Hello Al, Justice an interesting concept. Although it is another word that caught my eye. The word “fair”. The word might have caught eye, but it’s how you used the word that I’m curious about. Care to elaborate?
My grandmother had a short saying she would sometimes use on me when I would say, that’ s not fair, in response to something I did not like.
It must have been heart-wrenching for you to personally witness this daily trial and the toll it took on Kaylin’s family and friends, Ken.
Justice prevailed, and that is reaffirming that the system “works,” though no true jubilation is afforded this family who will live with this loss forever.
But knowing 9 jurors hardly hesitated to condemn this man’s heinous crime means Monahan’s voice has essentially been silenced. With no gun to “protect” him from very real criminals while he is incarcerated.
Thank you for your voice, Ken. For both your personal and professional investment in keeping this story on “The Front Page,” just as you did throughout your tenure as our Post Star editor, and within the pages of your 3 books.
Susan - Thank you so much. While I followed the trial closely, I was not there every day, but certainly enough to get a feel for the devastation of those involved. Being in court is also a reminder of the dedication and investment law enforcement and the judicial system have in making our legal system work. When you see a case like this, you are glad to see that.
Truly, a tragedy all the way around. Sounds like the system.
Looking at the big picture, I can offer this. I am a Political operative, and I have been collecting petition from signatures at people's homes for many years. To get candidates on the ballot, you have to get a certain number of signatures. I have knocked on thousands of stranger's doors to get signatures. And all the other political people have to do the same thing. So I have many many data points.
I would say that if I knocked on 100 doors, 80% are friendly and sign the petition. I would say another 10 to 15% won't come to the door because they don't want to be bothered or they are afraid. I know I've had many people think I'm a process server or a cop or a repo man or a bill collector, or an irate husband and won't answer until I let them know I'm just a political guy wanting a signature and then they come out. Some people even ask you their house to talk or offer you a drink of water. There's all kinds of people.
But I would say that one out of every hundred will come to the door and respond in anger. They will scream and yell at you saying asking why are you bothering them and that they hate politics and they hate strangers knocking on their door. They really get in your face and let you have it. Usually it's men, but occasionally it's a woman.
So my observation is that if someone is afraid, they tend to not come to the door, lock the door and wait for you to go away. They may be armed are they that may not be armed, but the key thing is they simply want to protect their home. On the other hand, the people come, they come to the door and start yelling are angry people. They want a confrontation. They are not content with you just going away.
This may not be a perfect analogy, but it is my experience. Also, we always get petitions during the daylight hours, and not at night. My point is there are all kinds of different people out there and some are just angry and confrontational.
I wonder though... be it your job or yo do it as a volunteer. What should someone do if they don't want you knocking on their door.. If they are afraid (people have good reasons to be afraid or to not want someone (a stranger) at their door), what should they do?
No way am I saying this to defend Kevin Monahan.
I ask, not wanting to be a victim, but also not wanting to be bothered.
I have been on both sides. I have delivered flyers for a garage sale..not as bad, but dogs and some angry people... But if there was a sign that said, "No trespassing" I would not drop off a flyer.
AND
Like everyone in this area now, when I need to turn around, to pull into a driveway, just to go back.. I wonder:
The fact that they were turning around and leaving just stuns me. Although this is justice it will never bring that young lady back to her family and never undo the trauma to all of those kids. Heartbreaking and it happened for no reason at all.
Monahan did testify that he shot once in the air, and said the gun went off accidentally on the second shot. And a young woman ended up dead. When police came to his door later that night, he said no one had been in his driveway and he never mentioned shooting the gun. My guess is none of that helped his case.
I just saw that... which confuses me even more.. in the air, they are leaving..
now I shoot to kill?
Thank you for the clarification, I still believe, when you point a gun at someone, you are intending to shoot them.
I am not sure if he is a good shot, bad shot, but he did the wrong thing... and I feel the way it unfolded, he had been thinking about doing this for some time
I was raised in a gun family.. well before there were hunter saftey courses.. even before the NRA was mainly focused on gun safety, which was before they became the evil they are now...
And that was drilled in my head. It is why I find it so amazing most of the pro-gun rhetoric, turns out to be the exact opposite of how to handle a killing machine
Barbara, with what you start with, truer than I would wish to know. The ending no so much so. There will always be a reason. We may not like it, understand it, or believe it, but there will be a reason.
