Abused Mother gets 20yrs in Jail for shooting at Abuser

[leftofabbie]

Marissa Alexander Sentenced: Florida Mom Who Shot At Abusive Husband Gets 20 Years In Prison

Alexander was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for firing into a wall near her husband and his two young children at their Jacksonville home in 2010. Alexander has maintained that she wasn't trying to hurt anyone and that she was standing her ground against a man who had over the course of nearly a year punched and choked her on several different occasions. Alexander says that she believed she was protected that day under the state's Stand Your Ground Law, which gives people wide discretion in using deadly force to defend themselves.

A judge and a jury disagreed.

The State Attorney's Office offered a plea bargain that would have sent Alexander to prison for three years, but she rejected it, hoping to convince a jury that she had been defending herself when she fired the weapon.

Alexander's case has become the latest battleground in a fight against what Alexander's supporters call the misapplication of the Stand Your Ground Law and Florida's mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which offer stiff sentences for crimes involving guns.​

So a black woman shoots near her abusive husband and gets 20 years. Yet in another part of the same state, a man shoots and kills a black teenager and an awful lot of people are arguing he should go free? Hopefully, the State of Florida will promptly pardon this woman.

 

[GhostlyJoe]

Marissa Alexander Sentenced: Florida Mom Who Shot At Abusive Husband Gets 20 Years In Prison

Alexander was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for firing into a wall near her husband and his two young children at their Jacksonville home in 2010. Alexander has maintained that she wasn't trying to hurt anyone and that she was standing her ground against a man who had over the course of nearly a year punched and choked her on several different occasions. Alexander says that she believed she was protected that day under the state's Stand Your Ground Law, which gives people wide discretion in using deadly force to defend themselves.

A judge and a jury disagreed.

The State Attorney's Office offered a plea bargain that would have sent Alexander to prison for three years, but she rejected it, hoping to convince a jury that she had been defending herself when she fired the weapon.

Alexander's case has become the latest battleground in a fight against what Alexander's supporters call the misapplication of the Stand Your Ground Law and Florida's mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which offer stiff sentences for crimes involving guns.​

So a black woman shoots near her abusive husband and gets 20 years. Yet in another part of the same state, a man shoots and kills a black teenager and an awful lot of people are arguing he should go free? Hopefully, the State of Florida will promptly pardon this woman.

Based on what I've read of the case, I'm not convinced her conviction wasn't warranted. However, she is a clear victim of mandatory minimum sentencing statutes that basically guarantee that the punishment doesn't always fit the crime.

 

[Thunder]

was this women reacting to a recent violent event?

shooting into the wall..because you are angry about being abused 3 weeks ago, is problematic.

 

[leftofabbie]

Based on what I've read of the case, I'm not convinced her conviction wasn't warranted. However, she is a clear victim of mandatory minimum sentencing statutes that basically guarantee that the punishment doesn't always fit the crime.

I'm no expert on Florida law, but I understand the mandatory minimum sentencing applies to cases where firearms are used in the commission of a crime. It would seem the stand your ground laws should protect her from being charged with a crime.

 

[Thunder]

I'm no expert on Florida law, but I understand the mandatory minimum sentencing applies to cases where firearms are used in the commission of a crime. It would seem the stand your ground laws should protect her from being charged with a crime.

I haven't seen evidence that she was actually standing her ground against an immediate threat.

 

[GhostlyJoe]

I'm no expert on Florida law, but I understand the mandatory minimum sentencing applies to cases where firearms are used in the commission of a crime. It would seem the stand your ground laws should protect her from being charged with a crime.

Yeah, it's like 10 years for using the gun and another 10 for firing the shot, or something. It's asinine.

 

[leftofabbie]

I haven't seen evidence that she was actually standing her ground against an immediate threat.

Certainly more than George Zimmerman was.

Alexander said she was attempting to flee her husband, Rico Gray, on August 1, 2010, when she picked up a handgun and fired a shot into a wall.
She said her husband had read cell phone text messages that she had written to her ex-husband, got angry and tried to strangle her.
She said she escaped and ran to the garage, intending to drive away. But, she said, she forgot her keys, so she picked up her gun and went back into the house. She said her husband threatened to kill her, so she fired one shot.
"I believe when he threatened to kill me, that's what he was absolutely going to do," she said. "That's what he intended to do. Had I not discharged my weapon at that point, I would not be here."​

Zimmerman was in his truck and was asked to leave by local police, but instead approached Martin. Seems to me Alexander has a better stand-your-ground defense than Zimmerman.

 

[Tigger]

So a black woman shoots near her abusive husband and gets 20 years. Yet in another part of the same state, a man shoots and kills a black teenager and an awful lot of people are arguing he should go free? Hopefully, the State of Florida will promptly pardon this woman.

She would have been better off to shoot him directly. She also needs to understand that Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine only are in effect when there is an ongoing direct threat.

