Jared Loughner, the guy who killed six people and shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the head in a shooting rampage in Tucson, Arizona, earlier this year, is awaiting trial. In light of the government recently killing an American citizen (Anwar al-Awlaki) with no trial and with no evidence that he actually killed anyone (yes, I think he was an evil man), should the government have just killed Jared Loughner? He actually killed people in front of many witnesses and tried to kill a member of Congress. Of course not, most would say; he should be tried first. But because Anwar al-Awlaki has been labeled a “terrorist,” many Americans are cheering his killing by the government. Yet, Timothy McVeigh, who actually committed acts of terrorism, had a trial before his execution. Heck, even Charles Manson had a trial. Here is Ron Paul on the dangers of assassination without trial. And to those Americans cheering the killing of al-Awlaki—watch your step, you may be next if you say something the government doesn’t like.

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