As most people the shooting of Trayvon Martin has floored me. It's made me angry. It's made me devastatingly sad. It's made me realize that it is no wonder that race relations in this country are a such a work in progress. It has caused me to question and challenge myself. It has caused me to lose faith.
And it made me realize that right here in Iowa we have a case that is similar, but yet very different from the Trayvon Martin case. Jump down below to read about it.
Several months ago I read this story in the Des Moines paper about an African American man who spent 112 days in jail after being charged with 'failing to back off and avoid the gunplay'. Two men ran into his car and then proceeded to advance at him. And this man shot at them. He had a job, but did not have the cash to make bail before the trial. Once he was finally put on trial, he was quickly aquitted.
Lewis said Ludwick and a passenger, Justin Lossner, got out of the Taurus and began punching the Mustang’s windows.
They backed off when Lewis pulled out his .380-caliber pistol. But they came back.
Lewis said he was outside his car, evaluating its damage, when he caught Ludwick and Lossner trying to sneak up on him from two different directions.
The recording of a 911 call made by Lewis begins with Lewis yelling at the two to “just stay where you are. Get back! Get back! I’m going to start shooting!”
There are exchanges of profanities while Lewis explains the situation to a police dispatcher. Then, “Get away from me. Get away from me!” And a bang.
911 call: Jay Rodney Lewis reports assault, shooting attacker
Ludwick was shot, Lewis said, when Ludwick turned away as if to retreat, then spun back and charged. Records say the bullet hit Ludwick in his chest above the right pectoral muscle, then tore through his right bicep.
Jurors found Lewis’ actions entirely appropriate.
Jay Rodney Lewis
I strongly suggest you read the story.
I am about as anti-gun as they come. Frankly, the part in that story about how he had a lot of guns made me cringe. And I realize that Iowa doesn't really have a 'stand your ground' law, yet. (THANK GOD) So it's not the same situation. But it is similar enough that a person takes notice.
This man in West Des Moines, Iowa shot a person and was charged with a crime. The person he shot was drunk and disorderly. Jay Rodney Lewis warned that he was going to shoot. And even though he did shoot, the man was not killed. And, in my opinion, the system (mostly) worked. Jay Rodney Lewis should have stood trial. However, I think that there should have been a more reasonable bond in the case. And I believe being found innocent was right as well. And there is no doubt that his entire life was turned upside down. He lost his home, his possessions, his life.
Compare and contrast that to George Zimmerman. We have no idea (although I have very strong doubts) if Zimmerman warned Trayvon before he was shot. We do know that before Zimmerman started to pursue Trayvon, Trayvon was doing nothing but walking home from the store. I would assume he wasn't looking for a fight that night since again he was only walking home from the store. George shot and KILLED someone and yet he is free. He isn't going to stand trial. And he is claiming to be the victim. And having his family and friends tell some sort of story, out of a B-movie plot, about how Trayvon (WITHOUT A GUN) was telling Zimmerman that he was going to die that night. Seems likely.....
It floors me that 5 weeks later that there are no charges. I am not sure why you wouldn't charge him. There is probable cause. Zimmerman would have his day in court to prove that he was acting in self-defense. He can explain why he took the right for Trayvon to speak for himself away.
