Beating Death

* I was not surprised that no Good Samaritan stopped to help Tina Rodriguez as she was brutally beaten to death at a La Habra shopping center (Sept. 4). This happened just days after it was reported the daughter of a robber was suing the shop owner that killed him. Why would anyone take the chance of helping a victim? I’ve intervened several times in the past, but I would seriously reconsider the next time a situation arises, and I doubt if anyone would help me. The police are nothing more than revenue collectors and janitors that clean up the mess after the crime has been committed. The courts protect the rights of criminals, but rule time and time again that citizens are ultimately responsible for their own safety. It’s obvious that government, whose only charter is to protect its citizens and ensure their safety, not only fails this, but hinders the ability of people to help each other or themselves.

MICHAEL BALDRIDGE

Irvine

* I know that most of us living in the Los Angeles area have become somewhat desensitized to the endless barrage of violence and murder that occurs in our streets, but I was sickened to the depths of my soul, as I’m sure many of us were, after hearing of the mother of four who was savagely beaten to death in a La Habra parking lot while bystanders stood around and watched.

I felt such a sense of shame and grief that I live in a community where incidents such as this can occur. God help us all!

NICHOLAS J. SCHERMERHORN

Rancho Palos Verdes