LTE: Handgun would have aided road-rage victim

April 13, 2005
Columbus Dispatch

The senseless act of a lowlife last week took the life of a father of three, Jason A. Schmalenberger, who was simply on his way to play golf ("Father of three stabbed to death," Dispatch article, April 4).

Just another prime example of the type of society that exists today and just another reason to be armed. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Schmalenberger would be alive today had he been armed with a handgun.

Try looking down the barrel of a .45 and tell me a perpetrator is going to continue his aggression when, more than likely, he will be in the morgue within hours.

Like it or not, when it comes to your life or those of your loved ones, people need to wake up. Tragedy can happen at a moment’s notice. Society is more violent today than ever before. When criminals realize more and more people are arming themselves, they may think twice before committing violent crimes.

My condolences to Schmalenberger’s family. May those who committed this violent act be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Becky Pyle
Reynoldsburg

Related Story:
Defenseless Ohioans continue to be victimized in their cars