Save A Life By Anchoring And Stabilizing Your TV, Furniture, And Appliances

One child dies every two weeks as a result of an appliance, a piece of furniture, or a TV falling on them. In an effort to prevent tip-over related accidents, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is encouraging parents to anchor and stabilize their furniture, appliances and TVs. When children decide to scale one of these items in search of a remote or game, the consequences are often tragic.

Between 2000 and 2011, 349 people were killed as a result of a TV, appliance, or furniture items overturning. Of that number, 84 percent were kids younger than 9 years old. Forty-five percent of accidents occur in the bedroom. It's believed that as families integrate flat screen televisions into their living rooms, the older, much heavier TV is moved into the bedroom. Often times we place our TVs on items, such as dressers, that aren't meant to hold a television. This is when disaster happens.

Even our ultra thin televisions can weigh as much as 50 to 100 pounds, which is no match for a small child. Kids that are involved in these types of accidents often sustain severe head injuries and other injuries resulting from being trapped or crushed by the item falling on them.

To help prevent tip-over tragedies, CPSC recommends the following safety measures in homes where children live or visit:

• Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor.
• Place TVs on sturdy, low bases, or anchor the furniture and the TV on top the base, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.
• Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might attract children off of TV stands or furniture.
• Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.
• Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
• Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.

Stay safe and have a happy New Year from Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton.

More Than Just A Bruised Ego...

It’s happened to all of us. That moment we wish we could erase from our minds. That painfully embarrassing moment you slipped and fell in front of everyone. Maybe it happened when you were in school and that boy or girl you liked saw it. Maybe it happened in front of a co-worker you can’t stand. Maybe it happened at a wedding.

Whenever or wherever it happened, we feel the same two sensations: embarrassment and pain. Often times, the embarrassment is worse than the pain. We just want to stick our head in the sand or wish ourselves away from the situation altogether. We may not even realize how seriously we may have injured ourselves. We don’t want anyone helping us. Some of us would sprint away with a broken leg just to get away from the humiliation.

The truth of the matter is, a bruised ego is far less serious than a broken leg. Human beings are flawed creatures and we trip from time to time; and as the world’s only bipedal creatures it’s understandable. But sometimes, we fall as a result of someone else’s mistake. Often, we are so mortified we fell, we don’t take inventory of why we fell, especially in public. At home, it’s a little less humiliating when we have an accident and we are more inclined to investigate the ‘why’ since we are much more familiar with our current environment.

If you do happen to slip anywhere, take notice of why. Don’t worry about your bruised ego, as it will eventually heal. Take pictures of the place you slipped and/or tripped. A great many times it could be the result of negligence, which could in turn entitle you to damages as well as preventing it from happening to someone else.

So remember, if you trip, slip, or fall, do your ego the favor of gathering information, getting medical attention, and contacting Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton.

Steps To Take After A Car Accident

There are no two automobile accidents alike in the State of Florida. Each particular case is comprised of its own set of unique injuries, damages, and losses. Most accidents are caused unintentionally from such distractions as cell phone use, GPS, stereo, or by other unsafe acts such as eating, looking at a map or simply not paying attention.

In other cases, factors include high speed and reckless driving, driving without a license, driving under the influence, or driving while intoxicated. These are not only negligent, but criminal.

Whenever you are in an automobile accident, it’s imperative that you notify the police and seek legal counsel immediately. Many times an accident can seem to be a run-of-the-mill fender bender. Days later, injuries can make themselves known -- and prove to be costly. Make sure no matter how small it is to alert authorities. A small fender bender may expose that the operator of the vehicle was in fact impaired, uninsured, or any one of the previous acts of negligence in the aforementioned paragraph. If that is the case, you may be entitled to an award for the damages incurred as a result of negligence.

Often times, it is just a simple fender bender and the two parties can swap information and go on their way, but better safe than sorry. If you are in an accident small or large, remember:

1. Alert the authorities.

2. Get the other drivers info.

3. Take a picture of their car and yours.

4. Retain legal counsel.

Contact Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton if you have been involved in a car accident.

Exercise Pool Safety Year Round

During the spring and summer months, and even into fall, Floridians have the luxury of swimming. When fall ends and winter begins, we tend to not give much thought to our swimming pools. Even though the swimming season is over, our vigilance for pool safety should be year round.

