IS IT FAIR THAT A FLORIDA MOM RECEIVED A 20-YEAR SENTENCE FOR FIRING WARNING SHOT?
Amid the contentious analysis of the George Zimmerman verdict, which some are saying is indicative of lingering racism in the United States justice system, some are pointing to a similar case in the same state where matters ended quite differently.
Marissa Alexander had never been arrested before she fired a bullet at a wall in 2010 when she felt her estranged husband was threatening her. She had already filed a restraining order against him.
Nobody was hurt, but in May a northeast Florida judge was bound by state law to sentence her to 20 years in prison. More
That's our great system! Screw the law abiding citizens by holding them to ridiculous laws yet somehow they always find loopholes in the laws to defend real criminals. I do not think it has anything to do with the person's race.
It's nothing short of silly to even attempt to compare this in any way shape or form to the Zimmerman/Martin incident. This woman clearly without a doubt fired the gun out of anger and not out of fear. She left the home, went to her vehicle, retrieved the firearm, returned to the home and fired the gun. She had ample time to leave if she felt threatened.Any comparison there may be can be made to Martin who also instead of leaving the area chose to stay and confront Zimmerman due to his anger.
Hardly. If so she would have gone to the vehicle and immediately left but instead chose to not only get a firearm from the vehicle but also walked back into the house and fire it. She was mad as hell at him and was going to show him is what happened here. It's not rocket science.
Sounds like the kids were still in the house since they "may" have been hit. And that's why she went back in.
The issue is more likely that she is female than it being an issue of race.
There are women of the Eastern Shore who are dead because the restraining didn't do squat.
What we read in the media is never enough fact to make a judgment. Their 10-20-Life law sounds like it was misapplied here. She probably should have gotten a "reckless endangerment" charge or something.
The 20 years was a mandatory sentence. She was offered 3 in a plea bargain. Her lawyer should have advised her to take the plea. I think the mandatory sentence is the problem here. It takes away the judges ability to consider the mitigating circumstances i.e. her husband violating a restraining order and the ongoing history between the two.
3:37-She violated the restraining order. According to the article she went to her former home to retrieve some things "thinking" he wasn't home. Restraining orders work both ways-though she filed for it- she's isn't allowed to go near him either. While I think the sentence is ridiculous I can understand why thinking she felt threatened is a stretch.
That's our great system! Screw the law abiding citizens by holding them to ridiculous laws yet somehow they always find loopholes in the laws to defend real criminals.
ReplyDeleteI do not think it has anything to do with the person's race.
Marissa left the scene and returned with a gun. Big difference. Plus, she didn't have an eye witness to back her story up.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't need an eye witness. She didn't shoot anybody let alone kill someone. She shot a hole in the ceiling for goodness sake. 20 years? Really?
ReplyDeleteIt was her husband not some attacker in the night beating her head into the side walk. Slight difference.
ReplyDeleteShe has the right to an appeal, she should call Jesse and Al.
ReplyDeletehas she shot him she may have gotten off. firing a warning shot is often a negligent discharge
ReplyDeleteIt's nothing short of silly to even attempt to compare this in any way shape or form to the Zimmerman/Martin incident.
ReplyDeleteThis woman clearly without a doubt fired the gun out of anger and not out of fear. She left the home, went to her vehicle, retrieved the firearm, returned to the home and fired the gun.
She had ample time to leave if she felt threatened.Any comparison there may be can be made to Martin who also instead of leaving the area chose to stay and confront Zimmerman due to his anger.
She should of shot him.Dead men tell no lies...
ReplyDeleteShe felt like he was threatening her... Martin was beating Zimmerman's head into the sidewalk. Looks like a big difference to me.
ReplyDelete500-She left the scene, retrieved her gun, then shot. Big difference.
ReplyDeleteShooting your husband to make him do what you want is not the answer.
ReplyDeleteIf it was an apartment it is owned by someone else.
"She felt like he was threatening her..."
ReplyDeleteHardly. If so she would have gone to the vehicle and immediately left but instead chose to not only get a firearm from the vehicle but also walked back into the house and fire it. She was mad as hell at him and was going to show him is what happened here. It's not rocket science.
Sounds like the kids were still in the house since they "may" have been hit. And that's why she went back in.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is more likely that she is female than it being an issue of race.
There are women of the Eastern Shore who are dead because the restraining didn't do squat.
What we read in the media is never enough fact to make a judgment. Their 10-20-Life law sounds like it was misapplied here. She probably should have gotten a "reckless endangerment" charge or something.
she had children in the house, she endangered the kids.
ReplyDeleteThe 20 years was a mandatory sentence. She was offered 3 in a plea bargain. Her lawyer should have advised her to take the plea.
ReplyDeleteI think the mandatory sentence is the problem here. It takes away the judges ability to consider the mitigating circumstances i.e. her husband violating a restraining order and the ongoing history between the two.
3:37-She violated the restraining order. According to the article she went to her former home to retrieve some things "thinking" he wasn't home. Restraining orders work both ways-though she filed for it- she's isn't allowed to go near him either.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think the sentence is ridiculous I can understand why thinking she felt threatened is a stretch.