Poor Trayvon. Please sign the petition at www.change.org/trayvon?

These are the words that keep going through my head this past week. I appreciate the "?" at the end of the petition link. It is a question. Why did this young boy have to die?
Although it is a legal vs political issue, how can I not post about something that has truly affected me along with this entire nation.
For those of you that have been living under a rock :-), Trayvon Martin is a 17year old black teen that was shot to death by a neighborhood watch captain in a gated community in central Florida. He was a cute teen, small in build that had never been in any trouble. His only crimes were being black, wearing a hoodie and walking through his own neighborhood on his way back from the convenience store. He was carrying ice tea and a box of skittles. Mr.Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain, saw him walking through the neighborhood and called 911. Even though Trayvon was not committing a crime. He then followed him against the advice of the 911 operator, got out of his car with a gun and approached Trayvon. He claimed an altercation occurred and he shot him in self defense. He was taller and about 100 pounds heavier than Trayvon. He has not been arrested which has led to a public outcry including school walkouts, marches, vigils and even the President and players in the NBA making a stance and posting pictures of themselves in hoodies (sweatshirts with hoods).
This case has brought up several issues that I would like to discuss. 1)Racial profiling 2)Hate crimes 3) "Stand Your Ground" laws.
1) Racial profiling. The police are often accused of doing this. Everyone has heard the stories of black men in expensive cars being pulled over. Why? Because they are black men in expensive cars. Minorities of both races in rich all white communities are also often targets. Why? Because it is felt that they don't belong. How many black people have been followed around by security guards-sometimes also black-in expensive stores such as Gucci or Louis Vuitton? Why? Because the thought process is-since they probably cant afford such items, they will steal them. But this behavior is not unique to security guards or police officers. We all have prejudices based on race, age,sex and culture. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. I know it is true even of myself. If I am in my car alone at 2am, stopped at a red light and a bright turquoise "hooptie" car on high wheels, with thick rims, blasting loud music pulls up next to me, I would not think twice about running the red light out of fear of being car jacked or followed. Yes, I said it because it is true. I think the best example of racial profiling and prejudice is the Oscar winning film- CRASH. Everyone should watch that movie. Everyone should own up to their own prejudices and deal with them. Everyone should be aware of how they may affect how you treat others. Be aware that such treatment could unknowingly turn out deadly.
2) Hate crimes. Over the years I have been torn about this issue. Harsher and longer penalties given to those who commit crimes due to hatred of a particular race or creed. For instance, killing someone because he or she is gay and you hate gay people vs killing someone just because it was part of a robbery, rape, or you just felt like it. To me, somehow getting more jail time for one murder over the other felt as if one life was worth more than the other. I personally feel any murder or horrific crime warrants life in prison or the death penalty no matter what the motive is. However, recent cases have made me realize that we must take a stance that this nation will not stand for crimes against anyone solely out of hate. To make the penalties harsher or longer may deter those that target a particular group of people. In Mississippi, 3 men recently plead guilty to federal hate crimes after running over and beating a black man to death. A black man that they randomly found and attacked in a hotel parking lot because they hate N***. A Rutgers University student was recently found guilty of a hate crime for spying on his gay roommate via a web cam and discussing it on twitter. He denies doing so out of hate or that he is homophobic. His roommate committed suicide a few days later. And now the Trayvon Martin case. The man who admits to shooting and killing him is half Hispanic and denies being racist. How then can he explain his suspicions of this young teen, his decision to call 911, hunt him down and kill him without provocation? So yes, I now believe in the federal hate crime legislation that was passed in 2009. We must make it clear that in America these obscene behaviors and crimes will not be tolerated.
3) The "Stand Your Ground" law. Florida was the first to pass this law in 2005 (why am I not surprised). Since then 16 more states have passed similar laws. It allows someone to use deadly force if they "reasonably believe" they must defend themselves from a threat. Since 2005, there has been an increase in shootings of unarmed individuals were self defense was claimed and therefore the shooter was not arrested or prosecuted. Proponents of the law state that it was intended for people to protect themselves from home invasion or real physical danger such as rape or a serious physical attack. None of the above is the case with this watch captain who was warm and safe in his car with his gun who chose to follow Trayvon and get out of his car with such gun to approach and antagonize the smaller unarmed teen. Even supporters of the law have spoken out against Mr.Zimmerman's actions and state shooting in self defense must require a real fear that your life is in danger.Those who oppose the law basically call it a license to kill and based on the statistics, I somewhat agree. In the end, if this neighborhood watch captain is able to get away with murder based on this law, it surely needs to be revisited and reworded or revoked!
Thoughts?