Suddenly our status quo media has discovered North Carolina’s revolving door prison system. That our urban counties take absolutely no interest in keeping track of violent offenders who are placed on probation by indifferent, overwhelmed judges.
Of course Eve Carson’s accused killers were out on probation. That is the way the system works. Repeat offenders are rubber stamped through the system until someone winds up dead. This comes as no news to readers of Meck Deck, of Crime in Charlotte, of Tara Servatius, of The Rhino Times.
The Uptown paper of record knows it has been scooped on this topic and will be scooped indefinitely. There is simply no institutional interest in pursuing this story — reporters know it, so it does not happen. Enjoy the 12-part series on poultry processing plants, then smugly going on WFAE to brag about how much money you spent doing it. Dopes.
Here’s another thing, let’s get the language right because it is time to stop speaking in circles. First, suspect Demario James Atwater absolutely is a repeat violent offender. I heard WBTV’s Paul Cameron, a straight-shooter, describe him as otherwise the other night. Not true.
Felony breaking and entering is a violent offense in my book. Using violence to obtain property is a violent offense. I’d also say that possession of a firearm by a felon is a license to strong-arm robbery, if not out-and-out armed robbery where the definition of “brandishing” weapon turns on a victim’s memory and a prosecutor’s caseload.
Second, this was not a random crime. Eve Carson was targeted due to her race, sex, age, and lifestyle. It is simply fantasy to pretend otherwise.
The status quo will never get to those topics.
