CRIME BRINGS SYMPATHY AND CALL FOR CAUTION

When a crime occurs in your neighborhood, it shatters the illusion of safety.

Such is the case with the murder of James W. "Bud" Brown of Jackson, who was shot to death late last week. His body was found Sunday in a wooded area just north of Scott City.

Brown, 50, was just trying to sell his truck when he took the would-be buyer for a test drive. They never returned.

Neighbors and the community at large are understandably shaken by Brown's abduction from a quiet street in Jackson.

Why was he killed? How could it happen here?

A similar outrage occurred last Friday when an 86-year-old Cape Girardeau woman was assaulted in her home. In addition to her emotional injuries, she was hospitalized for a broken hip, broken rib, a shoulder injury, lacerations and bruises.

The attacker entered through an unlocked back door.

This murder and assault serve as a brutal wake-up call to everyone. Evil isn't limited to metropolitan areas. People must be wary of strangers and protect themselves at all times. Murderers and rapists can also be people we know.

That isn't to say people should become cynical and distrustful of all they meet. But an ample dose of wariness wouldn't hurt.

Brown's neighbors remember him as a man who loved his church and his beagle dogs, a man who helped neighbors and friends. He was employed by the Burlington Northern Railroad and leaves behind a wife, two daughters and a son. His brother is a pastor at a Jackson church.

He was last seen when he left with the would-be truck buyer Thursday morning. Later that afternoon, the truck was sold at a Cape Girardeau used car dealership.

Authorities are searching for Kenneth Allen Bundy, 39, in connection with the crime. He has ties to the northern Scott County area, but has recently lived in Southern Illinois.

There are no easy answers as to why this crime occurred. People throughout the region must pull together to offer support to his family and friends. There is nothing wrong with a little outrage either.

Too often people become immune to all the crime and violence in the world. The names and stories seem to flow into one another.

It is important to see each murder victim as an individual -- not just the names we recognize.

Public outcry will one day help police to take back the streets from criminals -- not with vigilantism but through tougher sentencing, mandatory jail terms and proper funding for law enforcement.

A murder here is front-page news. In a larger town, it might be relegated to an inside page because senseless murders are so common.

While a murder may initially seem more shocking here, the low crime rate might quickly lull everyone back to a false sense of security.

Don't let that happen.

Everyone must keep be on guard to protect themselves and their families. Criminals are out there, and we must do whatever we can to keep undeserving citizens from being their victims.