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
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
OPD Press Release - On Friday, April 23, 2010 approximately 3:00 p.m. an arrest warrant was served on Joseph Edward Roberts Jr. for the murder of Michael “Mickey” McNamara Jr. that occurred at 1212 Green Avenue on Wednesday April 21, 2010. (McNamara Insurance)
ReplyDeleteThis arrest culminated from what has been a non-stop investigation on the part of officers and investigators from the Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Vidor Police Department, West Orange Police Department, and the F.B.I.
The citizens of the greater Orange area, the West Orange Cove Consolidated Independent School District, and especially Mickey McNamara’s fellow businessmen and women contributed greatly toward the investigative effort. Every business person that we contacted and many contacted us before we could even get to them, provided security camera video recorded at times and places relevant to our investigation as well as other information that allowed us to develop the evidence needed to obtain the arrest warrant for Joseph Edward Roberts Jr.
The Orange police department wants to thank those officers and citizens who assisted us in this investigation. While no additional arrests are imminent the investigation will continue for some time in order to discover all of the facts relating to this event. The charge today only relates only to the death of Mickey McNamara. There was another victim in this incident and upon the completion of our investigation the case, in its entirety, will be submitted to the District Attorney for Orange County.
Because the investigation is continuing we will not be releasing any additional investigative information beyond the details in the accompanying affidavit of probable cause for arrest.
So, we feel better now, right? They caught the guy. But what does that really change? Our society has still lost one of its bright shining lights; and we are compensated how? By the removal of one deranged dirt bag? I feel cheated. The balance of Good versus Evil has NOT been re-set to where it was on Monday. We have taken another step backward my friends, and this was a big one.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the Police fail to prevent crime, we will all be one step away from being the next victim. I know, I’m being hard on the Heroes who protect us, right? I know by catching that guy the Police are keeping him from doing it again. And that yes, we are better off for their services. But what? Are the Police going to protect us from every-other crime? Each one of us is free to be someone’s FIRST victim, and the Cops will try and make sure there isn’t a second? I’m not buying it.
I know the Police are largely a reactive force. It’s not like they can go out and round up all the bad-guys before they commit any crimes. It would be silly to expect that. Unfortunately, all we can really expect is for the Police to show up a few minutes AFTER a crime is reported. That is, AFTER someone finds the time and concentration to pull out a phone and (slowly and clearly) explain the nature and location of the crime to an operator who can then radio an officer with directions to your area. In reality, the Police can no more protect you than they could protect Mr. McNamara, and HE was only a few blocks away.
04-23-10