The story is still being investigated but it appears that the young student in Oxnard that was murdered was the victim of a hate crime. May our prayers be with the family.
The family has set up a website where you can learn more or donate to a memorial fund.
My prayers are with the families. Two families are being destroyed as both are losing a child. Tragic. Maybe this is why AB777 was passed, to help young people understand differences without resorting to violence. I think we all need to speak with our children if we are parents about acceptance and civil ways to settle disagreements.
I am very sorry that the school suffered such an awful tragedy. It is horrible for the victim and his family, the suspect and his family, all the students that witnessed it and their famailies and the entire community and county.
As Marie pointed out, where did the kid get the gun? And why did e think anything was worth pulling the trigger?
Blog comment "issues" again today, Brian! What I posted yesterday is missing, so I will try again:
School counselors are often called upon to deal with issues of tolerance, bullying and intervention of troubled youth. Unfortunately, when it is time to trim school budgets, counselors are among the first to go. Schools are now being faced with mid-year budget cuts and even more cuts next year. I hope we can save these counselor positions.
What troubles me is how this young man got his hands on a handgun and brought it to school undetected. Parents who own firearms should be investing in gun safes and trigger locks. It is just common sense. Many organizations give trigger locks away free of charge.
My heart and prayers go out to both of the families of these young men.
I pray Larry King's family will find peace in the communities support.
As a children's advocate I am constantly hearing from parents about the bullying that takes place at school's to children with disabilities and sexual orientation differences.
My daughter who has severe disabilities was once attacked by a young boy who tried to strangle her while she was sitting in a play ground at McDonald's. I had lifted her from her wheelchair and placed her among the play balls, she was incapable of moving around and had no idea how to defend herself and is non-verbal. When I told the father his response was, no big deal that's how children play.
Another time I had a father tell his young son to stay away from my daughter because she was demon possessed.
My experience as a children's advocate is that children who act out violently have usually been victims at a very early age of physical or sexual abuse. They are displacing their rage and acting out on a more vulnerable person.