What's in a word?
Well, lots, actually
From AP
The killing of Laken Riley is now front and center of the US immigration debateÂ
The slaying of a Georgia nursing student, Laken Hope Riley, has become the face of immigration reform for many conservatives. With an unscripted clash between President Joe Biden and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at Thursday’s State of the Union, her killing was further cemented as a rallying point in the 2024 presidential race.
Emphasis mine.
I guess murder is just not a politically correct term these days. Why do I care? Because words matter.
From StackExchange - ENGLISH LANGUAGE & USAGE
Kill - the ending of a life.
Slay - the deliberate ending of a life by another party.
Murder - the unlawful ending of a human life by another party.
Laken Riley was murdered. Not killed like a dog that was run over. Not killed like an animal or a plant by accident or for food. In other words, to kill can mean accidentally, or legally, or even justifiably ending the life of any living being.
Laken Riley was murdered. Not slayed like a dragon. To slay implies killing with violence, but of something that needs to be killed. In other words, to slay implies something dangerous needed killing.
Laken Riley was murdered.
Murdered.