Political Correctness is getting people killed.

There will be dozens of stories written about the events surrounding the Brian Nichols murder spree and kidnapping of Ashley Smith.

I was watching her interview today and came away with a calmness of spirit. She is a remarkable person. Her faith and compassion in the face of fear and terror is quite extraordinary. Ashley Smith is no stranger to tragedy. Her husband died after a stabbing four years ago leaving Ashley to raise her daughter alone. I can only imagine her first thoughts when she knew who had abducted her. Not me, I can't let my daughter loose the only person she has left.

The interview that I want to examine is the one where District Attorney Paul Howard, when asked if a 5'1" female officer should have been guarding Brian Nichols alone he said "Yes. Women are capable of doing anything men are capable are doing."

Really? That is a nice ideal to have and a very politically correct thing to say, I am sure that Susan Estrich would agree with Mr. Howard. That is just not true. The facts are that Brian Nichols is a very strong athletic young man. He was found to be carrying a sharpened door hinge the day before his hearing. He was a high threat individual. The idea of a 51 year grandmother controlling this man is just ridiculous. Maybe deputy Hall was a great officer, I am sure her fellow deputies liked her and she may have been a great person. That does not change the laws of physics or criminal behavior. Now four people are dead.

I have met a few female police officers that I would not want to tangle with, I have also seen dozens who couldn't stop a fight over the last pair of Bruno Magli shoes at Macy's.

Is it too much to ask that our police and firefighters have the physical ability to deal with real world situations?