To ensure year round safety, make sure the following measures are taken to avoid accidents.

• Even though the pool isn’t in use, make sure there is ample lighting in the pool and around the area. If your pool is not equipped with a light, be sure to illuminate the perimeter of the pool with outdoor lights from your neighborhood home improvement store. Seeing the pool helps avoid falling into it and both animals and humans will benefit from this.
• Be sure to lock the gate. If your pool has a fence make sure there is a working lock on it. If you use a pool maintenance service, give them a copy of the key to gain access as needed. Curiosity about swimming pools is year-round for small kids, and some pets, so lock it up.
•  Get a motion sensor. If you have kids, pets, or both, think about investing in a motion sensor. For a relatively limited cost, you can have peace of mind. Anytime something or someone breaches the pool area, an alarm will notify you. Various sensitivity levels are available.

We want you to keep your family and visitors safe during the coming months by taking some of these preventive measures. However, if you or a loved one has been injured due to a pool area's negligent upkeep, contact Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton.

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is fast approaching. Kids and adults are picking out their costumes. But as exciting as this holiday can be for all, it is important to practice safety to avoid hazards.

If you live in a residential area and are expecting trick-or-treaters this year, practicing these preventative measures will ensure a happy and safe Halloween for visitors to your home.

• Make sure your property is well lit.

It is important that pedestrians have a clear and visible path from the sidewalk to your doorstep. Most will be wearing costumes and have compromised vision already, so make it as easy and safe as possible for them. Be sure to have ample lighting and avoid having any flames near the walking path.

• Put pets away.

Like the Fourth of July, Halloween is a dog's least favorite holiday. Instead of fireworks, it's an endless barrage of doorbell ringing... which is pure torture for any dog. Find a safe place for your pooch to hang out and get the ol' pup a rawhide to pass the time. Safety is also an issue. Many dogs don't reciprocate well to costumes, so keep that in mind as well. While you may know it's Darth Vader wanting a snickers bar, man's best friend may think the tike is a home intruder.

• Know what you're handing out.

If you're handing out candy, before you do -- check it. You remember being taught about stranger-danger, and Halloween candy scares as a kid? It still rings true today and perhaps more than ever. Buying candy that is individually wrapped is the best way to go. Before you hand it out, peruse it and discard any candy that is open, melted, or any that has a compromised wrapper. Avoid handing out baked goods, confections, etc. Should a child become sick or worse, you could be held liable. Parents are advised not to accept any home made goods and they should be thrown away.

In addition to these few safety tips, attaching reflective tape to costumes makes you more visible to vehicles if you plan on trick-or-treating at night. Also, stay in groups for added safety and carry a flashlight. Never walk through parks and never take unknown and unilluminated routes home.

We hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween from The Law Office of Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton!

The Greatest Risk Of Returning To School Is Approaching And Leaving The Bus

As summer comes to an end, you will notice a significant increase in traffic as children return to school. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports "For twenty-three million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. The greatest risk is not riding the bus, but approaching or leaving the bus."

With increased traffic there needs to come increased awareness from all who share the road.


Safety Tips For Students

- When waiting for the bus, wait in the designated area only. Make sure to stay clear away from the street so the bus has plenty of room. Mirrors and other parts may surpass the dimensions of the vehicle and can easily strike a bystander.

- When entering and exiting the bus, ALWAYS cross in FRONT of the driver. All buses are equipped with rear stop sign to impede traffic behind from passing. With that being said, look both ways.

- Never hang out of a window or throw anything from it. The smallest object could cause a catastrophic accident on the road.

Safety Tips For Motorists

- Whether you have children or not, familiarize yourself with school zone rules. Always obey the reduced speed signs. Many states enforce school zone laws even when school isn’t in session.

- Never pass a bus that is stopped and letting children on/off. All school buses are equipped with a stop sign on the rear and it is to be obeyed as any permanently fixed sign.

Make sure to always buckle up and obey traffic laws. Be aware of the time. If it is morning or afternoon there is a good chance students are in the area.

