Serial Shooter: Dale Hausner Jury

I have been a broadcast journalist for the past decade or so. Over the years, I have felt the thrill of being on the winning side of breaking news, and on the losing side. This week, not only was I only on the winning side of news, but the winning side of the justice system. The system doesn't always work, but this time it did. I'm talking about the Serial Shooter case of Dale Hausner in Phoenix, AZ.
Twelve men and women put their lives on hold to hear every gruesome detail that occurred when Dale Hausner and Sam Dieteman went on a random shooting spree across our metro area over a two year period. These men shot people (and animals) for sport. A man sitting at a bus stop. A woman walking to meet a friend. A horse grazing in a field. All in the name of fun. These killers lived in a fantasy world, where they no longer valued life. They sought power that was missing in their own lives. In a twisted search of pleasure and control, Hausner and Dieteman played God and took the lives of eight men and women and wounded numerous others.
But back to these jurors. There were a million excuses they could have given the judge as to why they could not commit to a 7 month long trial. Yet each one dropped everything to honor their civic duty.
A man starting out his career put everything on hold. Women and men enjoying the freedom of retirement. A single mom working to support her children. They set it all aside to fulfill their obligation to our justice system. In turn, they took a narcissistic sociopath off the streets and sentenced him to death.
Next time you receive a jury summons, forget about the inconvenience it will cost you in your life. Stop complaining about the parking, the crappy pay or the work you'll miss. It's a small price to pay to make sure justice is served and men like this are off the street. And in the larger scheme of life, wouldn't you rather feel safe walking from your office to fetch a Starbucks than worrying about whether you'll be the next target of a Serial Shooter?

To view the entire interview my talented co-worker Mike Watkiss conducted visit http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/phoenix-local-news-040109-hausner-juror-speaks.9307e1b4.html