I figure I’ll get dragged for this, but yeah, the guy should be convicted of something.
So a guy who was convicted of abusing a minor over 40 years ago was acting skeevy- allegedly. I don’t think that justifies a fatal beating with a shovel and antlers. And it sounds like he went for the head- this wasn’t a “warning” or some such- he intended to kill him, and he did. It was a murder.
Our society is on thin ice indeed when a convicted child predator goes free, but also when someone feels free to commit a murder preemptively. If that’s the standard- “I thought he’d do something,” then let us apply it equally and enjoy the subsequent inner-city type cycle of violence. Apply that standard to politics and we’d have an instant civil war.
Please note I’m not defending or excusing the pedo: I strongly suspect his death is no loss to society. But neither is someone killing him ‘preemptively’ 4+ decades after his last proven crime a victory to be celebrated.
If Mr. Pedo had laid a hand on the guy’s kid I’d be cheerleading the dad along with everyone else. But he didn’t: he acted suspiciously, which is ultimately a matter of subjective perception, not objective fact.
I guess what I’m trying to say through my jet lag is I think one must cross a bold line to justify a killing, and toward this family the guy just hadn’t yet, and more importantly, may never have. Taking a life is itself crossing a bigger, bolder line and I just don’t see that the dad here made an outright justifiable choice.
I hope the dad has a good lawyer and gets a sympathetic jury. And I hope he gets off easy; I really do.
More than anything I hope the kids involved come out of it okay.
No winners here.
“More than anything I hope the kids involved come out of it okay.
No winners here.”
No thoughts also. Sad situation.
If he has good evidence that this guy was going to do something to a child, then yes, I would hope the court would go easy on him, but if he didn't, he should get a severe punishment for doing this.