At times I hear music, this time a song by The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! was what I went searching for. I found it. I also found 2 Legends On The Story Of A #1 Hit From The 60s That Is Over 2000 Years Old https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSS3lJZHSE Its rather long, it tells some of the history behind the song.
Maybe I should have said "justifiable reason." I realize he had his reasons but everyone who murders has a reason, even if it is "I felt like killing someone today." On a spiritual level, I'm sure much has been learned.
When paranoid persons are encouraged to use guns, tragedy ensues. He may have a paranoid personality disorder or he may watch too much Fox "news." It may be both. When gun use is promoted as a sign of "manliness", tragedy follows.
I don't know if 'gender' is appropriate.. I really don't know. I have seen women take the same stance about guns..
One of the things I fear (but believe me I am not sitting with a gun in my hands over this) is that republicans are so polarized that most everything they do is to 'own the libs'
{I think it is a misnomer to say both sides are polarized, since with the guns it is republicans taunting the ownership, in really radical and crazy ways, but I don't see many on the left saying TAKE AWAY ALL GUNS. Granted republicans pretend that is true but it is not.}
The saying: "until you take it from my cold dead hands." is the statement of a crazy person.. and crazy people should not have guns
This is the thing I dislike about mia_POS_tfnkkk the most
not just a lie that is told, but telling the lie as if it was something a democrat had ever said
It is the same with open borders, I am sure you never heard anyone say they want open borders, but if you follow mia_POS_tfnKKK enough you would think every dem believes that... but just another lie
Then you watch a hmpy trmpy rally and his fools repeat such lies as if it was a fact
In your column on Monday.. 'gun' and 'conversation' were mentioned
It is so ironic because I was talking to a friend about this case last summer. And the friend said: "When you are carrying a gun.. have a gun, it BECOMES part of the conversation."
for Kevin Monahan and gun nuts like mia_POS_tfnKKK & gQpedos, a gun is a talking point. It is "I don't need facts, bang you are dead!"
Having sat on a jury for a criminal case, I can say the jury arrived at their verdict in less than 2 hours. Much of the time before the jury returns to court to deliver the verdict is spent filling out paperwork. I hope this decision sends a message to trigger-happy-gung-ho gun owners that shooting at people is not acceptable and will actually have to "think" before ever brandishing a weapon at unarmed people. It could happen to any of us. How many times have I pulled into a stranger's driveway when lost to ask directions? Several times. What do you do when your car breaks down on a dark road with no cell coverage, or you need to report a medical emergency, an accident, a tree blocking the road? Are people feeling so threatened or angry that they've lost their humanity? Not a society any of us can feel safe in.
Probably something only the family can answer. Although, it could have been a hedge against Monahan being found not guilty. Remember O.J. Simpson lost a civil suit over the murder of his wife.
Think about the states that have “stand your ground” laws. There might have been a very different outcome to this trial. I still maintain that being fearful in the face of no real threat is not, and should not be a defense, but look what happened with Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. Florida law in that case essentially said that if you can convince a jury you were scared enough, you can get away with murder.
Our hearts go out to the Gillis family, first and foremost. And, yes, unfortunately, this is another example of what paranoia wed to a gun mentality can lead to.
Was at the GF game last night, and I can honestly say that in my many years I have never seen a high school basketball team with a more balanced attack—both offensively and defensively.
Justice is served.
To extent I agree.
Kevin Monahan was found guilty.. it seems there is no doubt about that
BUT
big but
Kaylin Gillis is dead.
She was dead yesterday
She was dead on her 21st birthday
She will be dead for every birthday to the future.
Justice can't fix that
I said justice was served. I didn’t say it was fair. It usually isn’t.
I am sorry.. I didn't mean to question what you wrote...
Please forgive me, I was expressing my grief...and sadness
I was responding to your post, not what I perceived your intentions or thoughts were.. but more to the word: "justice"
sorry
Peace
Hello Al, Justice an interesting concept. Although it is another word that caught my eye. The word “fair”. The word might have caught eye, but it’s how you used the word that I’m curious about. Care to elaborate?
