Why do people write stuff like this?

Tim in Phoenix discusses the Wal-Mart shooting in Glendale in a letter-to-the editor today:

The collective mantra of bystanders of murderous rampage Tuesday at a West Valley Wal-Mart was "It does not happen here." Well, it did, and it's proof that violence does not respect city lines.

Pretending that your neighborhood is immune to crime because of the income level or value of the homes is just short of foolish. That mind-set is what hampers effective planning to deal with crime issues because people choose to be blind to the potential of it happening.

There was no way of foreseeing what occurred, but to imply that this type of violence belongs in a lower socio-economic neighborhood is simply wrong. Maybe this double murder would not have been so bad if it took place in Maryvale or south Phoenix.

Excuse me?! "Maybe this double murder would not have been so bad if it took place in Maryvale or South Phoenix,"...!?

First off, it's horrible because of what it is. That it happened in an upscale area of the NW Valley is irrelevant as to whether or not the act is abhorrent.

As to the comments of people like David Kost, factually speaking they are correct. Things like this don't happen there. Least not with any sort of frequency. That's why it is considered upscale, that's why people want to live there.

But regardless, such an act is horrible whether it happens in the worst part of Maryvale or in the middle of Paradise Valley doesn't matter.