Court not at fault in Tierne Ewing’s death
The death of Tierne Ewing is a tragedy, but I am an attorney familiar enough with this case to tell you that the system and gun laws are not to blame. “The system” is a reflection of our Constitution, which demands reasonable bail. Kevin Ewing was given a bail amount nobody reasonably assumed he could muster. The Justice Department recently decried such a practice as unconstitutional. Still, Ewing posted it.
Oddly, the O-R article of Aug. 30 leaves out that Mrs. Ewing was living at the residence with Mr. Ewing, despite an existing PFA. It also leaves out that Mr. Ewing’s home was searched for guns and that he was under a strict gun law requiring relinquishment of firearms and removing his ability to purchase or possess the same.
How then did a man unable to leave his home get a gun? How shocking that he should illegally obtain or retain one, despite clear gun laws to the contrary.
This tragedy is based upon nothing more than the failings of human nature, which government exists to curtail, to the greatest extent possible.
Government did its best here and failed, but not on account of negligence. This, therefore, isn’t a valid opportunity to make political points, or attack the judge for being a neutral legal authority. The O-R article causes such a result by leaving many points vague, undisclosed, or uninvestigated.
By the way, Judge Gilman? Very smart man. He’s a jurist who stops and considers the Constitution and the law. What’s right isn’t always what’s popular.
We can’t, or shouldn’t, pick and choose our rights based on predictions of the very worst outcomes. We can’t do more than the Constitution allows.
George C. Miller Jr.
Greensburg