 

[Thrilla]

Marissa Alexander Sentenced: Florida Mom Who Shot At Abusive Husband Gets 20 Years In Prison

Alexander was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for firing into a wall near her husband and his two young children at their Jacksonville home in 2010. Alexander has maintained that she wasn't trying to hurt anyone and that she was standing her ground against a man who had over the course of nearly a year punched and choked her on several different occasions. Alexander says that she believed she was protected that day under the state's Stand Your Ground Law, which gives people wide discretion in using deadly force to defend themselves.

A judge and a jury disagreed.

The State Attorney's Office offered a plea bargain that would have sent Alexander to prison for three years, but she rejected it, hoping to convince a jury that she had been defending herself when she fired the weapon.

Alexander's case has become the latest battleground in a fight against what Alexander's supporters call the misapplication of the Stand Your Ground Law and Florida's mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which offer stiff sentences for crimes involving guns.​

So a black woman shoots near her abusive husband and gets 20 years. Yet in another part of the same state, a man shoots and kills a black teenager and an awful lot of people are arguing he should go free? Hopefully, the State of Florida will promptly pardon this woman.

why would they pardon here?... the jury took 11 minutes to convict her and didn't buy the stand your ground defense.
..and that has exactly dick to do with what "an awful lot of people" are saying of the Zimmerman case.



just curious, if Zimmerman is found guilty of his charges, are you going to call for his pardon too?

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Does SYG apply when you're not actually in immediate danger?

On Aug. 1, 2010, a fight between Alexander and her husband, Rico Gray, 36, left her cornered in the couple's home. She fled into the garage to escape but was trapped behind a jammed door, she stated in court documents. She said she grabbed the gun she kept in the garage, returned to the house and, when Gray threatened to kill her, fired a single shot to ward him off. . . . Gray ran out of the house with his two sons and called the police.

Coming back AFTER the danger is over and THEN taking some sort of vengeful recourse in the presence of children isn't the same as protecting yourself - especially if that means of 'protection' puts young children in danger. (As the legal rulings go nationwide in such situations)

Personally: Whenever an abused woman stays with her abuser I begin to question how 'serious' the abuse really is. There must be a strong reason for an absued mother - who has children - to stay with their abuser. There are places to go, people who will help, protections and legal recourse provided to victims of abuse and their children. Why - if she's such a 'strong' woman - why did she keep coming back after he was an ass? Why hasn't she pressed charges during this last horrific year? He did - he didn't hesitate to call the police immediately and press charges against her.

Her lack of action in the year prior makes me question validity behind her decision to go vigilante.

 

[leftofabbie]

Does SYG apply when you're not actually in immediate danger?

Coming back AFTER the danger is over and THEN taking some sort of vengeful recourse in the presence of children isn't the same as protecting yourself - especially if that means of 'protection' puts young children in danger. (As the legal rulings go nationwide in such situations)

Personally: Whenever an abused woman stays with her abuser I begin to question how 'serious' the abuse really is. There must be a strong reason for an absued mother - who has children - to stay with their abuser. There are places to go, people who will help, protections and legal recourse provided to victims of abuse and their children. Why - if she's such a 'strong' woman - why did she keep coming back after he was an ass? Why hasn't she pressed charges during this last horrific year? He did - he didn't hesitate to call the police immediately and press charges against her.

Her lack of action in the year prior makes me question validity behind her decision to go vigilante.

She didn't come back, she never left. She tried to leave through the garage and could not.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

She didn't come back, she never left. She tried to leave through the garage and could not.

If you're going to shoot at your children it better be a damn good reason. I know I know 'that's not what she was doing' . . . I'm still questioning her actions - or lack of actions - over the entire year previous.

 

[Grim17]

So a black woman shoots near her abusive husband and gets 20 years. Yet in another part of the same state, a man shoots and kills a black teenager and an awful lot of people are arguing he should go free? Hopefully, the State of Florida will promptly pardon this woman.

THE RACE CARD

The liberal "go to" strategy that never gets old.

 

[ThePlayDrive]

Personally: Whenever an abused woman stays with her abuser I begin to question how 'serious' the abuse really is.

Really? Why? There isn't any statistical evidence (that I know of) which shows that women who stay with their abusers endure any less "serious" abuse than those who don't.

 

[Mason66]

I think there is something about this case we don't know.

A jury convicted her in 11 minutes.

A jury can't decide what to have for lunch in 11 minutes.

It looks like there is evidence we are not seeing or something.

I don't think race has anything to do with it, but then again I am capable of rational thought.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

I think there is something about this case we don't know.

A jury convicted her in 11 minutes.

A jury can't decide what to have for lunch in 11 minutes.

It looks like there is evidence we are not seeing or something.

I don't think race has anything to do with it, but then again I am capable of rational thought.

It was the child endangerment factor. It seems counterintuitive to her argument to actually discharge a weapon with her children *right there* to force him to back off of her.

