When orders of protection fail

Tacoma special education teacher Jennifer Paulson was murdered outside the elementary school by a former college classmate who had just been released from jail for violating a restraining order. Here is the link to the AP article.

Once again, no protection is given to those who legally seek it, but plenty of protection is given to crazies-- and of course, they always can get their hands on guns. In fact, Ms. Paulson's murderer, Jed R. Waits, was dishonorably discharged from the National Guard in 2009.

Until we truly make it impossible for restraining orders to be meaningless, and as long as violent predators can legally obtain guns, people like Ms. Paulson will be victimized. God bless her and her family, and may we all pray for her.

Idiot of the day report

Apparently common sense isn't a requirement to get into Yale, these days. Get a load of this one:

Three Yale University students, including a Briton and a Greek national, have been charged in a case involving the burning of a U.S. flag outside a Connecticut house, a court official said on Wednesday.

Said Hyder Akbar, 23, Nikolaos Angelopoulos, 19, and Farhad Anklesaria, 19, were arrested on Tuesday and charged in New Haven Superior Court with reckless endangerment, arson, breach of peace, criminal mischief and other offenses.

Police said the three torched a flag hanging from the porch of a house in New Haven near the Ivy League school.

Anklesaria is British and Angelopoulos is Greek. Both are freshmen. Akbar, a senior, was born in Pakistan but is a U.S. citizen, according to police and court documents. Anklesaria and Angelopoulos turned over their passports.

They later appeared in court in leg irons and handcuffs, which is really a bit over the top for the idiotic thing they did. They set a flag that was someone else's property on fire. They also set it on fire while it was attached to someone else's house.

What a bunch of morons! They are lucky the homeowner didn't come out to protect his property, and they are lucky they did not set the house on fire.

And, honestly, I'm not too sure I am thrilled with the idea of these guys enjoying the hospitality of my country as guests and then burning the flag either. I am sure I have several students who have more common sense who received rejection letters this week postmarked "New Haven, CT."

Okay, now I believe in freedom of speech. I do. I personally would be irritated and even angry about someone burning a US flag in my presence, but American citizens have a right to do it. As long as they are ready to hear some angry speech right back at them while they do it.

However!

If someone comes up and burns MY flag hanging on the side of my very flammable HOUSE that is filled with my very precious children, dogs, and belongings, then baby, you'd better be ready to find out if this fat lady can catch you.

I bet I could.