I can't say I am ever shocked at what people are willing to say on the Internet. I am the first person to tout the positives of the freedom of speech, but there is a line and hateful words in regards to the passing of an individual is over that line. People who would sit in judgement of someone who you have no idea what was in their heart; a person who seemingly cared about nature and the beautiful animals that live in it; a person who was brave enough to stand between another person and certain death; a person who gave their life for what they believe in; those people who sit in judgement of that person when they are without moral and ethical character, disgust me.
You cannot place an animal's life over a person's life, they are not given that responsibility. As the dominant species we are in charge of the animals and the land; the chosen stewards of the environment. The harsh reality is for everything to be in balance, to have peace, life must die at our hands. Sometimes we are required to end the life of members of our own species. Regardless of that, we have the capacity and a duty to respect a life that is no more, be it an animal's or a person's. Those who cannot respect that are no longer deserving of the title, "human being" in my opinion.