This is the problem with "Stand Your Ground" laws. Since the only one who gets to tell his story is the survivor, it creates a situation where it is better to shoot first. Under the old "must retreat if reasonably safe to do so" standard, you did not have that situation. And as I always ask, what about Martin's right to stand HIS ground? Personally, I thought the murder charge was a stretch, since I don't think Zimmerman had formed a predetermined intent to kill, but that the jury didn't return a manslaughter conviction is disturbing, since Zimmerman clearly in my mind, recklessly created the situation that lead to a death.
Now, compare to this:
A Florida woman who fired warning shots against her allegedly abusive husband has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville had said the state's "Stand Your Ground" law should apply to her because she was defending herself against her allegedly abusive husband when she fired warning shots inside her home in August 2010. She told police it was to escape a brutal beating by her husband, against whom she had already taken out a protective order...Alexander was convicted of attempted murder after she rejected a plea deal for a three-year prison sentence.
To recap, a woman who fired "warning shots" (not recommended by the way, you don't know where those bullets are going to end up) gets two decades in prison for attempted murder, while not only NOT killing someone, but not even injuring anyone.
Meanwhile, Zimmerman kills someone after creating the situation leading to the confrontation, and walks away a free man.
I'm sure race had nothing to do with it.