Posted on 02/06/2002 5:25:58 AM PST by chuknospam
"Cold beer says some leftie media slime will write it up the same way!"
Maybe you should drop your conservative morals and principles and start a career in in the liberal media? You seem to have a real talent for spin!
I read your article on the shooting incident where the poor boy had to shoot the criminal.
I first want to commend you for an evenhanded article. It is very rare that these types of defensive handgun uses are reported and to have one reported so honestly without any noticeable bias is truly a unique experience for this reader.
Hopefully the young man gets some counseling as his life is forever changed now that he has taken a life. Even when you're 100% in the right you still carry the mark of Cain forever.
I did have some concerns about the article though.
The listing of the complete address is not a good idea. We both know that criminals are not smart but have all day to try and be clever.
Every criminal in the area now knows the exact location of a gun collection and that the adult leaves for work at 3 a.m.. This puts the family in the position of having to move or fear an attack at any moment.
As a victim of a violent crime when I was the same age as this boy I can tell you that this incident will be in the forefront of his mind at all times for many months.
It will dominate his every waking moment. Every time he hears a noise at night or a car turning around in the drive he will relive the fear.
Adding the additional burden of knowing his address is public knowledge is just too awful.
I hope in the future when similar stories are written the policy will be to give the general location of the location.
Thanks again for all that was right with your article.
(bigern)
I guess now he's Casper the Hostile Ghost... heh heh heh
AB
Hopefully the boy who became a hero by using good judgement, coolness under pressure and saved his adopted mom's and his life won't have to be subjected to a bunch of psycho-babble. I was taught that the "Mark of Cain" was that of a shameful murderer and the boy certainly is not that.
He may think they think of him as a hero which is good as well as accurate. But he may think they look at him as a stone cold killer after a few idiot kids and adults refer to him as such; and they will.
Subject: RE: 11 yo. shoots intruder
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 16:13:36 -0500
From: Gwen OBrien
To: "'bigern'"
You'll be happy to know that these people have already moved out. The gun colection was in storage at a friend's house as it turned out. We did not report what town they moved to and did not report the boy's name or print his picture, even though his mother provided us with it. We don't want to keep this boy from starting his life over again. Thanks so much for your concern. Have a nice day and thanks for reading.
That's interesting. I guess that settles that. Hope they have a long, productive life in their new digs.
I think your concern was very valid. Thanks for your e-mail.
I'm glad I didn't send her a flaming letter as when all the facts came our in her reply it was clear that they didn't make a huge error.
Ernie
Then will everyone who knows tell John McKain this!
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