There was a murder over the weekend in the town in Philly that I live in. Two young women and a three year old girl were hacked to death with a large knife. It was a horrible, bloody, gory crime. Apparently the man who did it also murdered a young woman in the next town over about 5 years ago in the same manner.
I did not know the victims. But I did know the man who killed them.
John used to work part time at the local hobby game shop in King of Prussia. At the time that I knew him, he had already murdered the first young woman (though nobody knew that at the time). No one would have suspected him of being a killer. He wasn't the stereotypical "...quiet guy, always keeps to himself...", but he was friendly, rather talkative, and always seemed rather, well... gentle. I spent many hours hanging out in the shop, talking to him about gaming and other things, and watching him gladly helping customers and teaching children about games. Children like the little girl that he hacked to death.
(Shiver...)
There is a part of me that wants him to die horribly in the electric chair for this grusome crime. He CHOPPED A LITTLE GIRL TO DEATH, FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!! And then there is the other part of me that, well, knew him, and I know that he must be a sick, sick man who needs help. Black and white is fine... too bad that the real world is in multiple shades of grey...
In a related note, his connection to gaming hasn't escaped notice. If you read the article above, you will see that the local DA, Bruce Castor, has been quoted as saying:
"I mean, you have many, many stab wounds and those 'Dungeons and Dragons' fantasy games involve swords and knives and daggers and things of that nature. There may be a connection but I can’t say for sure.”
Does he have any idea just how STUPID that rationale sounds!? He might as well be saying, "I mean, you have many, many stab wounds and KNITTING involves SHARP, POINTY STICKS and things of that nature. There may be a connection but I can’t say for sure.”
Well, it makes for a good sound bite, which, truth be damned, is the most important thing for an elected official like Castor. Who, BTW, may well NOT be getting my vote next election.