There was a truly horrific story in the Houston Chronicle over the weekend. A family that had gone out on a dirt road to swim at a levy were shot at by a couple who claimed they were trespassing. A 7-year-old boy is dead now as a result.
The story is infuriating because it was so senseless. You look at the picture of the couple that did the shooting and the place where they were living - complete with Confederate Flag and a grammatically-challenged sign that reads “Trespassers will be shot. Survivers will be reshot!! Smile I will.” - and one is immediately struck with the worst stereotypes of backward, ignorant, Redneck, white trash.
Where did these people get the idea that they could just go up and shoot anybody who stumbles onto their property? Do they sit around all day listening to rightwing hate radio? Do they get riled up by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck and then feel justified to go out and do exactly what their misspelled sign says?
What is the difference between this couple and some minority gangbangers in an urban slum who shoot at people for being in their “territory” without permission?
This was a horribly senseless tragedy. A boy is dead. A family is devestated and this couple will now spend the rest of their worthless lives in jail, assuming they don’t get the death penalty.
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