it's strangely diverse. Panhandle and middle part of the state is primarily made up of southern folks who still fly the Stars and Bars. They are no different than those in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Coastal towns have a great deal of sun birds (myself included). Politically, anything can happen on the coasts, but the middle has been very rw and evangelical for years, even though they vote against their own interests so often. So there is Sanford, right in the middle of the state. No surprise that the Treyvon Martin tragedy happened there.

There has been a bit of support indicated toward Zimmerman - but that was mostly based on his role as part of the neighborhood watch. He would ask folks to shut garage doors, watch homes as folks traveled etc. Seems like a concerned neighbor who had a gun and let his sense of importance with the neighborhood watch program get out of control.

Racism? Sure sounds like that played a part and is not being covered up except for the Sanford Police spokespeople.

Media coverage sides toward the Martin family. Everyone I have spoken to offer Zimmerman no support.

from a letter to the Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-did-zimmerman-have-police-volunteer-training-2255295.html?showComments=true

"Zimmerman's 46 calls in 14 months should be red flag

The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is not about my right to protect myself against criminals. It is about training professionals - the police - to recognize a problem that poses a serious threat, and to call professionals to evaluate it before it explodes.

My friend is 86 years old, and has called the police to report thefts six times last month - all in her mind. The police officer, there for the fourth time, did not call the Department of Elder Services to have her evaluated. She still drives. The officer shrugged it off as dementia, yet took no action to protect her from herself and others.

George Zimmerman has called police 46 times in 14 months. At what point do police call for an evaluation? Police should have proper training to know when to call for professional examinations. Tragedy could have been avoided. This is not about guns. Would you feel any better if he had killed him by running him over with the car? Education is key to correcting this problem."

Zimmerman was obviously overzealous and the Sanford police appear to have been underzealous. The racism in the case is obvious. The incident has also put a spotlight on neighborhood watch programs and Florida's "Stand Your Ground" statute. Zimmerman's actions went well beyond the intentions of both the watch program and the statute. I think the neighborhood watch program is harmless, but I would like to see the "Stand Your Ground" statute repealed or revised.

Zimmerman does not fit the standard and that Sanford PD is either inept, racist, or both.

I think Florida's SYG law is kind of vague. That does not mean that we should go back to duty to retreat as it as it existed before or other states. The burden of proof should always be on the State. I also think you should be immune from civil action if it ruled as justifiable.

it's getting to be the wild west....

Zimmerman's story doesn't make sense...I live in a similar community, we have a neighborhood watch. For someone who called 911 50 times; Zimmerman did not have a very good knowledge of folks in the community, and the housewife witnesses didn't know him. No community organization would EVER let such a cowboy run around with a gun following people or confronting them.

he would be moving to a state-of-the art development built by the Wyoming Board of Charity and Rehabilitation (yes that was the actual name at the time).
I doubt he would like his new HOA much.
http://doc.state.wy.us/institutions/wsp/index.html

the wild west was not really that wild. The tame east was anything but civilized.