What does concern me is that Mr. Helders’ remarks
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:42 am
I have received an e-mail regarding an earlier post I made about Luke Helder's father, Cameron. Here it is:
Helder's dad has been I think unfairly criticized for the comment you dismissed with an "ugh." The father made this statement at a time when everyone was trying to bring the boy in with no injuries to either the son or law officials. In those circumstances, I think the father was being reasonable, and I don't take it as anything other than an appropriate tactic for the moment.
Don
Here are the remarks that Don is referring to:
“I really want you to know that Luke is not a dangerous person,” Cameron Helder said. “I think he was trying to make a statement about the way our government is run. I think Luke wants people to listen to his ideas. Not enough people are hearing him, and he thinks this may help.”
Then the father, his voice choking, made a plea to his son: “Luke, you shop need to talk to someone. Please don't hurt anyone else. It's time to talk. You have the attention you wanted. We love you very much. We want you home safe. Please call Mom, Jenna and I.”
They appeared in this Des Moines Register article.
First, looking back on my previous posts, I’m concerned that I may have appeared to trivialize the emotional pain Cameron Helder was obviously in at the time. I intended no such thing. Mr. Helder must have been going through—and surely still is—incredible agony.
The first paragraph seem to trivialize what Luke did. I can understand that Mr. Helder was trying to help the authorities bring Luke in without harm. But why were remarks in the first paragraph necessary to do that? Wouldn’t the remarks in the second paragraph have done the job? Perhaps my very limited knowledge of police and FBI tactics undermines my argument here.
Anyway, I appreciate the e-mail, and would like to hear from more of you. Note: I am more likely to post critical e-mails.
Helder's dad has been I think unfairly criticized for the comment you dismissed with an "ugh." The father made this statement at a time when everyone was trying to bring the boy in with no injuries to either the son or law officials. In those circumstances, I think the father was being reasonable, and I don't take it as anything other than an appropriate tactic for the moment.
Don
Here are the remarks that Don is referring to:
“I really want you to know that Luke is not a dangerous person,” Cameron Helder said. “I think he was trying to make a statement about the way our government is run. I think Luke wants people to listen to his ideas. Not enough people are hearing him, and he thinks this may help.”
Then the father, his voice choking, made a plea to his son: “Luke, you shop need to talk to someone. Please don't hurt anyone else. It's time to talk. You have the attention you wanted. We love you very much. We want you home safe. Please call Mom, Jenna and I.”
They appeared in this Des Moines Register article.
First, looking back on my previous posts, I’m concerned that I may have appeared to trivialize the emotional pain Cameron Helder was obviously in at the time. I intended no such thing. Mr. Helder must have been going through—and surely still is—incredible agony.
The first paragraph seem to trivialize what Luke did. I can understand that Mr. Helder was trying to help the authorities bring Luke in without harm. But why were remarks in the first paragraph necessary to do that? Wouldn’t the remarks in the second paragraph have done the job? Perhaps my very limited knowledge of police and FBI tactics undermines my argument here.
Anyway, I appreciate the e-mail, and would like to hear from more of you. Note: I am more likely to post critical e-mails.