Astronaut Loses Life In Jet Ski Accident

Sadly, retired NASA astronaut Captain Alan Poindexter was killed after a jet ski operated by his son, Zachary, collided with the jet ski Capt. Poindexter was riding. Reports stated that both of the jet skis were in motion when the astronaut suddenly stopped. His son did not see him and the jet skis collided, striking the Captain.

Regrettably, this type of accident is not uncommon. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated in a 2011 report that personal water crafts were involved in 22% of reported boating accidents. Of those accidents, 7 fatalities were reported.

It's important to follow safety rules and regulations when operating one of these vessels.

Water Ski Regulations from The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

• The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear-view mirror.
• No one may ski or aquaplane between the hours of 1/2 hour past sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise.
• No one may water ski or use another aquaplaning device unless they are wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited for skiing/aquaplaning.
• No one may ski or use another aquaplaning device while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
• The operator of a vessel towing a skier may not pull the skier close enough to a fixed object or another vessel that there is risk of collision.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, or if a loved one has been killed, contact Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey B. Sexton any time, day or night.

Reinstate The Ban On Assault Weapons

There is a long time debate whether guns kill people, or people kill people.

However you look at it, the fact is; people with guns kill people. This is evident in the recent Aurora, Co. shooting. Could this have been prevented?

Whenever a mass murder takes place in our country, we as a nation become polarized when it comes to the second amendment. Our right to bare arms is one of our most talked about and controversial pieces of legislation in our Bill Of Rights.

But, when they adopted it in 1791, did law makers ever hear of an AR-15? A sub machine uzi? Even a Tommy gun? Nope.

The semi-automatic weapon is as dangerous as an automatic weapon. The difference being, that semi - automatic requires you to pull the trigger after each round. An automatic allows you to hold the trigger and dispense at will. Neither semi-automatic or automatic seem to be conducive to squirrel hunting. So the question remains; Why on earth would someone need such a weapon? Especially a private citizen?

In 1994 enough people asked this very question... Enough in fact to merit a ten year ban on assault rifles in the U.S. Unfortunately, that ban expired in 2004 and no attempts to reinstate it have been made. Since then, Americans have been stockpiling, and legally obtaining semiautomatic weapons via the internet and in person with very little difficulty.

Again, who needs these weapons? Hunters? Unless you’re hunting a deer with gang ties, you’re probably over armed.

The fact is, NOBODY needs them. At least, nobody in the private sector. Gun enthusiasts will just have to get excited about what’s available to them. Staunch efforts to reinstate the ban are underway. Incidents like this should awaken us to the realities and dangers of allowing citizens to obtain such heavy fire power.

Americans should have the right to bear arms. A shotgun, rifle, handgun. Not the same weapons we issue our Marines on the front line. We don’t allow people to drive an Abrams tank on the freeway or to park a Chinook Helicopter in their driveway... Why are we allowing military grade weapons into the hands of citizens?

Motorcycles Dubbed "Donorcycles" By Medical Professionals

In 2000, Florida Legislature repealed their mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists. Today, it turns out that getting rid of helmets did in fact save lives, just not the lives of the motorcyclists. Michigan State University researchers found an unanticipated, life saving benefit that resulted in Florida’s abandoned helmet laws, “Our central estimates show that organ donations due to motor vehicle accidents increase by 10% when states repeal helmet laws.”

Helmet-less bikers have become so “generous” with their organs that the medical community have designated these bikes as “donorcycles.” These statistics have been fortuitous for people in need of a liver, kidney, heart or other organ transplant.

Reports done by the Centers for Disease Control state that while motorcycles make up about 3% of the registered vehicles on the road, they now account for 14% of all traffic fatalities. And while the over all number of traffic fatalities has fallen since 1949, motorcyclist deaths have been on the incline, up 4% in Florida alone.

In just the past week, the Centers for Disease Control found a correlation between the reversal of motorcycle helmet laws and deaths among bikers without helmets. Helmet-less fatalities showed to be 5 times more frequent in states without mandatory helmet laws. The Centers for Disease Control stood by the fact that it’s safer to ride with a helmet than without. However in 2000, biker groups in Florida argued exactly the opposite -- that helmets were in fact hazardous despite all of the evidence proving otherwise. The bikers cited a study claiming that helmets increased the risk of a spinal injury however researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine state otherwise.

