A Good Man Dies

A good man was killed in my town today by someone I can only imagine as a soulless, brutish thug. A man, who owned a business in town for many years and contributed much to his community and church, is dead today. Another man, who thought it easier to kill than to profit from his own industry, will sleep in his own bed tonight. Steal or work, kill or create, these are not legitimate options for a rational person. A rational person does not bludgeon another man to death when he needs money for alcohol either.

Five blocks from the courthouse and six blocks from our shinny new police station, on a main street, and in broad daylight, a man with a bat walked into a small office building, demanded money, and then beat a seventy-six year old man to death and critically injured a woman. He then walked out and disappeared. The police showed up after the fact to put up their tape, take pictures, and oversee the removal of the body. Maybe they’ll catch the guy, and I sure hope they do, but who among you can tell me these people did not deserve the right to protect themselves from this horrific attack?

Every time a good guy goes down and a bad guy walks away, the balance of our society tips in the wrong direction. Every year in this country, four million crimes are prevented by the legal use of firearms. The mere presence of a firearm could have saved a life today. Every argument I have ever heard against the right of free citizens to keep and carry firearms is moot and irrelevant.

I am so deeply pained by the loss of life and injury felt today by the good people of my community. My heart and prayers go out to the families and friends of all those affected by today’s tragedy. Now is a time for tears and comforting. I hope the police can bring a swift end to the growing fear in our community of a killer walking free. However, there is nothing, nothing, nothing they can do to undo the terrible tragedy that occurred today. I would give anything for someone to have been there to supply a few ounces of prevention to avoid a pain that can never be completely cured.

04-21-2010

alaniz