LogFAQs > #938970139

First of all, it's not illegal to be racist, and it's pretty hard to prove that this was a racist act. Shooting someone because of their race is certainly illegal, but there is no evidence that is why they shot him, and plenty of evidence that they had other reasons to do so.

I'm not defending them, just stating a fact.

Second of all one of the two men was a cop, and sadly, knew the laws in that state, which are rediculously one sided and do allow for a citizens arrest. According to the state laws, the men did nothing wrong (I'm not saying they did nothing wrong, just that legally in that state, they didn't).

Now if they had just plain out shot the black man, even if he kept running or ignored them etc, they would be in serious trouble, but....they did not. The man grabbed at the rifle that was being pointed in his direction. I certainly can understand him doing that (although it wasn't the smartest thing to do since ANOTHER person was pointing a gun at him from the truck), but hell, I would have probably done something similar (I'd just try to keep the guy with the rifle between me and the other dude).

But the sad fact is, he was attacking the guy with the rifle, and again, because of the rediculous laws in that state, that can be interpreted as threatening the life of the man with the rifle (with his own rifle lol), if he got control of it.

I believe the court already judged in their favor (the two white men), and they are sending it to the supreme court because of this.

This was almost certainly racially motivated, but in court you need to prove that (and that would be very difficult, unless one of em goes to KKK rallys or has posted racial things before. In addition one was a cop, which means he knew the laws, and therefore the fact that they followed them (Even if they are bad laws) validates their actions. The laws need to be changed.

This was all "swept" under the table though, and perhaps some of that might have been illegal. It was brought to light by a NY reporter after a friend of the victim sent a letter.

From all accounts though, based on the current laws in that state, nothing illegal was done.

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