My grandmother had a short saying she would sometimes use on me when I would say, that’ s not fair, in response to something I did not like.
It must have been heart-wrenching for you to personally witness this daily trial and the toll it took on Kaylin’s family and friends, Ken.
Justice prevailed, and that is reaffirming that the system “works,” though no true jubilation is afforded this family who will live with this loss forever.
But knowing 9 jurors hardly hesitated to condemn this man’s heinous crime means Monahan’s voice has essentially been silenced. With no gun to “protect” him from very real criminals while he is incarcerated.
Thank you for your voice, Ken. For both your personal and professional investment in keeping this story on “The Front Page,” just as you did throughout your tenure as our Post Star editor, and within the pages of your 3 books.
Susan - Thank you so much. While I followed the trial closely, I was not there every day, but certainly enough to get a feel for the devastation of those involved. Being in court is also a reminder of the dedication and investment law enforcement and the judicial system have in making our legal system work. When you see a case like this, you are glad to see that.
Truly, a tragedy all the way around. Sounds like the system.
Looking at the big picture, I can offer this. I am a Political operative, and I have been collecting petition from signatures at people's homes for many years. To get candidates on the ballot, you have to get a certain number of signatures. I have knocked on thousands of stranger's doors to get signatures. And all the other political people have to do the same thing. So I have many many data points.
I would say that if I knocked on 100 doors, 80% are friendly and sign the petition. I would say another 10 to 15% won't come to the door because they don't want to be bothered or they are afraid. I know I've had many people think I'm a process server or a cop or a repo man or a bill collector, or an irate husband and won't answer until I let them know I'm just a political guy wanting a signature and then they come out. Some people even ask you their house to talk or offer you a drink of water. There's all kinds of people.
But I would say that one out of every hundred will come to the door and respond in anger. They will scream and yell at you saying asking why are you bothering them and that they hate politics and they hate strangers knocking on their door. They really get in your face and let you have it. Usually it's men, but occasionally it's a woman.
So my observation is that if someone is afraid, they tend to not come to the door, lock the door and wait for you to go away. They may be armed are they that may not be armed, but the key thing is they simply want to protect their home. On the other hand, the people come, they come to the door and start yelling are angry people. They want a confrontation. They are not content with you just going away.
This may not be a perfect analogy, but it is my experience. Also, we always get petitions during the daylight hours, and not at night. My point is there are all kinds of different people out there and some are just angry and confrontational.
I wonder though... be it your job or yo do it as a volunteer. What should someone do if they don't want you knocking on their door.. If they are afraid (people have good reasons to be afraid or to not want someone (a stranger) at their door), what should they do?
No way am I saying this to defend Kevin Monahan.
I ask, not wanting to be a victim, but also not wanting to be bothered.
I have been on both sides. I have delivered flyers for a garage sale..not as bad, but dogs and some angry people... But if there was a sign that said, "No trespassing" I would not drop off a flyer.
AND
Like everyone in this area now, when I need to turn around, to pull into a driveway, just to go back.. I wonder:
What happens next
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think it offers valuable insight.
The fact that they were turning around and leaving just stuns me. Although this is justice it will never bring that young lady back to her family and never undo the trauma to all of those kids. Heartbreaking and it happened for no reason at all.
You + ME = SAME page
Just wrote some of this in other responses.
I wasn't at the trial, nor did I read everything about it. BUT you point a gun at some for one reason, and ultimately that is to kill someone.
He could have shot in the air. he could have shot into the woods.
In that situation, Kaylin Gillis does when:
• you aim
• pull the trigger
Monahan did testify that he shot once in the air, and said the gun went off accidentally on the second shot. And a young woman ended up dead. When police came to his door later that night, he said no one had been in his driveway and he never mentioned shooting the gun. My guess is none of that helped his case.
I just saw that... which confuses me even more.. in the air, they are leaving..
now I shoot to kill?
Thank you for the clarification, I still believe, when you point a gun at someone, you are intending to shoot them.
I am not sure if he is a good shot, bad shot, but he did the wrong thing... and I feel the way it unfolded, he had been thinking about doing this for some time
As far as I know, that is the rule. Never point a weapon at anyone unless you want to use lethal force.
I was raised in a gun family.. well before there were hunter saftey courses.. even before the NRA was mainly focused on gun safety, which was before they became the evil they are now...
