Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri originally chose not to arrest Drejka, citing Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which allows gun owners to use deadly force if they feel they are facing “imminent death or great bodily harm.” He said Drejka told police that he had feared for his life.

I agree with Sheriff Gualtieri. McGlockton escalated the situation by pushing a man nearly twice his age to the ground. Drejka could have hit his head on the ground, could have suffered a concussion, could have died. McGlockton obviously didn't care if any of that happened.

"Gualtieri’s decision not to file charges sparked national outrage."

Mob rule. The only reason charges were filed, and the only reason for a conviction. The fix was in.

I agree with Sheriff Gualtieri. McGlockton escalated the situation by pushing a man nearly twice his age to the ground. Drejka could have hit his head on the ground, could have suffered a concussion, could have died. McGlockton obviously didn't care if any of that happened.

McGlockton immediately attacked Drejka and sharply escalated the situation from words to threatening actions, possibly with serious consequences.

Drejka did allow 2-3 seconds to elapse before firing which is what got him convicted. McGlockton did not advance to attack again but may have been using fighting words to threaten him that we can't hear. He may have been saying to his woman, "Get back in da ca' 'cause I'm going to beat this cracka wit'in an inch of 'is life."

The time elapse and McGlockton failing to attack again is what got Drejka convicted IMO.

I would not have voted to convict. There is enough reasonable doubt unless Strejka had some history of violence or gun menacing.

Do you suppose he would have been convicted if he had shot another white man and not a "Black man" as HuffPo declared their racial status? I wonder if race played a part in the conviction.

Maybe GI has an insight on the video.

Do you suppose he would have been convicted if he had shot another white man and not a "Black man" as HuffPo declared their racial status?

Not a chance. He wouldn't even have been charged unless it happened in a leftist state.

Drejka did allow 2-3 seconds to elapse before firing which is what got him convicted.

I agree. If he was faster on the draw, he'd be a free man. Plus, we have to consider Drejka's state of mind, not what was on the video.

A reasonable person could believe that McGlockton was going to come after him again. After pushing Drejka to the ground, McGlockton didn't turn and walk away; he walked towards Drejka. Also, McGlockton didn't run away upon seeing the gun. I would have.

I wonder if race played a part in the conviction.

I believe it played a part in the charge and the conviction.

Reverse the roles. Now imagine the outcry if McGlockton was charged and convicted of manslaughter. The black community would claim self-defense and scream it to the heavens.

Now, any reason to think it was going to stop with just a shove? Would he have attacked had Drejka been a 49-year-old black man? Perhaps race played a factor?

concrete cracking cracker heads

isn'T unarmed

george zimmerman

was abouT To be ShoT

wiTh his own gun

i would give him 60 days - probaTion

love
boris

Not a chance. He wouldn't even have been charged unless it happened in a leftist state.

Well, Florida is one of the most gun-happy states after Texas.

A reasonable person could believe that McGlockton was going to come after him again.

Exactly. McGlockton was not part of the argument. He came out, saw his woman exchanging heated words with some white dude and immediately assaulted him, kind of blindsided him.

McGlockton initially escalated the situation to violence. Prior to that, there had been only words. Over a handicapped space where the Black people were illegally parked.

I believe it played a part in the charge and the conviction.

Juries are too easily swayed.

And what about local discretion in prosecution. The sheriff was going to let it go. But after "national outcry" by the usual Facebook fuckheads, almost none of whom live in Florida, the prosecution proceeded.

The local authorities gave in to a Facebook lynch mob.

When you live in Florida or travel there, you'd better know you are subject to its unique criminal justice laws. Including how you might get shot if you shove a man to the ground over a few heated words about some craphole handicapped parking space.

Perhaps race played a factor?

I think the Twitter posse and Facebook lynch mob wanted a scalp and the local authorities very foolishly gave in to them. It only encourages more mob justice like this and it undermines state and local sovereignty in criminal matters.

A jury could think you started it and were looking for a fight.

I wouldn't have voted to convict. If the jury was hung, let a second jury try to convict. And I wouldn't have cared if they burned south L.A. again or had massive race riots (Rodney King).

Never give in to the mob. Especially not some social media mob whose identities and motives are entirely unknowable or who are led by people looking to make their political chops by martyring some guy they care nothing about.

It only encourages more mob justice like this

Not that the mob needs encouragement. It seems that every black person involved in an altercation gets the automatic support of the black community, black leaders, and black politicians.

I wouldn't have voted to convict.

Neither would I. There's enough to cause reasonable doubt. I mean, he was already physically assaulted once by this guy who was younger, bigger, and stronger.

Maybe we should hire some Black people to represent us whites.

Or get a cool black judge:

I of course only heard about it from my grandparents.     : )

I never did understand why Sammy Davis Jr. was a star. He sang a few songs decently but not a great voice, could do a little soft-shoe and tap. Other than that, he hung out with Frank Sinatra's brat pack in Vegas.

I never did understand why Sammy Davis Jr. was a star.

I was in Vegas (many years ago) for a convention. We got tickets to see a couple of shows -- one of them Sammy Davis Jr.

His voice was incredible. Clear, smooth -- indescribable. I was never really a fan, but you couldn't deny his talent.

We got tickets to see a couple of shows -- one of them Sammy Davis Jr.

Of course. A mainstay. Frank, Sammy, Dean, Joey, etc. Vegas was a cultural powerhouse back then.

Clear, smooth -- indescribable. I was never really a fan, but you couldn't deny his talent.

He had some other pop hit besides Candy Man. I thought he was mediocre. He didn't have a fraction of the talent of Nat King Cole for instance. And Sammy's career took off more once Cole was gone IMO. But without his Vegas show and the brat pack connections, Sammy was nobody. He was on TV some but only because he was known from people seeing him in Vegas.

Prior to that, there had been only words. Over a handicapped space where the Black people were illegally parked.

Hush yo racist mouf,cracka!

Black kings and queens can park anywur day wants!

Black kings and queens can park anywur day wants!

Apparently. LOL

If you watch the clip a few times, you start to debate who is the bigger dumbass, the Black dude instigating violence over some words some guy had with his ho' over a handicapped parking spot or the guy who shot him.

I prefer that these things happen to people who are younger, like college age, so that Darwin can improve the species. Darwin's work is frustrated if they are allowed to breed before they die stupidly or get sent to prison until they are past their prime breeding years.