Jeff DeGraff, Ph. D. for Psychology Today writes, ‘“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore’ declared the longtime news anchor Howard Beale in the 1975 film classic ‘Network.’ In the picture [movie], people everywhere toss open their windows and repeat the catchphrase with a barbaric yell. Sadly, Howard Beale, symbolic spokesman for the hoi polloi [the common people], comes to realize that the system co-opts both social and economic power to its own advantage. The movie is a parable about how all of our screaming really changes very little and in the act we often lose our voice.”
Fast forward to the year 2020.
According to Danielle Wallace of Fox News. “Texas police union voices outrage after recently released career criminal fatally stabs grandma, 80, in broad daylight.”
“A Texas career criminal who was recently released from jail despite being arrested nearly 70 times is accused of fatally stabbing an 80-year-old woman out shopping Saturday, police said.”
“The suspect, 38-year-old Randy Roszell Lewis, was shot and killed by a responding officer who was flagged down by witnesses at the scene. Police said the man was armed with the 6-inch blade.”
Thank God.
Thank God they killed this guy!
Thank God they killed this guy, or he probably would have been released again and killed someone else’s mother or grandmother!
What the hell is going on in this country?!
“The incident sparked outrage from the Houston Police Officers’ Union, which blamed the ‘total failure’ of criminal justice reform for his release weeks earlier — without paying bail.”
Being “outraged” is all well and good, and certainly justified…, but when are we going to move past being outraged and start demanding that people be held accountable for these all too often tragedies we see more and more of these days?
“Lewis allegedly stabbed 80-year-old Rosalie Cook in the chest as she returned to her car after shopping inside a Walgreens in Houston. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital.”
“Her son, Chuck Cook, said his mother was a ‘perfect’ grandma to six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.”
‘“Nobody should have to go through this, an 80-year-old woman, disabled, who had to walk with a cane,’ Cook said.”
That’s exactly right, Mr. Cook. This horrendous crime was completely avoidable, if not for a broken justice system and incompetent judges.
As American citizens, one of the most basic things we expect from our government is protection from individuals who refuse act in a civilized manner in our society.
We expect law enforcement to apprehend these offenders…, we expect the government to effectively prosecute these individuals, and we expect the judicial system to sentence those found guilty commensurate with their crime.
If for some reason the government fails at this, or balks at its responsibility, then we will start to see a breakdown in our society, and people will begin to take the law into their own hands…, and who could blame them?
“Police said officers were already in the area after receiving calls around 10:15 a.m. about a man matching Lewis’ description demanding money from shoppers at knife point by a nearby grocery store.”
“Two years ago, Lewis was charged with assaulting a public servant — breaking the person’s nose — while being transferred to county jail, KHOU reported.”
“In all, he had been arrested 67 times and has faced dozens of charges throughout his life, including assault, theft, trespassing, the possession of marijuana and burglary of a vehicle, the Houston Police Officers’ Union said.”
He’s been arrested 67 times and has faced dozens of charges.
‘“Randy Lewis should never have been free. Now an innocent woman has been murdered. Everyone deserves better. This is absolutely shameful,’ the Houston Police Officers’ Union tweeted Monday, sharing his public record.”
Exactly. “Randy Lewis should never have been free.”
And it is “absolutely shameful” this poor woman was murdered.
But you know what’s more shameful? The fact that no one is going to have to answer for her death beyond Randy Lewis.
Sure, Randy Lewis committed the murder…, but he had numerous accomplices in the justice system and government who will never face the music for their parts in this crime.
‘“The defendant had a history of mental illness and he should have been kept off the streets. He recently absconded from the personal-care facility where the judge ordered he live instead of being held in jail,’ the Houston District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.”
“The judge had not issued a warrant for his arrest even when he had absconded, so police did not even know to look for him and unfortunately this tragedy occurred before he could be returned to court.”
‘“Where’s the outrage when our cops are putting their lives on the line arresting the same person time and again who’s got a violent history,’ Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told KHOU.”
True…, but at least the police know they’re putting their lives on the line in the line of duty. These judges are putting the lives of the rest of us on the line by their irresponsible actions, and we have no reason to expect this kind of malpractice.
“He said the department would review body camera and security footage of the incident. He added the officer who shot Lewis was a nine-year veteran of the force.”
Yes…, they should review the footage to determine how big of a medal he should get!
This officer did everyone a favor by putting an end to this walking piece of garbage.
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