And that was drilled in my head. It is why I find it so amazing most of the pro-gun rhetoric, turns out to be the exact opposite of how to handle a killing machine
Barbara, with what you start with, truer than I would wish to know. The ending no so much so. There will always be a reason. We may not like it, understand it, or believe it, but there will be a reason.
At times I hear music, this time a song by The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! was what I went searching for. I found it. I also found 2 Legends On The Story Of A #1 Hit From The 60s That Is Over 2000 Years Old https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSS3lJZHSE Its rather long, it tells some of the history behind the song.
Maybe I should have said "justifiable reason." I realize he had his reasons but everyone who murders has a reason, even if it is "I felt like killing someone today." On a spiritual level, I'm sure much has been learned.
When paranoid persons are encouraged to use guns, tragedy ensues. He may have a paranoid personality disorder or he may watch too much Fox "news." It may be both. When gun use is promoted as a sign of "manliness", tragedy follows.
I am so grateful he will be held accountable.
I don't know if 'gender' is appropriate.. I really don't know. I have seen women take the same stance about guns..
One of the things I fear (but believe me I am not sitting with a gun in my hands over this) is that republicans are so polarized that most everything they do is to 'own the libs'
{I think it is a misnomer to say both sides are polarized, since with the guns it is republicans taunting the ownership, in really radical and crazy ways, but I don't see many on the left saying TAKE AWAY ALL GUNS. Granted republicans pretend that is true but it is not.}
The saying: "until you take it from my cold dead hands." is the statement of a crazy person.. and crazy people should not have guns
I don’t know of anyone who believes guns should be banned totally.
This is the thing I dislike about mia_POS_tfnkkk the most
not just a lie that is told, but telling the lie as if it was something a democrat had ever said
It is the same with open borders, I am sure you never heard anyone say they want open borders, but if you follow mia_POS_tfnKKK enough you would think every dem believes that... but just another lie
Then you watch a hmpy trmpy rally and his fools repeat such lies as if it was a fact
In your column on Monday.. 'gun' and 'conversation' were mentioned
It is so ironic because I was talking to a friend about this case last summer. And the friend said: "When you are carrying a gun.. have a gun, it BECOMES part of the conversation."
for Kevin Monahan and gun nuts like mia_POS_tfnKKK & gQpedos, a gun is a talking point. It is "I don't need facts, bang you are dead!"
https://kentingley.substack.com/p/why-does-anyone-need-to-start-a-dialogue
Having sat on a jury for a criminal case, I can say the jury arrived at their verdict in less than 2 hours. Much of the time before the jury returns to court to deliver the verdict is spent filling out paperwork. I hope this decision sends a message to trigger-happy-gung-ho gun owners that shooting at people is not acceptable and will actually have to "think" before ever brandishing a weapon at unarmed people. It could happen to any of us. How many times have I pulled into a stranger's driveway when lost to ask directions? Several times. What do you do when your car breaks down on a dark road with no cell coverage, or you need to report a medical emergency, an accident, a tree blocking the road? Are people feeling so threatened or angry that they've lost their humanity? Not a society any of us can feel safe in.
Now come the civil suit(s).
Probably something only the family can answer. Although, it could have been a hedge against Monahan being found not guilty. Remember O.J. Simpson lost a civil suit over the murder of his wife.
Each of the survivors also suffered their own traumas from that ordeal as well.
What was the punishment?
The sentencing hearing is set for March 1st, Mary.
He faces 25 to life on March 1.
What was the punishment?
Think about the states that have “stand your ground” laws. There might have been a very different outcome to this trial. I still maintain that being fearful in the face of no real threat is not, and should not be a defense, but look what happened with Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. Florida law in that case essentially said that if you can convince a jury you were scared enough, you can get away with murder.
Our hearts go out to the Gillis family, first and foremost. And, yes, unfortunately, this is another example of what paranoia wed to a gun mentality can lead to.
Was at the GF game last night, and I can honestly say that in my many years I have never seen a high school basketball team with a more balanced attack—both offensively and defensively.
Exactly, any of the five starters could be the leading scorer on any given night. And Queensbury played them tough Tuesday and still lost by 30.
Thanks Susan!