 

[LizardofOz]

I posted this **** over a month ago and barely any replies. What's the difference? I'm not a extreme left or right nut that either side flocks to to either support or dismantle the other.

 

[leftofabbie]

I posted this **** over a month ago and barely any replies. What's the difference? I'm not a extreme left or right nut that either side flocks to to either support or dismantle the other.

Interesting dynamic, what?

 

[LizardofOz]

Interesting dynamic, what?

I'm saying the sane ones here often get looked over for the ones that act like they host their own MSNBC or FOX show.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

I posted this **** over a month ago and barely any replies. What's the difference? I'm not a extreme left or right nut that either side flocks to to either support or dismantle the other.

She was just sentenced on Friday. . . not quite the same issue, now.

 

[LizardofOz]

She was just sentenced on Friday. . . not quite the same issue, now.

When I posted the story she had actually already been in jail for sometime while the trial was going on. I posted it as a way to show that likely if she was going to jail for just that and the "law" failed her it most certainly was to fail Zimmerman.

 

[VanceMack]

Certainly more than George Zimmerman was.

Alexander said she was attempting to flee her husband, Rico Gray, on August 1, 2010, when she picked up a handgun and fired a shot into a wall.
She said her husband had read cell phone text messages that she had written to her ex-husband, got angry and tried to strangle her.
She said she escaped and ran to the garage, intending to drive away. But, she said, she forgot her keys, so she picked up her gun and went back into the house. She said her husband threatened to kill her, so she fired one shot.
"I believe when he threatened to kill me, that's what he was absolutely going to do," she said. "That's what he intended to do. Had I not discharged my weapon at that point, I would not be here."​

Zimmerman was in his truck and was asked to leave by local police, but instead approached Martin. Seems to me Alexander has a better stand-your-ground defense than Zimmerman.

Actually...the mexican guy says he was assaulted first by the 17 year old and witness accounts have the 17 year old on top of him banging his head into the sidewalk. You sure are mighty selective with your outrage and who you choose to believe. But...well...hell...i guess when you are trying to use tragic incidents to make a political point you dont actually give a **** about icky things like 'facts' now do you? Or do you just not believe Zimmerman cuz he is a hispanic? Are you a racist AND a mindless partisan hack?

Doesnt sound like the woman did herself any favors with regard to her testimony. According to her statement she wasnt in imminent threat and she fired through walls to where he was standing with 2 kids. That, coupled with the altercation that occured later where she is reported to have cut herself to claim defense...

However since there IS evidence that she was an abused spouse, the state SHOULD step in on this case. At worst the sentence should be commuted or she should be given parole. He is an admitted abuser. Makes no sense for her to be in jail.

 

[VanceMack]

I'm saying the sane ones here often get looked over for the ones that act like they host their own MSNBC or FOX show.

I dont know whats funnier...your hurt feelings that people dont like your threads or you calling LoA an idiot and him 'liking' you for it... :lamo

 

[roguenuke]

As far as this case goes, the biggest problem is she fired a weapon inside a house without due regard for the young children inside. Although I still can't figure out if they were her kids or just his, not that it really makes a huge difference in how she should be treated for doing so, but it would explain why she wasn't nearly as worried about shooting her own children, if they weren't really her kids. No one should have that little regard for the safety of children, even if they feel threatened. Plus, she had a distinct advantage with her being armed and him being away from her, and in fact near the children. Verbal threats should not constitute alone defense on a SYG law. It does not sound like he was actually trying to hurt her (not that he wouldn't have if he could have without getting shot) but then she should have shot him and not fired any warning, particularly not with children right near him.

Now, I agree that she shouldn't face that many years in prison for what she did. While it is bad, she did not actually harm anyone. That should be taken into account here. Minimum sentencing laws are just as bad as zero tolerance policies/laws. They don't allow for circumstances and common sense to come into play when needed.

 

[leftofabbie]

As far as this case goes, the biggest problem is she fired a weapon inside a house without due regard for the young children inside. Although I still can't figure out if they were her kids or just his, not that it really makes a huge difference in how she should be treated for doing so, but it would explain why she wasn't nearly as worried about shooting her own children, if they weren't really her kids. No one should have that little regard for the safety of children, even if they feel threatened. Plus, she had a distinct advantage with her being armed and him being away from her, and in fact near the children. Verbal threats should not constitute alone defense on a SYG law. It does not sound like he was actually trying to hurt her (not that he wouldn't have if he could have without getting shot) but then she should have shot him and not fired any warning, particularly not with children right near him.

Now, I agree that she shouldn't face that many years in prison for what she did. While it is bad, she did not actually harm anyone. That should be taken into account here. Minimum sentencing laws are just as bad as zero tolerance policies/laws. They don't allow for circumstances and common sense to come into play when needed.

Thanks for your thoughtful post.