I agree with what cashin said above. You can even ignore being 17 when it comes to this. If someone, especially a stranger, approaches you in a non friendly way and then grabs you(and I compteley understand this is for s & g's debate here) then I completely think you are within your rights to defend yourself.
I live by a fairly simple rule, if I don't want any physical confrontation with anyone, I don't touch them. Let alone hit them.
Were only speculating here but it seems like more could have been done on Zim's part to avoid all of this than Martin's part.
you two are overthinking this whole thing for what reason I have no idea.
When a stranger has been following you points a gun at you and grabs you....the first thing you do is get the gun away from him and THEN pin him down and make him submit. Maybe a punch or two but only enough that is necessary to make him submit.
I find it very hard to believe that a gun was out because Trayvon would have put the gun at priority number one instead of the sucker punch that was priority number one.