“My wife and I forgive Karl Pierson for what he did. We would ask all of you here and all of you watching to forgive Karl Pierson. He didn’t know what he was doing…The fact is that Karl was so blinded by his emotions he didn’t know what he was doing…Unchecked anger and rage can lead to hatred, and unchecked hatred can lead to tragedy, blindness and a loss of humanity.”

—Michael Davis, whose 17-year-old daughter, Claire, was killed by 18-year-old school shooter Karl Pierson late last year near Denver. Pierson allegedly was upset that he was left off the school debate team. After shooting Claire, Pierson killed himself. “Karl is no longer with us,” Michael said during his daughter’s memorial service. “It’s no longer our responsibility to pass judgment.” (NBC News)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife Wendy and his two children. Follow him on Twitter.