Gunslinger
Moderator
I had to do some serious soul searching before making this post. Partially because of the heat that I know it will stir up and because it deals directly with a very personal part of my life. However after reading yet another post blaming the parents for the actions of the so called "children" I feel compeled to write this.
Several years ago, while still married to my now ex-wife, her 14 year old daughter, my step daughter, developed a drug addition. Nothing unique in this, sadly, it happens to literaly thousands of families in this country every year. Nothing unique except that my wife and I were both police officer and assigned to convert narcotics operations! To maintain at least a small amount of anonimity I will not name the department we were working for at the time.
We spent time with our daughter. Family outings. Hours helping with home work (often times during hours that we should have been sleeping ourselves) Always willing to listen to any problems and/or questions she might have. Met what we thought were all of her friends. Discussed current issues regarding drugs, peer preasure etc. Basically the whole 'Father knows best', Leave it to Beaver' typical all American family.
Being in the job we were we discovered the situtation VERY soon after it started. Also being in that job we were in a better position to be able to seek help from the courts and juvenile authorities better then anyone else in the city. The SYSTEM simply didn't work!!! We were not allowed to lock her in the house (even if we were at home) in spite of the fact that she would "slip out" and then be gone for days. (On each of these occassions every officer on the department would devote every free minute looking for her.) The authorities insisted that she remain in school. We would take her to school and then when we returned to pick her up she was gone again. At great expense we enrolled her in a private school equiped to handle "children' with just such problems. Same results. The juvenile authorities had facilities designed to help "children" like these complete with in house accredited schooling. Even though she had "progressed" to theft and prostitution to support her habit the court would not order nor allow the juvenile authorities to assist. After locating a doctor to file the necessary paper work we enrolled her in an adolecent behavoral modification unit, which is simply a private facility designed exactly like the state funded facility. Since the treatment was not covered by our insurance the total out of pocket cost to us was $17,000.00. I am happy to report that that was over fifteen years ago and she is now married, has children of her own and works at a good job. (The 17K was well spent. I'd put a smiley face here but frankly there isn't a damn thing about that entire situation that I feel like smiling about even today.)
I'm not defending the parents. I don't know enough information about them and their "child" rearing to form an opinion as to their suitability as parents. However I am informed enough about the diffculties involved with troubled "children" to not pass judgement on them quickly. If eventually we actually do receive factual information about the parents it may come to light that they are in fact irresponsible and were not suitable to raise a child. And if that is the case I'll provide the rope for a public hanging. But until then I'll reserve judgement.
If I've offended anyone with this I apologize. I have found it both refreshing and a little ironic that the "gun nuts" on this forum are so emotionally involved with this tragic event. There is more of a voice of reason, logical thinking and enlightened discussion taking place here then in the news media as a whole by the so called experts. I find myself wishing that some of the "antis" could read some of the post on this matter. Maybe then they would have a better understanding of gun owners and our genuine concern for issues that affect the country.
Gunslinger
Several years ago, while still married to my now ex-wife, her 14 year old daughter, my step daughter, developed a drug addition. Nothing unique in this, sadly, it happens to literaly thousands of families in this country every year. Nothing unique except that my wife and I were both police officer and assigned to convert narcotics operations! To maintain at least a small amount of anonimity I will not name the department we were working for at the time.
We spent time with our daughter. Family outings. Hours helping with home work (often times during hours that we should have been sleeping ourselves) Always willing to listen to any problems and/or questions she might have. Met what we thought were all of her friends. Discussed current issues regarding drugs, peer preasure etc. Basically the whole 'Father knows best', Leave it to Beaver' typical all American family.
Being in the job we were we discovered the situtation VERY soon after it started. Also being in that job we were in a better position to be able to seek help from the courts and juvenile authorities better then anyone else in the city. The SYSTEM simply didn't work!!! We were not allowed to lock her in the house (even if we were at home) in spite of the fact that she would "slip out" and then be gone for days. (On each of these occassions every officer on the department would devote every free minute looking for her.) The authorities insisted that she remain in school. We would take her to school and then when we returned to pick her up she was gone again. At great expense we enrolled her in a private school equiped to handle "children' with just such problems. Same results. The juvenile authorities had facilities designed to help "children" like these complete with in house accredited schooling. Even though she had "progressed" to theft and prostitution to support her habit the court would not order nor allow the juvenile authorities to assist. After locating a doctor to file the necessary paper work we enrolled her in an adolecent behavoral modification unit, which is simply a private facility designed exactly like the state funded facility. Since the treatment was not covered by our insurance the total out of pocket cost to us was $17,000.00. I am happy to report that that was over fifteen years ago and she is now married, has children of her own and works at a good job. (The 17K was well spent. I'd put a smiley face here but frankly there isn't a damn thing about that entire situation that I feel like smiling about even today.)
I'm not defending the parents. I don't know enough information about them and their "child" rearing to form an opinion as to their suitability as parents. However I am informed enough about the diffculties involved with troubled "children" to not pass judgement on them quickly. If eventually we actually do receive factual information about the parents it may come to light that they are in fact irresponsible and were not suitable to raise a child. And if that is the case I'll provide the rope for a public hanging. But until then I'll reserve judgement.
If I've offended anyone with this I apologize. I have found it both refreshing and a little ironic that the "gun nuts" on this forum are so emotionally involved with this tragic event. There is more of a voice of reason, logical thinking and enlightened discussion taking place here then in the news media as a whole by the so called experts. I find myself wishing that some of the "antis" could read some of the post on this matter. Maybe then they would have a better understanding of gun owners and our genuine concern for issues that affect the country.
Gunslinger