Dumb animals get exceptions to the rules but dumb people do not

To The Daily Sun,

Once again, my insensitive sense of humor has offended some readers. In my short letter The Sun printed on Jan. 16, I compared some inconsiderate joggers to dumb animals that end up squashed by cars. I did alter some of the details of a tragic accident on North Main street, to protect the identity of the families involved. However, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherbee chose to be offended anyway, so I'll make the most of it.

As you said, I'm sure the pedestrian in question was a wonderful person. That is not the issue. As you admit in your attack on me, she was in the WRONG place, distracted by inspirational messages (?) on her headphones and wandered into traffic. She and she alone was responsible for her death by her own thoughtless action.

The real victim in this was my friend and coworker Victor, the driver of the car. He has since passed away, but I can tell you that he was a kind and gentle man who loved animals and hated no one. For weeks afterwards he would be overcome with grief and anxiety at work and we would tell him over and over that it wasn't his fault. He was never the same happy guy after that.

It is ironic that on page 3 of that same edition, appears the story "Man struck crossing S. Main". the pedestrian was not on a crosswalk and wearing dark clothes. It goes on to say, "Laconia Police ask that pedestrians use care in crossing roads and to use sidewalks, especially in inclement weather". In other words, if you don't obey the rules of the road, and you get hurt, you won't get much sympathy from them either. It is true that drivers must share the road with pedestrians, bicycles, wheel chairs and all, but to do it safely we must all play by the same rules. Dumb animals get an exemption but dumb people will not. If this letter still offends the Weatherbees or any one else, I'll just tell them to go play in the street.

Alan Moon

Tilton