Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. Never has a more solid argument against karma been made. What happened to the “Golden Rule,” and when exactly does being nice pay off?
Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs died last week at the hands of a man he had once saved. Where is the justice in that?
Officer Briggs was shot in the early morning hours of Monday, October 16. Briggs was completing the last 15 minutes of duty on his bike route when he was shot by Michael Addison during a domestic dispute call. Briggs’ partners called in the shooting and he was rushed to Elliot Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until he passed away on Tuesday, October 17.
Three years ago, in March of 2003, Officer Briggs was the first officer on the scene of a shooting in a Manchester apartment. Michael Addison, then 24, was shot in the collarbone. Officer Briggs administered first aid and called for further medical assistance. In essence, Briggs saved Addison’s life.
One can understand not wanting to be caught, especially as a repeat offender, but what in the world could justify such a heinous crime?
Officer Briggs had a wife of 12 years and two young boys. He vacationed in York Beach, and countless friends and family members can recall priceless memories of the man they lost. When an individual kills another human being, when does the thought cross their mind about what they are taking away from the victim and the world?
Would it have been different if Addison had known that Briggs’ two sons would no longer be able to play catch with their father? Briggs lost the opportunity to see them grow up and fulfill all of their amazing potential. His wife can never turn to her husband again and tell him how incredible he is and that she loves him. No more Thanksgiving dinners, Fourth of July barbeques and Easter egg hunts. These opportunities were all lost in one of the most shocking crimes Manchester has seen in 30 years. The last time a Manchester officer was killed in the line of duty was when Ralph Miller was killed in October 1976.
Where does it end? When will basic love and respect for one another finally overcome the hatred that plagues the human race? Will someone ever be strong enough to simply accept the consequences of his or her actions instead of resorting to violence? Why does it have to be this way? The world is never going to be perfect – that is not realistic – but when will humanity finally prevail?
~The Clock Staff