The USA is busy with their 2012 election. So much so that many other issues are being sidelined. Neither Obama nor Romney want to alienate potential voters. Sooner or later though the problems created by varying State laws regarding guns will have to be addressed.

Today as two of this year's most reported US gun crimes hit media reports again American's Right to bear Arms is under the microscope once more.

In February 2012 a young black man was shot and killed by one George Zimmerman. There is no question that Zimmerman was responsible for the death of Trayvon Martin but he has yet to stand trial. Since February those who stand on opposing sides of this murder have tried to discredit either Zimmerman or Martin. Trayvon was initially portrayed as a relatively innocent man by the media. After his death supporters of the man who shot him, George Zimmerman, ttried to portray him as a rogue and no stranger to wrong doing.

However they paint it though his killing was wrong. Even if he had been "up to no good" did he deserve to be shot and killed by a "volunteer security guard". Zimmerman was told by police to back off but he chose confrontation actually following Trayvon. No amount of wriggling as far as we are concerned let's him off the hook. Had the incident not happened in Florida and Trayon not been black the fall out from the killing would have been very different.

Zimmerman is due in court in October. It is hard to believe that almost 8 months after a shooting incident of this nature it is still not resolved. The family of Zimmerman have been showing up online and in the media attempting to clear Gerorge's name. Some have probably made matters worse. Through it all Zimmerman and his supporters have appeaedr to see nothing wrong with the murder of this 17-year-old man. Many claim to be god fearing individuals which is farcical.

Also in the news today is the July 2012  Aurora Cinema killings. In both of these cases the person who carried out the murders seems to be certain. It is the circumstances that appear to be cause for debate.

A preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing 12 people and wounding 24 others in an Aurora cinema looks set to be postponed. iIt is currently scheduled for mid November.  James Holmes walked into a late night cinema showing of the latest Batman film, armed and dangerous. His actions and demeanour had all the trappings of a madman on the rampage.

The preliminary hearing will be held to decide if Holmes should stand trial for the murders. In other words is he sane or not. It now looks like this hearing will be put back till at the earliest January 2013. The delay is due to the amount of evidence lawyers are still wading through.

Both these killers left innocent dead people. In the USA many however do not view it that way. Some excuse Zimmerman saying that Trayvon was intent on robbery and terefore not an innconet party. That is far from proved and probably far from the truth.

Even if it were true though, since when has the punishment for thinking about committing a robbery been death at the hand of a member of the public?

Note: In America also today a man convicted of the murder of a 12-year-old girl was executed by lethal injection. He was black. CBS reporting on the case have this statement, "Supreme Court guidance says mental illness can't disqualify someone from execution if they understand the sentence and reasons for the punishment, the state lawyers argued."

More here

On February 26, 2012, George Zimmermen shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Trayvon was 17-years-old and visiting the area. He had been to the store and had in his possession a bag of skittles. George Zimmerman was a voluntary security guard aged 28 and he had in his possession a gun.

Trayvon Martin ended up dead from a single gunshot wound after meeting with Mr Zimmerman. What exactly happened appears to be the crux of this case in Florida in the US.

The pro gun lobby support Zimmerman who it is claimed simply followed the "stand your ground" law of the State. Supporters of Zimmerman have been quick to ask for time to assess the case and did not want a rush to convict Zimmerman. That is fine and dandy but as June draws to a close the case is no further along.

You can claim that both sides have tried to discredit the other but on the whole it has been Zimmerman and his supporters attempting to paint Trayvon as the villain of the piece. Right minded individuals though must be able to see that it was George who was at fault. He was the person carrying the gun. If he had not been the scenario would have been different. Both or either could have ended up with physical injuries but probably neither would have died. 

If Zimmerman had not laid chase to a young black man the outcome would have been so different. Mentioning that Trayvon was black has to be done as that plays a crucial part in this case. That will probably be one reason why he was followed. It is also probably one reason why initially the police involved with this crime failed to act. If he had been a white skinned boy there is no doubt that much to do with this case would have been done differently.

The latest news on the case is that Mr Zimmerman has been re-enacting the events of that tragic night in February 2012.

The footage was allegedly from the day following the murder. It was released on Thursday June 21, 2012. Zimmerman is shown with "two large plasters on the back of his head and with a black eye and cuts to his nose."  These injuries he claims were from his altercation with Trayon. That does not however mean that they necessarily were, just that is what Mr Zimmerman claims. Unless there is hard medical evidence plasters on his head prove nothing. Neither do his injuries without firm proof of who was responsible. Even if they were from the night in question could it not have been Trayvon acting in self defence as he was followed by Zimmerman.? Is it only Zimmerman who can claim he acted in self defence?

Zimmerman's version of events portrays Mr Martin as a thug. He claims that Martin began the events which led to his death. The Guardian has a full report on the video released yesterday and Zimmerman's police interviews. His evidence is consistent with his supporters stance. 

The problem is that there are no witnesses. There is the initial recording of the police call when Zimmerman was told not to follow Martin. There are his statements that a black suspect was thought to have been responsible for unsolved burglaries in the area and that Martin could have been the suspect. There is his conflicting statements which are more than a little suspicious.

Opinion: Reading the latest reports online has not changed our view. Zimmerman was the antagonist in this murder. He was wearing a gun and prepared to use it. Had Trayvon Martin been any old black kid from the wrong side of the tracks by now Zimmerman would be home free. What a sorry justice system. 

However he was not. He was a kid with prospects and a loving family. He lost his life for being in the wrong place and at the wrong time. You may believe that this young man was the aggressor that Zimmerman paints but even then what right had he to murder him? None.

Till there is a fair trial there will be no justice for the Martin family. There remain questions to be answered and answered they must be. RIP

Related reading:
http://www.tekjournalismuk.com/1/post/2012/3/wrongful-murder-of-trayvon-martin-becomes-a-cause.html
http://www.tekjournalismuk.com/1/post/2012/4/trayvon-martin-killer-to-face-second-degree-murder-charges.html