Lakewood Gunman Killed

The NY Times reports early this morning that Maurice Clemmons has been shot and killed.

SEATTLE (AP) -- The man suspected of gunning down four police officers in a suburban coffee shop was shot and killed by a lone patrolman investigating a stolen car early Tuesday. Four people were arrested for allegedly helping the suspect elude authorities during a massive two-day manhunt.

Here is the full story.

The man was a career criminal, sentenced years ago to 90 + years in prison.

Of course, he had his sentence commuted.

Last week, after more horrific charges, he was released on bail.

Does anyone in the court system anywhere use a computer? Does anyone have a brain?

The people who let this bastard trick out the system have blood on their hands.

I confess that this murder of four police officers has had a strong and awful effect on me.

The idea of a horrible crazy person walking into a cafe and assassinating four people is so utterly repugnant.

What can we do? What can we do?

Not much, I'm afraid.

But paying attention to who we have standing in front of us could be a start. For Governors and parole officers and bail bondsmen.

Cutting the gun lobby off at the knees might be another good move.

And for those who argue Do the Math, I say, No. You do the math.

PER CAPITA, Canada, unlike our neighbours, not a gun-nation, has relatively few deaths from gunfire.

We have, so far, a different culture.

Roundup

Pressed for a bit of time this morning, I offer the following quickies:

1. The Canadian Pavilion at The Games will be built by an American company.

Doesn't that just summarize the entire mental set of an apologetic second-class nation?

Gary Lunn, the Conservative MP for Saanich and The Islands is the Minister of State for Sport and he made this MOnty Pythonesque announcement. He continues to be an embarrassment at the Hedy Fry level.

2. Campbell Land.

The Nelson Arts Council has closed its doors. The group lost $12,000 of its $50,000 budget when the Gaming commish cut its funding.

In CampbellLand we don't support local citizens at the coffee money level when we can spend billions of The Games.

3. O the heels of that dreadful de Havilland crash at Suturna Island yesterday, it is particularly galling to learn that Transport Canada's latest safety initiatives are an unholy mess.

How about an Air Canada plane full of passengers doing a "hot" refuelling? That means they are adding fuel with the engines running. Cute.

The story is terrifying.

And here is the nub of it.

Canada's new airline safety system has turned them into deskbound bureaucrats who no longer conduct hands-on inspections.

“Most inspectors do not even leave the Transport Canada office,” Christine Collins, president of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, told the Commons committee Monday.

This, of course, is exactly what has happened to the Parole Service and other government agencies.

Sports

1. That performance by New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was just about the most impressive I have witnessed in a lifetime of watching the NFL.

I have been a deranged fan since the days of black and white TV and Johnny Unitas throwing to Raymond Berry for the Baltimore Colts.

Namath, Marino, Joe Montana, Kenny "The Snake" Stabler...the whole glorious crazy gang of them.

And I'm not sure I've ever seen a guy zip the ball with such accuracy and confidence.

Five touchdowns to five different receivers.

Of course, what this says about the Patriot's defense you don't want to hear.

Some Saints receivers were completely wide open and in the clear.

Anyway...if you missed it, you missed a classic.

And, because their defense was also superb , you have to watch the Saints (11-0) through the playoffs.

2. Oh, Tiger.

Pulleeeze.

Yes, a man has a right to privacy.

But Woods, who has clammed up and dropped out of his own tournament with nary an explanation is shooting himself in the foot every day he maintains his silence.

Woods is no ordinary citizen. He is the richest and most recognizable sports personality on the globe.

His handlers might point out these small distinctions to him soon.