Thursday, June 16, 2005

 

Sad Story - Innocent Life Lost


This is truly a sad story. You hear it all the time, that the homicides in the city are drug related and innocent people aren't harmed. This time that wasn't the case.

23 year old Renee Hill was shot down as an innocent bystander at a park in Over the Rhine last Saturday. She was caught in the crossfire of a drug fiend. She leaves behind her son who now has no parents. It's unfair and unacceptable.
Here is the story behind the piece of human garbage who thought it was a good idea to open fire in the middle of a crowded playground.. Jason Baker, 27... He spent time in prison in 1999 for having a stolen gun and in 2001 for selling cocaine. Twice this year, he was convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana - most recently June 6, five days before Hill was shot.
Well, on June 3rd David Pepper introduced an idea to stiffen the penalty for possession of small amounts of Marijuana. Now, I will be the first to say that I think it's crazy to toss someone in jail if their first and only offense is holding a bit of pot. However, what I think does make sense is giving the police and the courts an addition tool for getting these types of thugs in jail. If that law had been in affect, perhaps Mr. Baker would be sitting in Hamilton County Justice Center today, and Ms. Hill would be alive, looking after her young son. Does Mr. Pepper's proposal cure everything that is wrong in the city? I don't think so, but it's a step in the right direction for a city struggling with violent crime.

Comments:
I had to leave the office during lunch to run out to Clifton, and the quickest route was OTR. So many buildings falling down, so many people with nothing to do - I can't help but think of a third world country. It's sad. I hope we aren't in for a long hot summer, but the pointless and deadly Bond Hill vs. Avondale turf battle isn't reassuring.
 
These are all sad stories. Too many innocent folks killed. Too many bad guys getting off or released too soon.

Never got over being the one to ring the bell and tell someone that someone in their family was seriously injured or dead.
 
Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?