When I got a news alert text this morning that said two journalists had been murdered while reporting live on-air, I thought it must have happened in another country. Perhaps Mexico where the drug cartels do their best to terrorize the news media.

Thirty years spent dealing with brutal events has dulled my shock reaction but these killings nailed me. It's the "coulda been me" thing. I've done TV live shots. I know the concentration they require. Perhaps at a scene of some breaking news, where I spent most of my career, the circumstances would have been different but I doubt it. You focus on your subject, the directions coming over your earpiece and the questions you plan to ask. So while I preach situational awareness, I've stood in their shoes. It's understandable why these young journalists didn't see the threat approaching. They had no reason to worry and their attention was on the task at hand. As with so many crime and terror victims, they were taken before they had a chance to comprehend the evil that stalked them.

There's something else that strikes me about this tragedy. I've watched WDBJ's anchors, reporters and even bosses cover what happened to their colleagues. It's a small-market station but this is a news team that stepped up to cover the story in the most professional way possible. These aren't seasoned anchors and reporters, either. Many appear to be not long out of school. What resilience and what love they've shown to Allison and Adam by telling the story the best way they possibly can.

About the shooter . . . I don't care. Much will be said. Fingers will be pointed at the "heartless, selfish, vicious (insert the descriptor of choice) gun advocates who allowed this to happen." Maybe we'll even hear calls for regulation of cameras like the one he used to create his horrendous snuff film. That's all meaningless to me.

This sort of evil can't be stopped unless it's by pure random chance. Whether by gun, knife, fire-axe hammer, or motor vehicle, vicious people will continue coming out of the woodwork to do their deadly deeds.

All we can do is try to remember these wonderful young people, feel the sadness of their loss and, if so inclined, pray for peace for their families and friends.

And for ourselves.