
...“Zimmerman confronted Martin,” an apparent contradiction of Zimmerman’s version of the events that led to the shooting.
The document says Trayvon’s mother identified the screams for help heard in a 911 call as those of her son. It also reveals that investigators interviewed a “friend” of Trayvon’s who was talking to him in the leadup to the shooting.
Based on the description, it appears the friend was the girl described by Martin family attorneys as his girlfriend.
“During this time, Martin was on the phone with a friend and described to her what was happening,” the affidavit said. “The witness advised that Martin was scared because he was being followed through the complex by an unknown male and didn’t know why.”
Martin tried to run home, the affidavit says, but was followed by Zimmerman. “Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin.”
The affidavit goes on to say that “Zimmerman disregarded the police dispatcher” who told him to stop, and “continued to follow Martin who was trying to return to his home.”
Zimmerman, the affidavit says, “confronted Martin and a struggle ensued.”
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Official tells AP: Trayvon Martin’s killer to be charged with 2nd-degree murder; is in custody
Special Prosecutor Corey, who did a great job of calmly and matter-of-factly answering all questions, said she’s known where Zimmerman was for three weeks. Here are my live tweets:
Corey just spoke to Trayvon’s parents
We prosecute on facts and Fla law.
We look out for victim and the accused
Quest for truth, right thing for right reason. Try in court of law, not media
Zimmerman in custody, charged w/ 2nd degree murder
Will not say where Zimmerman is for his safety
He turned himself in, then was arrested
Bond hearing will be held
We will not comment on facts of the case
All murders are homicides, but not all homicides are murders
Zimmerman may have retained new counsel in past couple of hours
Zimmerman is in Florida (he’s in Tallahassee, per HLN) … will be taken for appearance in front of judge at proper time
We work tirelessly for justice for victim
We did not talk to Zimmerman, and we won’t without counsel
So much info got released on this case that shouldn’t have been released
IF Stand Your Ground becomes an issue, we’ll fight it
Seminole Cty is venue, but may be tried elsewhere
Hope publicity doesn’t stop us from finding fair impartial jury… Leaks “regrettable”
We have numerous cases where immediate arrests were not made
Meeting with Trayvon’s parents, 1st time, we prayed, talked about IF no charges, how we could help
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MSNBC is reporting that George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, is in police custody. That’s all there is for now. More details as they come in.
Florida Special Prosecutor Angela Corey will hold a press conference at 6 pm EDT.
UPDATE, via email alert:
Official tells AP: Trayvon Martin’s killer to be charged with 2nd-degree murder; is in custody
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