A Mother's Perspective of the #TrayvonMartin Story!

I understand this story has received mass media attention already, but this is one story that has nagged and nagged at me. A writer once stated that the story meant to be written is the one that you can't stop thinking about. I think about this incident from the perspective of what I have taught my children. In hindsight, we now know George Zimmerman was the captain of the Neighborhood Watch, but these details were unknown to 17 year old Trayvon Martin. What he did know is that he was being perpetrated by a vehicle following him and when the driver emerged from the vehicle all he heard was, "I've lost sight of him." That statement alone specifies to an unarmed teen that this man was after him, for whatever reason. Trayvon didn't know this man was with the Neighborhood Watch because George Zimmerman never once identified himself as such, even during the point of physical altercations occurring. Zimmerman was informed to stay in his vehicle and not to follow Martin. He trusted the person enough to make the call to ask for advice, but chose to ignore what he was instructed to do. That is the moment the fate of the events from that night rested in Zimmerman's hands. That is the moment he became responsible. I reflect on everything I've taught my own children about strangers and abductions because we live in a time where we MUST have these conversations with our children. Long before this incident occurred, I recall instructing my children to run away as fast as they can and if they find their selves in a situation where they can't escape, to fight for their lives. So I ask myself, "What if that were my children?" Race, gender, and all other things aside....It could have been anyone's child. What if Zimmerman would have turned out to be a child abductor? Then, Trayvon Martin would have been praised for defending himself. In that moment, the only thing Trayvon Martin knew was this man, that He didn't know, was after him. I also want to add that I truly don't believe Trayvon Martin was racially profiled, but he was profiled. He was profiled as a Newcomer in the neighborhood that Zimmerman didn't recognize. In my opinion the fact that Trayvon was visiting his dad due to school suspension is one of the biggest contributing factors that caused jurors to find Zimmerman not guilty. But no one can say they have never done things in their life that they are not proud of. Most people just don't get caught or they have been allowed the time in life to make a change. I hate this situation has happened for all parties involved. And I hate that it has caused such division in our nation. My prayers truly go out to the Trayvon Martin family. I pray the peace of God be with them always. And I pray we ALL, as a people, as a nation, can find unity because there really is power in numbers. I also feel that abolishing the "Stand Your Ground" Law will cause more harm than it will help. That law is meant to protect us when using deadly force when it's NOT POSSIBLE to retreat. The defense attorneys even recanted the idea of using this as a defense. I do feel it deserves amending in some states that choose to extend the law to public places, but to abolish the law all together is worse than taking away our 2nd Amendment Right.