This past weekend saw the lives of several young Natchez residents destroyed, and you can hear the pain in Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong’s voice as he describes area law enforcement’s efforts to bring suspects to justice.

To city and county law enforcement’s credit, four suspects were identified and three arrested within 24 hours of a 17-year-old Natchez girl being killed in a drive-by shooting that also claimed the life of her unborn child and injured a young Natchez man.

Armstrong said the early investigation points toward the violence being retaliation for a murder earlier this month that in turn is believed to have been in retaliation for a violent incident last year.

Armstrong is sincere when he says law enforcement will seek the full force of justice and that the young men believed to be responsible will likely face life in prison if not the death penalty.

Armstrong is no less sincere when he implores families to get involved in their children’s lives to help stop a wasteful cycle of violence.

He points out that all involved in this weekend’s incident, except for one, were teenagers.

“Families ought to feel comfortable talking to loved ones and be more comfortable talking to young ones,” he said.

In today’s world many people are more likely to follow Hammurabi’s code of an eye for an eye than they are to follow Christ’s example of turn the other cheek.

It is not our place to mete out justice. That’s why we have law enforcement and the courts.

If you hear of potential violence or have a real concern about potential violence, contact the proper law enforcement authorities.

Armstrong said that in his experience too many people are afraid to speak up. He said law enforcement sees posts on social media of young people holding guns or threatening violence.

“If we see it,” he said, “we have to believe others — their family and friends — see it, too.”

If family and friends see such signs of potential violence or criminal acts, they should reach out to give proper instruction to the youths to curtail potential violence, he said.

The problem is nationwide, Armstrong notes, not just in Natchez.

“It is up to everyone to do their part, get involved with family’s lives, get in their heads and minds, give them advice and instructions on how to deal with conflict,” Armstrong advises.

This past weekend’s crime was a total waste of life. Four young men who appear to have been led by delusions of justice may have not only destroyed a young woman’s life, but also her unborn child’s potential life and their own lives.

The real arm of justice very well could take the remainder of their young lives.

For what?

Retaliation for retaliation of what perhaps was, indeed, a bad original offense.

Leave the justice to the professionals. As Armstrong has said they will see to it the full force of justice is put into play.

Otherwise, it would be much better to turn the other cheek.

Scott Hawkins is editor of The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at 601-445-3540 or scott.hawkins@natchezdemocrat.com.