The person who killed Paul Ortiz was sentenced to 15 years in jail, seven years suspended. This man took a gun and shot into the head of my brother. Can you imagine these last moments? First, skin and hair is destroyed, then bone is forcibly shattered. The bullet cuts a swath through delicate brain tissue, vital structures meant to be treated with a soft touch.

Of course the inevitable happens. Its violent, final. Lungs stop breathing, heart stops beating. Organs shut down, eyes close. Death follows, never to return to this world, never to live a good story. It is the most serious action, causing the death of another. For this, the judge not only thought 7 years was enough, but the person who killed Paul was not a danger to us, Rapid City, society. We have let criminals have their way for so long, they can commit serious crimes without serious consequences. We tell them we know they did not mean it "ike that."

It is a poor measure of this culture when we let murderers free while victims/families are left to wonder why criminals have more rights than us, in pain, angry, at a loss, victimized again.

Gabriella Ortiz

California