[SandyB]

Valerie Stanton, a 35-year-old computer technician visiting from Washington, D.C., prayed Sunday at the Alto Vista chapel outside the capital. "This could happen in any city and it's unfortunate a dark cloud is now over the island because people here are so nice," she said.

No. It could not!! necessarily happen in "any city". Alabama allows ccw for women 18 years old like Natalie. It would not have happened in an Alabama city if the woman was armed.

[cyborg]

What good does a gun do if you're drunk?

[Toespi]

Unfortunatley, this happens constantly in many cities in the US and to even younger children, as we have witnessed many times over the years. I think it is arrogant to believe that somehow Aruba should be held to a different standard. We only have to look back several months to remember poor little Jessica in Florida, kept in a trailer for four days and then buried alive. The police should have been all over that situation. As a matter of fact, three other perps are walking free who must have known. It is incredulous that Natalee's family has been allowed to even look at the suspects, let alone interview them.

[fso301]

It would not have happened in an Alabama city if the woman was armed.

I doubt Alabama law would allow Natalie into a bar with a CCW.