So, Juppo and Anthony G. and Mike Swanson --

We all agree that trespassing on any RR ROW is not only stupid and inherently dangerous, but it is (rightfully) illegal. Tagging is also illegal, and should be. I would certainly share the sentiment apparently underlying many of these comments, that taggers show pitifully little respect for others, for others' property, and anti-tagging enforcement should be stepped up (probably including penalties that exceed the current slap-on-the-wrist).

But your comments seem to go on to imply that tagging and/or trespassing violations deserve capital punishment. Not only that, but prepetrators should have this sentence be enforced immediately and directly by the agent of the property owner, who can act as judge and jury.

Maybe "he was a great kid with a wonderful family," maybe he wasn't. Maybe he "just made some bad choices", or maybe he was an evil and hardened criminal. I (and you) don't know. We didn't know him. But I do know that there are people whose lives have been upset by his passing (including the train's operator!), and saying that he brought it upon himself doesn't help.

And until and unless our society make his crimes capital offenses, I don't think you can say he "had it coming to him".

Maybe neither you guys nor any of your loved ones have ever done something stupid that could have, but for the grace of God, lead to death or serious injury. (Ever jaywalk across a crowded street? Get distracted while looking down at your car radio as you approached a pedestrian crossing? Jaywalking and distracted driving are illegal acts, that have caused deaths.) Or maybe you have, and were just lucky. Either way, I sincerely hope you never have to suffer through a death of someone close to you, who did something stupid and illegal (but not justifying capital punishment), and then have to listen to others say "he deserved it." Your comments might then be a bit different.

One can be compassionate about a death without justifying the bad acts. Or not, I guess.