The very first job I ever had was working for an attorney in a small law office. The very first case I worked on was a boy who was mauled. Sorry if I'm slow, but I didn't get your analogy about the padlock to your post of the question. Maybe you can clarify for me.
You're not slow. I'm just saying, the prosecutor had made his case, but the padlock was for dramatic effect, to remind everyone just how heinous the crime was. This column was the same sort of thing, a reminder of the pain and suffering and its source that was intended to show how shallow and vindictive our national media has become.