Violent act took one man's life

On Feb. 18, a small plane was intentionally crashed into a building in Austin, Texas, where almost 200 IRS employees work. This wanton act of violence took the life of Vernon Hunter, 68, who served his nation as an IRS employee for almost three decades. In today’s world, it is difficult for some to see beyond the labels — to see the person. Mr. Hunter worked for the IRS — a difficult and demanding job. But he did his job fairly and he did it well. He was a dedicated public servant who respected taxpayers and their rights. There are tens of thousands of Vernon Hunters working at the IRS helping taxpayers navigate a difficult tax code that we did not write and collecting the taxes to keep our nation vibrant and strong. For some in America, the IRS will always be viewed as a faceless bureaucracy. But they are wrong. In fact, it is an organization of hard-working people whose love of country and spirit of public service were embodied in Vernon Hunter — a spirit that lives on in them today. I sincerely hope that is one lesson we can learn from this terrible tragedy. Doug Shulman Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service Washington, D.C.