SHOOTING IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING
TWO POLICE OFFICERS KILLED, AND ONE WOUNDED

One warm July day, in Washington, DC. As many went about their usual business of serving their country, and others were visiting the capitol building, the peace and tranquillity of the day was shattered, as shots rang out in the lobby area of the building.

At first, people thought they were hearing fire crackers. Then someone saw a man, a police officer fall to the floor, bleeding. Someone else saw a man being chased by another officer running in to a corridor, leading to the offices of one of our congressmen. More shots rang out, and a woman, was wounded, before both the gunman, and the officer, both fell to the floor, wounded.

By the time everything had come to an end, both officers, had lost their lives. The woman, was treated and released. The gunman, who was critically wounded, survived, and is now in custody.

Another tragedy is played out. Two families, have lost loved ones. Their children, are now fatherless. An innocent bystander, is nearly killed. Why??

Who knows why this person did what he did??? From the looks of it, he was trying to get to a congressman's office, to probably shoot him, when he was shot by the officer.

From what I had heard, the man tried to get by the metal detectors at the entrance to the building, when he was confronted by the first officer. The man, drew a gun and shot him. Another officer, hearing the shots, came to investigate, when he spotted the man with the gun running to a hallway. He pursued the man, who started to shoot at him. As the man came upon a woman, he shot her. He then went in to an outer office of the congressman he was attempting to see, when the pursuing officer, ordered him to stop. The gunman turned to shoot the officer, as the officer returned fire.

Everyday, our men and women, in blue, put on uniforms, and leave their houses, not knowing if they will return home at the end of the day.

They put their lives, on the line, so that we can enjoy the freedom, and peace of mind, that this nation promises each of us.

They take this job, because they want to protect the rights, that we all hold dear. Their families also make the sacrifice, by supporting them in their jobs. It must be hard for a wife, husband, son, daughter, father, mother, or whomever, to sit at home everytime they leave, wondering if they will get a phone call telling them that their loved one, has been killed.

Our hats should be off, and our gratitude to the families of these brave individuals who sacrificed their lives, to 'Serve and Protect.'

As for the individual that did the shooting, it is rather ironic, that a congressman, who just happens to be a doctor, rendered first aid to him, which probably helped save his life. The congressman didn't know that he was helping the criminal, he was just doing what he knew to do.

People, that for any reason, kill one of our protectors, while trying to commit, or are committing a crime, should be given the death penalty, swiftly.

The reason I say this, is that it shows total disrespect for our laws, and those that enforce them. People that don't respect our laws, won't respect us, as individuals, and need to be removed from society, and it needs to be done quickly, so the message can be sent that we will not tolerate it.

That message, seems to be sorely lacking in our society today. People can kill a police officer, or other government official, for criminal reasons, and be treated like they should be handled with kid gloves. They can get arrested, have their rights read to them, go to trial, plead insanity, go to prison, and live off of us, for who knows how long. While at the same time, these officers' families, have to endure the hardship of helping to support these criminals in prison, with their taxes, as well as having lost a bread winner.

I believe, that if a family loses a loved one, due to the performance of their duties, they should be relieved of their tax burden, they have been burdened enough.

Now, the fact that I mentioned that they should be put to death, seems, to many people, to be taking revenge on them. People say, that capital punishment, is no deterrent to crime. While others say, the bible says 'thou shall not kill.' Well, they are all wrong. Some, even have the gall to say it is immoral. Well, have I got news for you.

First, God, is the one that instituted it. (Ge 9:6) Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. This is the first instance that God has directed man, to be the one to put to death, a person that sheds another persons life, Why?? Because, any one that kills (murders) another individual, is actually destroying the image of God.
Notice, I used the word murder. That is because, that's what God is talking about. Murder. If, as some believe that 'thou shall not kill', means just that, then that carries with it, the fact that we should not kill, even in self defense, or war. We could even go on and say we should not kill animals, or plants. Do you see how ridiculous that is??? People, God is not stupid. That is why, He has put in the book of the law, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the instances for which a person should be put to death. Here are some scriptures.

Nu 35:16        And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Nu 35:17        And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Nu 35:18        Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Nu 35:19        The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

Nu 35:20        But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

Nu 35:21        Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

Nu 35:22        But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

Nu 35:23        Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:

Nu 35:24        Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

Nu 35:25        And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

Nu 35:26        But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;

Nu 35:27        And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

Nu 35:28        Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

Nu 35:29        So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Nu 35:30        Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Nu 35:31        Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

Nu 35:32        And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

Nu 35:33        So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Nu 35:34        Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.

There you have it. God's definition of what type of killing is punishable by execution. He is describing, what we call, first degree murder.

Notice a couple of other things.

He says in verse 30, that it takes more than one witness, to be able to convict a person to put them to death.

Now, how many witnesses do we have in this case???

Next, He says that we should not take satisfaction, in allowing a murderer to live. Maybe God needs to have the ACLU set Him straight. Or maybe some of these spineless preachers that try to support the idea.

Last, He says that the land will be polluted, until the murderer is put to death. What He means, is this. If we look at all the people in our prisons today, that have committed murder, and are serving, life terms, we will see that most of them, will get out, some time in the future, if their behavior is good.

While in prison, they directly influence others, that are there on lesser charges, and turning them in to hardened criminals, who when they get out, are likely to commit far more serious crimes, knowing that they will only get life.

The burden on society, to keep them behind bars is staggering. The capacity of our prison system to hold them all, is far to inadequate.

People that say capital punishment, is not a deterrent, don't know what they are talking about. It is, in one instance the best deterrent of all. It deters that person, from killing again. Some of them, have broken out of prison, and killed again. That means, an innocent life was wasted, because we failed to stop this person, before they did it again.

Look at how many people have murdered more than once. They kill once, then the next time, it becomes easier. , and easier.

As far as it being cruel and unusual, killing anybody is cruel. However, God directs it to be done, and I am not going to argue with Him.

When are we going to realize that we have a cancer growing among us?? It is people that seek to destroy anyone that stands in their path. They will kill for little or no reason at all. Then, when they go to trial, people line up to expound the good virtues of this individual. A lot of mass murderers, have been described as, quiet, and friendly, by family, friends and neighbors.

It makes no difference. If you listen to one excuse, you will listen to another, and another, and another.

How many innocent lives will have to be lost, before we, or rather you, realize that God knows best??

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OCTOBER, 1998


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