Trayvon Martin case blowing up in the media

Everywhere you look, there is the Trayvon Martin case. (I am sure the Law & Order franchise will make an episode about it ASAP).

This is from the New York Times:

• Times Topics: Trayvon Martin

  News about Trayvon Martin, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

• U.S. Opens Inquiry in Killing of Trayvon Martin

  2 days ago ... Seven years after Florida adopted the “Stand Your Ground” law, the shooting of Trayvon Martin, who was unarmed, has put that law at the ...March 21, 2012 - By LIZETTE ALVAREZ

• Police Chief Draws Fire in Trayvon Martin Shooting

  10 hours ago ... A majority of the City Commission in Sanford, Fla., called for an arrest in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.March 22, 2012 - By LIZETTE ALVAREZ

Most media outlets are being very responsible with this story, trying not to draw conclusions about it at this point as they suggest we simply don't know all the relevant facts yet. Even some of the talking heads on TV are cautiously addressing the case (whereas others--think MSNBC talk show hosts for example--are convinced that racism played a role in the killing and are even calling for the head of the Sanford Police Chief for not following his own policy in shooting cases).

Of course there are editorials even in outlets like the New York Times that are drawing conclusions about the (frankly scary) laws that let people shoot and kill others anywhere and at any time when they feel threatened (apparently even by a young man with Skittles and a can of tea):

• Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman, and Florida's Gun Laws ...

  20 hours ago ... A selection of brainless gun laws that have nothing to do with preserving the 2nd Amendment.March 21, 2012 - Loyalopposition Blog
  

 

But does it really surprise anyone that talk show hosts like Glenn Beck (or their lemmings) are referring to the obvious victim in this case as "the aggressor" even though he was unarmed and on foot and his killer was in a car and armed (and had been advised by the police dispatched to not follow Trayvon)?

 

Which one is the bad guy? Who needs self-defense? Duh.

 

 

Talk about disgusting. I really wish the news media would reach out to experts who study this for a living so that the most important issues would be covered and the uniformed idiots would go away. As criminal justice scholars it is our duty to insert ourselves into these discussions. I am trying. But it is also the responsibility of the media to  reach out to us for interviews and appearances.

 

Look me up. I'm in the book!