Our society has less mercy on stray animals, and they are far more deserving of it. Turner is a rabid menace to civilization and just needs a simple, quick removal from the gene pool.

Valdez’s sister Maria Flores said the arrest was a relief. “I forgive him for what he did,” Flores said. “I just feel sorry for him because he made a wrong decision. I just hope God forgives him for what he did.”

I would like to go on the record as hoping that God does not forgive him for what he did, but instead consigns him to an eternity of agony in Hell, where he belongs.

(I do not actually believe in God or in Hell, but it’s times like this that I wish I did—sometimes mortal justice just doesn’t seem to be enough)

Regarding learning from your mistakes, I can relate. The day I woke up to find my house burgled while we all slept is the day I went and bought my first firearm.

More learning from past experiences:

On Feb. 7, 87-year-old Jacksie Mae King fired several shots through the front door of her house after she woke up about 2 a.m. to the sounds of someone trying to break in.

One bullet hit Larry Tillman, 49, who was on the other side of the door, standing on King’s enclosed porch.

He lay dead on the porch in the 2100 block of Gaty Avenue for four hours before he was found by King’s daughter, who came to bring breakfast about 6 a.m. Meanwhile, King stayed inside clutching the pistol.

King’s daughter gave her the .32-caliber Colt revolver two months earlier after a man broke into King’s house in December. That intruder beat her and stole some of her things. In both incidents, the telephone lines to King’s house were cut, and security bars were removed from a side window.