While it saddens me that Mr. Shepard was beaten and killed, the special interest groups are taking it too far.

They are using this event to further their own agenda.

Mr. Shepard’s father has been quoted as saying “I don’t want my son to be a martyr.”

He wants the family to be left alone to heal.

This isn’t happening though, every lesbian and gay group in the country is using this event to push for “protection laws.”

Powerful individuals and actors are also jumping on the bandwagon, undoubtedly to serve their own interests.

Yes, the murder of this young man was a tragic event. And, yes, it probably was a hate crime.

But people are beaten and murdered every day in major cities.

We don’t hold candlelight vigils for all these people?

When Bill Cosby’s son was murdered along the roadside a few years ago, there were no vigils across the country for him.

While some people are truly sorry about this event in Wyoming, others are using it to further their own motives.

The men who did this to Mr. Shepard should be tried and given the death penalty.

Then the family should be left alone to heal. No group should be granted special protection because they are “different.”

Doing so only separates us as a society even more as the inequalities grow. This will only lead to more violence and bloodshed.

The Shepard family wants to be left alone; shouldn’t we respect their wishes?

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Chris Kukla

Sophomore

Community and regional planning