Spree Killer Caught

Every day there is something in the news that illustrates the importance of being able to defend yourself, your family and those close to you. Today's news offers up an example that should make all but the most deranged hopolophobe at least consider the necessity of carrying a firearm for self protection.

From Fox News:

Authorities Capture Suspect in String of Midwest Killings

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Police and FBI agents captured an ex-convict suspected of killing eight people in two states as he smoked a cigarette outside of a southwestern Illinois bar Tuesday night, a bar employee said.

Nicholas T. Sheley, who was the subject of a multistate manhunt after authorities linked him to the deaths of eight people in Illinois and Missouri, was arrested around 7 p.m. outside of Bindy's, a Granite City bar, said bartender Katie Ronk...

Another goblin off the streets.

A bit of the grisly details:

Sheley has only been charged in the death of one of the eight. He faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery and vehicular hijacking in the death of Ronald Randall, whose body was found Monday behind a grocery store in Galesburg, in northwestern Illinois, police said. An autopsy showed the 65-year-old died from blunt force trauma to the head, likely on Saturday...

...Authorities said the killings began with the beating death of 93-year-old Russell Reed, a Sterling man whose body was found stuffed in the trunk of a car Thursday. Sheley also is from Sterling, a town of 15,000 about 100 miles west of Chicago.

On Monday, police discovered the bodies of two men, a woman and a child in an apartment on a street of single-family homes in nearby Rock Falls. Investigators believe they likely died late Saturday or early Sunday.

Sheley was acquainted with the male victims, Brock Branson and Kenneth Ulvey, both in their 20s, said Illinois State Police Region Two Commander Mark Maton. Police did not identify the woman or child.

More than 250 miles, the bodies of Tom and Jill Estes of Sherwood, Ark., were found Monday behind a gas station in Festus, said Bill Baker, with the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad.

The couple had checked into a Comfort Inn in Festus on Friday and were last seen late Sunday. Their dogs were found in the hotel parking lot, unharmed but covered with blood...

All eight of these people were beaten to death, all died at the hands of a goblin who happened to be on drugs. At least half of these victims were chosen at random, killed because they happened to cross paths with a psychopath. Not a one of the victims woke up in the morning expecting to come face to face with a psychotic predator. None of them were armed.

Why do I carry? Take a look into the eyes of that goblin, go read the article, and then come back and tell me why you do not.

Oh... I expected to find these statements, and was not disappointed.

Public records show Sheley has multiple convictions for robbery, drugs and weapons charges and has spent three years in prison...

...and his rap sheet includes arrests for home invasion.

I propose that victims of violent crimes be allowed the opportunity to sue prosecutors, judges and parole boards who allow vermin such as this to walk our streets.