This case is not comparable to the Zimmerman case.
Florida has a law that says any offense committed with a firearm automatically carries a 10 year sentence. If the firearm is discharged, it carries a 20 year minimum sentence. If these shots harm anyone, it carries a 25 year minimum sentence.
Alexander would, legally speaking, probably have been better off had she actually shot her husband instead of simply shooting near him. The state's authorities considered the shots - since they took place as her children were in the next room - reckless and have thus charged her with a crime. Since this alleged crime included discharge of a firearm, no matter what it is she's charged with, it carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years.
I agree that this is stupid. However, it's not a race issue as many are using it to compare to George Zimmerman; this is a reason to fight against mandatory minimum sentences. The problem in this case is that the law has forcibly removed the ability for a judge and the court system to take something like this on a case by case basis.