Professor Adil H. Haider led a study in 2011 that found helmeted riders were 22% less likely to suffer cervical spine injury. “We are debunking a popular myth that wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle can be detrimental during a motorcycle crash,” says Haider. “Using this new evidence, legislators should revisit the need for mandatory helmet laws,” Haider said. “There is no doubt that helmets save lives and reduce head injury. And now we know they are also associated with a decreased risk of cervical spine injury.”

To add insult to injury, taxpayers are getting the bill when these bikers ride sans helmet and end up in public hospitals. A study done in California found that biker accidents result in the public paying for 72% of the medical costs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that $1.3 billion per year could be saved if motorcyclists could be coaxed into wearing protective head gear.

In the mean time, organ recipients will continue to be the only beneficiaries to the bikers repealed helmet law.

Distracted Pedestrians

We all see a lot of coverage in the media about the dangers of distracted drivers, but what about distracted pedestrians? The online journal of "Injury Prevention" states that the injury and death rate of pedestrians distracted by technology has sky rocketed since 2004, more than tripling in that time period.

"Two phenomena are likely contributors to the possible association between headphone use and pedestrian injury: distraction and sensory deprivation," site authors of the journal Injury Prevention. When a pedestrian is distracted, they are inclined to walk slower and more likely to walk in front of a moving vehicle. Of 116 accidents from 2004 to 2011 where pedestrians were noted as using headphones, 70% resulted in fatalities; greater than two thirds were males under 30 years old and over half of the vehicles involved were trains.

This past February, a boy in Wisconsin was struck by a train as he walked with his head down and headphones on under his hood. Because his senses were deprived, he did not see the warning lights of the train or the sounds of it's horns blaring. Just a day later a similar situation occurred in Michigan and another teen was killed. As summer approaches, teens need to be made aware of how dangerous it is to not only drive but also to walk or ride a bike while distracted.

Pedestrians:
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid distractions like texting, talking on the phone, or wearing headphones.
• Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you and know that you are there.
• Obey all crosswalk traffic laws.

Drivers:
• Look out for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially ones that may not be watching the road.
• Avoid distractions such as talking on the phone, listening to loud music, and texting.
• Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Reduce speed on neighborhood streets

Increasing awareness among drivers and pedestrians is the only way to convey that multitasking on the road is extremely dangerous.

Bath Salts Epidemic

In a gory scene out of a horror movie, a naked man was found eating the face of another man in Miami on May 26th. It is suspected by police that the 31 year old Rudy Eugene was on a designer drug known as “bath salts” and this drug is what caused the psychotic episode.

A Miami police officer shot Rudy Eugene 4 times before cannibalistic psychosis was ended.

While the Miami police have not officially concluded that Eugene was on “bath salts,” experts confirm he was exhibiting the tell tale signs of someone high on the drug. Some symptoms of this drug include perception of super human strength, paranoia, hallucinations, extreme violence, and nudity as a result of the increased body temperature that would cause most people’s organs to fail.

Armando Aguilar referred to people on this drug as a “walking dead person.”

The victim was 65 year old Ronald Poppo, a homeless man, who lost 75 percent of his face in this brutal attack.

Dr. Paul Adams is a physician at the Jackson Memorial Rider Trauma Center in Miami where the victim is being treated. Dr. Adams says that he is seeing more and more instances where virtually uncontrollable patients showing signs of psychosis are being brought in.

"You can call it the new LSD. It's a recreational drug. They [patients] seem to be unaware of their surroundings. They are not rational, very aggressive and are stronger than they usually are. In the emergency room it usually takes four to five people to control them, and we have had a couple of people breaking out of restraints," says Adams.

In 2011, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency banned for a year the possession and sale of 3 of the chemicals used to make the psychotic drug.

The drug resembles the salts one would use to put in a bath, and it can be injected, swallowed or smoked. It is far less expensive than other drugs and is able to be made in a home kitchen.

Since this drug is new, police are unsure how to handle it. Last week the Senate passed a FDA bill that will outlaw the active ingredients mephedrone, methylenedioxyprovalerone (MDPV) and methylone as well as other drugs.

Due to the law only banning specific chemical combinations, chemists have been altering the makeup of these drugs to keep them technically legal.

