Human Nature?
Escondido Police Officer Martin Hewlett shot Robert Scriven at least 11 times at close range, and Police Chief Vince Jimno defends the action by saying, “It’s human nature to shoot until the attacker stops.”
If it took this much firepower to stop the 170-pound Scriven, then Officer Hewlett was certainly in grave danger, more than anyone can possibly imagine.
The “human nature” factor that Chief Jimno cites is probably the reason why officer Hewlett fired 15 rounds total, but does it excuse him? Law enforcement officials have a great responsibility to the public, and part of that responsibility is to have a better control of their “human nature” than the average citizen.
If I’m out of work and homeless and my children are hungry, and I take up a gun and rob a gas station to get money to buy my children food, will Chief Jimno defend me by pointing out that it is only human nature for me to want to feed my hungry children?
WILLIAM HOMANN
San Marcos
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
