Pubdate: Thu, 02 Aug 2001
Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY)
Website: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com
Address: P.O. Box 1480, Owensboro, KY 42302
Contact:  2001 Messenger-Inquirer
Fax: (270) 686-7868
Author: Eddie Smith

SHOOTING CASE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO GRAND JURY

I want to commend the Messenger-Inquirer for its July 17 editorial and for 
seeing past the hype and hypocrisy of Hardin County prosecutor Chris Shaw. 
I don't understand why the police officer was pointing a loaded gun in 
first place?

There were no weapons found, no shots had been fired at any officer and the 
only crime that had been committed by that man (if you could even consider 
it a crime) was that he was a passenger in a car that was running from the 
police.

Police departments nationwide, as well as Kentucky, are trained to fire 
their weapons at areas of the body that will do the most damage.

If we, as parents and concerned citizens don't speak out against these 
all-too-frequent shootings, it could very well be that your teen-ager's 
first mistake will be his or her last.

Then how will you feel about this so-called war on drugs? After all, which 
is more harmful to our community, someone who just wants to alter his or 
her state of mind and is bothering no one, or commandoes who are trained, 
ready and willing to point a gun at your head or heart?

Shaw should be removed from office for his callous statements made to the 
press and derelict of duties for not allowing a grand jury to decide 
whether or not charges should be filed against the officer. After all, 
isn't that why we have grand juries?

Eddie Smith
Utica, KY
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