Rudy Eugene was killed by police during the attack and Ronald Poppo remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Pool Safety This Summer

With warm weather here, people are able to spend more time outdoors doing activities they love such as playing sports, barbecuing, or swimming. Spending time at the pool with your family can be a wonderful way to cool off; however, taking your eyes off of your child for just a moment can be life changing.

Each year, far too many children are victims of drownings or near drownings. Below are just a few steps every adult should exercise when watching children in, or around a pool.

• Be sure that your pool is fenced in and has a self latching gate. 
• Pool toys and floaties are not life jackets and should never be substituted for supervision by an adult. 
• Assign an adult to supervise the children. Whether there is one or many adults in the immediate area, be sure that at least one knows they are keeping an eye on the kids. 
• Remove the children from the pool area if you are going to be distracted, even for just a moment. 
• Do not over crowd your pool with toys that float on the surface, be sure that you can see any children in the pool clearly, without obstruction. 

Two summers ago, there was a case in which a nine year old girl had drowned at a pool party. While there were plenty of adults around the pool area to watch the children, no one was specifically assigned to the task. Since the adults were so distracted by their own conversation, they failed to notice that the young girl had jumped off of the diving board-- and did not resurface. Once it occurred to the adults that the girl was missing; they wasted valuable time searching for her in the home-- not realizing because of all of the pool toys and rafts floating on the surface, that the girl was lifeless at the bottom of the pool. This situation was completely avoidable.

In addition to these suggestions, make sure that there aren’t any objects your child could use to gain access to a neighbor’s pool. You could the most secured and childproofed swimming pool but a ladder or jungle gym too close to a fence could give a determined child an entry way into a either their own pool or neighbor’s yard.

During the summer of 2010, a six and three year old accessed their neighbor’s pool and drowned, even with the neighbor’s pool fenced and gated. It is unknown how the children were able to access the pool, however, they were seen playing with a stepladder in their own backyard before the accident occurred.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages one to 14 years old. In 2007, there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States. When a drowning is non fatal, the child can suffer from brain damage that may involve long term disabilities such as learning disabilities, memory problems, and permanent loss of basic functioning. Don’t let your child become another statistic this summer. Child drownings are preventable and it all starts with a responsible adult.

Understanding "Stand Your Ground"

The slaying of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman has prompted national outrage over Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Unfortunately, this law has been grossly misunderstood. Even CNN’s senior legal analyst mistakenly claimed that the law “allows a disproportionate response; if someone comes at you with a fist, you can reply with a gun.”

Some Floridians believe that if he or she is in any sort of danger they can use deadly force, no matter how unreasonable. These impressions of the law are wrong. In Florida, a person declaring self defense must prove that he logically believes that such force was required to protect himself from imminent and unlawful use of force by another person. And the person claiming self defense cannot be the initial aggressor. To use deadly force, as George Zimmerman did, a person must also reasonably believe that the aggressor threatened him with death, bodily injury or intended on committing a forcible felony such as robbery, kidnapping or rape. Under the “Stand Your Ground” law, Zimmerman must now prove that Martin was a mortal threat and his use of deadly force was justified.

Even with Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, Zimmerman will have difficulty proving a successful self defense claim. This law does not permit individuals to use disproportionate force during self defense and now Zimmerman will have have demonstrate that he reasonably feared for his life or great bodily harm. He will also have to prove that he was not the initial aggressor.

Musical Districts

The Florida Legislature is mired in the “politics of politics’. Currently, restructuring of legislative districts have led many to proclaim that the fix was in.

Assigning numbers to the 40 districts has proven to be quite the riddle. The Florida state senate staggers it’s elections in an effort to avoid a mass re-election fiasco that results in stagnation of the state’s affairs. As a result; odd numbered districts will allow a senator to serve two more years than an even number district. So, how do you divvy it up? East to west perhaps? That would work if the state were symmetrical. But the panhandle would negate that.

The other option is a lottery. It is certainly the most random. The senate has even consulted with the Florida Lottery regarding the matter. Some Senators made jokes about a bingo-style atmosphere that this has turned in to.

