Tragic story

A few days ago, Jennifer Ewing, a 54 year old mother of three went for a bike ride on the Silver Comet Trail as she normally does. Only this time, she didn't come home:

...police found a body believed to be that of Jennifer Ewing, a 54-year-old Sandy Springs mother of three who often rode 50 miles in a day. The apparent homicide victim was discovered 40 feet off the trail, near mile marker 17 between Hiram and Dallas, after she did not come home Tuesday. Black spandex riding shorts were found atop a patch of kudzu nearby.

For those that aren't aware, the Silver Comet is a set of biking, hiking, and rollerblading trails that go from the borders of west Atlanta to Alabama; it's set on what used to be railroad lines, so there are no steep inclines or curves. It's quite popular to many in the metro area; it's also very secluded - in my mind, the perfect place for a criminally minded freak to hang out. While it's not been a hot bed of assaults, muggings, or worse in the past, it has happened now - and will most likely occur again. Lulling oneself in to a sense of complacency that it's a safe serene place is the first step toward danger.

Many of you can see this coming, but guess what the Comet's policy is on firearms? Prohibited. Despite the fact that criminals could care less and will bring one if they want (thus leaving law abiding citizens as defenseless as a shorn sheep). Despite the fact that when asked, an armed citizen is something that criminals fear most. Despite the fact that most law-abiding, permit-carrying gun owners have more training in terms of safety and proper usage than many police officers and attempt to resolve conflicts without ever firing a shot (see recent post about the crazed knife wielder).

I'm sorry this happened and will keep this family in my prayers. I just hope that some good can come from it.