Did You Ever Know That You’re My Hero

A letter in the current South Philly Review:

I was so angry after reading in Police Report (”Charged with teen’s murder,” Aug. 10) about senior citizen Barry Mason charged with murder after some teen snatched his jewelry. Mr. Mason should have been labeled a hero for standing up to this ongoing, escalating terror these ghetto punks are raging upon South Philadelphia.

I have witnessed many occasions where gangs roam through neighborhoods, looting, stealing and vandalizing. Mr. Mason must have had enough. I know what he was feeling. I was robbed many times by punks on bikes. If Mr. Mason is convicted in any way, shape or form, this judicial system is geared for the criminal and not for the law-abiding citizen.

Because, really, what better hero is there than a man who chases a kid down with his car and shoots him multiple times with a semiautomatic handgun?

Justice has blinders [South Philly Review, 2nd letter