In a state where politics always seem to become an anomaly, the re-districting of the Florida Senate has lived up to that notion. A decision is yet to be made. As far as the courts and everyone else sees it, a lottery may be the answer... But as the saying goes:” You can’t win if you don’t play.”-- Time to play!

PIP Reform And How It Affects You

On Friday, March 9th, Florida’s legislature passed HB 119 which will drastically change the availability of Florida’s No Fault medical benefits after an automobile accident. Originally, Florida’s personal injury protection insurance system, also known as PIP, was designed to provide $10,000 worth of coverage for automobile accident related medical treatment, regardless of who was responsible for causing the crash.

While most PIP claimants are honest Florida auto injury victims, unfortunately, some individuals have decided to file fraudulent claims to benefit from the PIP’s old ways. The new law is an attempt to prevent these false claims as well as aggressive billing practices by “PIP Clinics.” The new law also requires treatment within fourteen days of the accident. In the instance that the initial treatment does occur within fourteen days of the accident, follow up care is now limited to $2,500 if the treatment was not for an “emergency medical condition.” The ability for a chiropractor to decide if you have an “emergency medical condition” has been taken away and now delegated only to physicians, osteopaths, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners. Massage and Acupuncture treatment will now be excluded from the list of approved medical services.

While the Bill may alleviate some of the aggressive billing practices of the PIP Clinics, it may also unjustly limit the coverage for Floridians who wait more than two weeks to seek treatment. In most cases, the small amount of $2,500 will not cover all of the patient’s medical bills for sprains, strains and whiplash injuries, which are common after an accident. And if an injured person is taken to the hospital by ambulance, most of the allotted $2,500 will already be eaten up. Legitimate physicians and chiropractors will also be affected in all of this because they will no longer be able to seek reimbursement for their services.

The idea behind shaking up the PIP was based on placing barriers on claims so Floridian’s auto insurance premiums would see some relief. However, experts predict that consumers will see few benefits from the new reform.

Trayvon Martin And "Stand Your Ground"

17 year old Trayvon Martin was watching the NBA all star game with his dad on a Sunday afternoon. At halftime he decided to take a short walk to a market to purchase some skittles and an Arizona ice t. He would return home to watch the second half of the game and enjoy his snack and beverage... That is; if he hadn't met George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, a self appointed neighborhood watch captain was "patrolling" his neighborhood when he came upon the "suspicious looking" Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman then dialed 911 and alerted police that he was following a crazy person on drugs. The 911 dispatcher told Zimmerman to stand down and let the police handle the situation. He didn't. Instead he continued to follow the 17 year old and forced a confrontation. A fatal confrontation. Details are sketchy, but we do know is that a 17 year old unarmed boy was shot to death after a scuffle. A scuffle that witnesses say was dominated by Zimmerman who outweighed Martin by over thirty pounds. So why did he need to shoot an unarmed boy while on top of him? How threatening can someone be if you have them pinned and you're armed?

The "Stand Your Ground Law" has allowed Zimmerman to walk free for the murder of Trayvon Martin. This is a law who's chief beneficiary is the NRA. A law that suggests using deadly force any and everywhere you "feel" threatened is just.

In the motion picture "Unforgiven", it was expected of townspeople and visitors to check their firearms in with the Sheriff when they enter the town of Big Whiskey. Though it was a movie, this wasn't an uncommon practice as the population began to increase around the turn of the 20th century.

Why did they seem to appreciate the importance of this back then? And why now does such a law exist when we are infinitely more dense a population than we were circa 1900?--Lobbyists and special interest groups. They have in essence created scenarios such as "Stand Your Ground" to further their agenda without regards to whom it affects.

Trayvon Martin never got to see the second half of the NBA Allstar game. He never got to eat his skittles. He never sipped his ice t. All because a law was put in to place that would have been considered outrageous 100 years ago. A law that allowed Zimmerman to "Stand His Ground" or impede on someone else's ground while in a vehicle and they're on foot. It sounds like this law gives individuals the freedom to choose the grounds--and the perceived threats. Essentially making every Florida resident a self appointed judge, jury and executioner.

Due process is something our country prides itself on. When evidence of a contradictory law such as this rears it's ugly head, we must speak up. Vigilantism is the worst response. Reform is what is needed... To save lives, and so kids wont be killed for simply wearing a hoodie.