You can't arm people like Zimmerman in a civilian capacity such as a neighbourhood watchman. They're way too paranoid. They're way too weak. When faced with possible danger you have be in control and you have to face the threat mind to mind. You have to get right into the head of the person who is of concern and show him that there isn't any reason for him to become hostile. Zimmerman's actions did exactly the opposite. He made this kid become fearful. He pushed this kid in exactly the wrong direction.
I was in an apartment building in a rough section of Boston back in about 1971. It was about 3 in the morning. I was standing in the hallway and the apartment door in front of me suddenly opened up just enough for a sawed off shotgun to protrude out and come within an inch or two of my face. I looked through the opening in the door, looked the guy in the eye and said, hey, there's no need for that. He said, you're right, and closed the door. He was a speed freak. He was as paranoid as you can get. He was basically out of his mind. I got through to him though. The tone of my voice, and the sense of another way, got through to him.
BSB