What happened Sunday morning has terrified me like no other crime I’ve read about before. More so than even the attacks of 9/11. Maybe because this happened so close to home or because of its randomness or because of the fact that they are police officers – men and women there to protect us.
When I left my home to go to the grocery store, I felt scared. As I shopped, I was scared. After I got home and locked my door, I felt a little better but still felt scared for myself and my wife. When I awoke this morning, I am still scared.
After all, if someone can take a gun and kill four police officers as they sat in a coffee shop, then what is to stop them from killing me or my wife if we get in their way? Nothing. He would shoot us down without batting an eyelash. And why not? He has absolutely nothing to lose. The thought of spending the rest of his life in prison makes him as dangerous as a cornered rabid dog.
But I think that even after that, after the smoke has cleared, after we’ve buried our beloved protectors, I will still be scared. I got over the fear after 9/11 fairly quickly because it happened 3,000 miles from here. This happened very close to home and it happened to those who were there to keep us safe. If it can happen to them, it can happen to any one of us.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.