Facebook

Three years after Ashli was shot and killed, thousands of miles from her California home, widower Aaron Babbitt has filed a $30 million lawsuit against the U.S. government.

Sorry, not sorry for Ashli and family

I know Babbitt is someone’s daughter/wife/friend, but Capitol police showed incredible restraint by not firing at will on this deluded group of thugs (“Questions Ashli Babbitt left behind”, Cover Story, January 24). Perhaps if the police they supposedly respected had gone full auto on the insurrection that day we wouldn’t be about to relive the civil war this election year. One more dead deluded enemy of reason. Due process, reality and democracy? Sorry, not sorry. Hope their lawsuit gets kicked to the curb as a warning to those who consider raising arms against the USA.

Auhn Hinkle

Imperial Beach

Blaming Babbitt

Just look at what was recorded on video up to the second when an officer fired that gun. (“Questions Ashli Babbitt left behind”, Cover Story, January 24) As a veteran, she did not move to protect her safety after seeing the mob become more violent. What a shame. Now her family is suing the government?

CT

North San Diego

Blame for Babbitt, but also Trump

Your letter on Ashli Babbitt was informative but did not change my mind on what happened. (“Questions Ashli Babbitt left behind”, Cover Story, January 24) I feel sorry for Aaron’s loss but he should drop his lawsuit and return the money donated for it. If you want to blame anyone for her death, blame the instigator of the January 6th insurrection, Donald J. Trump.

Once the attack on the Capitol reached the point where someone was climbing into the House chambers, that person needed to be shot dead. Lt. Byrd did what he need to do, protect his boundary. What other action could he take to ensure the safety of the House members still present? Let her climb in and unlock the doors? Any other action would have been dereliction. Ashli can be faulted for falling for the Big Lie and it was her choice to attempt to breach the locked doors. She was just another tragic victim of the right wing disinformation that we live with every day.

Glen Gerhard

La Jolla

Don’t glorify “that woman”

I am reading the Jan 25, 2024 paper (“Questions Ashli Babbitt left behind”, Cover Story, January 24). I almost did not pick it up due to the cover page with that woman splattered on the front page. I will not name her — she was a criminal! It was breaking and entering into a federal bldg. It is unconscionable that her ex is suing. It is unconscionable that you are publishing this article and glorifying her! Whatever happened to personal responsibility? She was breaking multiple laws.

J. Ward

North Park

Let them fall

Looking at the pictures of the fallen cliffs (“Shear Terror”, Neighborhood News, January 25) I wonder why you just don’t leave them alone once they fall? It looks like great protection for the cliffs behind it and would keep the tourist from falling 60 feet while taking those all important selfies. You don’t need sheer cliffs everywhere and you sure don’t need costly fixes that may not work like Solana Beach does in the next story. Nature is giving you a seawall if you just leave it alone.

Sam King

El Cajon

Law-abider’s lament

Hello, your article about Babbit (“Questions Ashli Babbitt left behind”, Cover Story, January 24) makes her almost look like a saint who only wanted the best for America. She went of her own free will to D.C. to partake in the insurgency and storming of the Capitol building where she got herself killed by a Capitol policeman who was doing his job and duty to protect the Members of Congress from just such an event as it happened on January 6. She may have served well in the Armed Forces but apparently became radicalized while serving overseas. She should not have been killed by accident, but should have survived to serve a long time in jail to see what wrongs she did by storming the Capitol.

Trying to make her look like a good American who only wanted the best for her country is a disservice to the rest of us law abiding citizens.

Gernot Trolf

Mission Beach