Zimmerman was a vigilante and not a Neighborhood Watchman.
"Zimmerman also blatantly violated major principles of the Neighborhood Watch manual, ABC News has learned.
The manual, from the National Neighborhood Watch Program, states: "It should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers, and they shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles. They should also be cautioned to alert police or deputies when encountering strange activity. Members should never confront suspicious persons who could be armed and dangerous..."
According to Chris Tutko, the director of the National Neighborhood Watch Program, there are about 22,000 registered watch groups nationwide, and Zimmerman was not part of a registered group -- another fact the police were not aware of at the time of the incident."
http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watchman-killed-trayvon-martin-neighborhood-watch-guidelines/story?id=15955985#.T2f8wczBp7w ""I'm disappointed that people are trying to put blame onto the program when it's not the program's fault," said Wendy Dorival, who coordinates volunteer programs, including Neighborhood Watch, for the Sanford police. "Neighborhood Watch is not what took his life away"...."
"...Neighborhood Watch, by contrast, is less formal and is run by residents — although volunteers in both programs are told not to confront anyone. Their job is to observe and describe suspicious people or cars to law officers and help make their neighbors aware of problems.
"We tell people, 'Don't be a hero,'" Dorival said. "Don't risk it.""
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-24/news/os-trayvon-martin-neighborhood-watch-20120321_1_zimmerman-community-ties-neighborhood-watch Zimmerman was supposedly on his way to Target and was legally allowed to carry a firearm as he had a concealed carry weapons permit. I do not know if Zimmerman normally carried a gun with him when he was on Neighborhood Watch patrol. If he did and certainly when he spotted Trayvon, he disregard key parts of his training. Don't confront and don't carry a weapon. The second he stepped out of his SUV, Zimmerman became a vigilante. Maybe his neighbor explains his actions best:
"I think any time you use a weapon, there are certain anger issues working," Taaffe said. "I think he had fed-up issues. He was mad as hell and wasn't going to take it anymore."
http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/what-happened-trayvon-martin-explained On a side note, until such time as Zimmerman is formally arrested for commission of a felony, he can carry a gun.
"The department shall suspend a license if the licensee is arrested or formally charged with a felony. The suspension will last until the case is over."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/03/despite-groups-demand-adam-putnam-says-he-cant-suspend-concealed-carry-permit-of-trayvon-martins-sho.html
