The Mirror’s article “Woman’s killer dies in hospital” was sensitive to the family of the victim, Stephanie Hoddinott. I think Dianna Hunt should question her own sensitivity on this matter.
On Jan. 10, 2010, my beautiful daughter was senselessly murdered in my home. The assault was carried out with a .45-calibre semi-automatic weapon that was legally purchased online from the United States and was owned by Jake Ferrier, an emotionally disturbed post-adolescent male.
There were no warning signs to his psychopathic nature when Jake Ferrier snuck into my home and fired two shots at Stephanie – one in her heart and the other in her head. He fled the premises before I could do anything. I had to watch my daughter die in my arms, and now the family is devastated.
We don’t know how a 20-year-old male can be so familiar with a handgun. Perhaps it was his culture or taught to him by someone close to him. But certainly let’s not blame The Mirror for a lack of sensitivity. Let’s blame Jake Ferrier.
To make sense of something so senseless, my brother and I have come to question the lack of governance of handgun ownership in Canada. Would it be difficult to restrict handgun use to shooting ranges for recreation? Can we create a facility where the weapons are left behind and not transported, and if these weapons are taken from these facilities, the authorities are notified?
These are the things we should be sensitive to, not accurate reporting.
Stephanie Hoddinott was just aspiring in her career and would have made important contributions. I miss Stephanie so much. I am dismayed that Canadian gun laws have failed our family and community.
I don’t understand how The Mirror would lack sensitivity when the title of the article accurately described real events. Indeed, they are sensitive if not to the family of the killer, then to our community.
Brenda Passa
Midland
Midland
