Brian Nichols captured

If you haven't heard about the courthouse killings then you must live in a whole. Its been everywhere, on all the major new channels. It even pre-empted Wacko Jackso's trial. What really bothers me about the shooting is the death of the courthouse reporter Julie Ann Brandau. I guess because Judge Rowland W. Barnes and the deputy are on the front lines so to speak. While they really don't think they are in danger, its kind of assumed they are targets of sorts because of what they do. The court reporter however doesn't fall on that category. She was just doing her job and now she is dead because of the rabid animal. Its just sad.

Another disturbing thing is he guy was captured about 5 minutes from my home. It never occured to me he would make his way north much less that close to my home. I just assumed he would remain Atlanta's problem while he holed up in some idiot girlfriend's home or some other cliche of the escaping criminial. Sadly someone else died for no reason during his trek to Duluth.

What really annoys me is the press. You could almost see the glee they had over this. Like "yes! we have a real story to cover!" It was almost sickening as the various stations, knowing they where getting national coverage on a slow news day, just soaked up the spotlight as much as possible while relaying no new information thoughtout the day. Its almost like ambulance chasing. Whatever it takes for ratings I guess. Its also easier then covering other issues such as the economy, gas prices, Iraq, North Korea, and other issues that are news but reflect not so great on the Bush Admin. Cause of that, they are pretty much off limits to nothing more then quicky blurbs. Thus we are left if Wacko Jacko and similar "news".

Even worse, if not for the obsessiveness of the press, which wouldn't have occured if not a slow news day, the police might have been able to do the necessary job of putting this rabid dog to sleep forever. He doesn't need to be tried, he doesn't need to get famous, he doesn't need to be the story anymore. He simply needs to be dead, killed with no more consideration then we would give any rabid dog. Kill him and let society wash our hands of him. Instead he will be the occasional senstation, his trial getting more attention then it deserves, followed by about 10-15 years in jail before finally be put to death. In that time, he may once again try to escape and renew taking more lives. No its just better if he had died, but the inordinate media attention prevented this from occuring.