Killer or Victim ?

In November 22, 2004, a 36 year old U. S. marine veteran was accused of shooting and killing 5 and wounding 3 others in Northeast Wisconsin. The story is unclear and varies from witness to witness but Vang, a hunting zealot, reportedly accidentally wandered on to the property of Robert Croutteau where deer hunting was in season. He had found an empty deer stand to hunt from. Other hunters came upon and told him to leave. The property owner was also called to the area. Eventually Vang climbed down from the tree and as he was walking, the other hunters reportedly were making racial slurs at him. He then turned around and started shooting. He was convicted and sentenced to life.

This is an unfortunate event. Whenever needless deaths occur, it is a tragedy. However inexcusable this act of violence, there must be an explanation for his behavior. The angry that Vang must have felt when the other hunters taunted him and using derogatory racial epithets must have triggered something in his head and his US Marine training must have kicked in.

This is what  Jim Arneberg, owner of the Haugen Inn in nearby Haugen had to say: "It's pathetic. They let all these foreigners in here, and they walk all over everybody's property "  Vang, a US marine veteran and US citizen who fought to keep people of this country free during Vietnam, but is still referred to as a foreigner.

Is this man a killer or victim of a racist America?

Though tragic, perhaps those who enjoy humiliating Asian men might think twice before saying what they think.