Oh boy, I'm going to a funeral for a 26-year-old tomorrow.

[Ellen Forradalom]

A former colleague of mine. Sweet as pie and very competent. Mowed down by a drunk driver while crossing the street after leaving a club. His last act was to push his girlfriend out of the way, saving her life. Whereas the guy who hit him, well, drunk, underage, gangbanger, no license, no insurance, ran a red light in the middle of a gang fight--your basic human garbage.

I understand one of the purposes of religion is to persuade you that while evil may be up a few points, it won't win the game, but things like this really make me wonder.

[roguevalley]

1. God bless you and that person and their family. Sometimes there

is no sense to things. All I do when I go to a funeral of a young
person -teacher who has buried three students- is try and be better
for their sake in my own life.

[Faygo Kid]

2. How tragic. My sympathies.

My daughter is 27. I would never recover - ever - if that happened to her. A hug for the family, and for the rest of us, gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

[flamingyouth]

3. I am so sorry to hear this

Angry, too. That is just not the natural order of things. :-(

[GOPisEvil]

4. There's a special hell for drunk drivers...

...bastards...

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Especially this particular mo-fo

He gets the super-hot room all to himself. Asswipe.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. This is why my Jennifer States country kills drunk drivers

Of all the crimes, that's about the worst, becuase it leads to so many senseless killings and it's so stupidly dangerous.

This is about the only thing I'd ever be in favor of the death penalty for. Not really, but viscerally. But kind of really.

I do think that one drunk driving offense should be enough to lose one's license forever, with no chance of gaining it back, ever.

So sad to hear this story - my heart to you and especially the family. I know how difficult dealing with a loved one killed by a drunk is.

[bluestateguy]

7. Why can't states take driver's licenses away forever?

Six states in this country ban voting for life if you are convicted of a felony, yet you can kill several people by drunk driving and get a driver's license upon your release from jail.

[GOPisEvil]

8. They'll just drive anyway.

Impound their cars and they'll borrow someone's. Nothing seems to stop them.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Yeah, they will, which is even more sad

But at least then, if they are driving illegally, and kill someone, there's an even better likelihood they'll spend a lot of time in jail.

Of course, if we'd actually put some $$ into public transportation, and get this country off of its car addiction, it would easier. One of the sad things is, is that in so many areas one absolutely has to drive. Few places have roving taxis. Most cities that DO have taxies (and small cities don't even get these) they have the kind that one needs to call.

Not that that is ANY excuse AT ALL to drive drunk, but let's face it, we don't, as a society, do anything to actually help people who realize they shouldn't be driving, but are too far away to walk home, and have NO access to any other way home than to drive and hope. They should show more restraint knowing they have to drive home, I would say, but even for me, sometimes I go out and one beer will make me really, really loopy, whereas most times, one beer does nothing. One never knows.

But I'm still on the side of hammering drunk drivers, taking their license forever, and many, many years in jail for killing someone while drunk driving.

[Ellen Forradalom]

10. Excellent point.

Proves that driving is a right dearer to Americans' hearts than voting. Sad.

[blondeatlast]

24. I have to agree somewhat. Slaps on the wrist don't help at all.

I know 2 people who have done time for drunk driving and it doesn't stop them at all. They still have their fun and then get behind the wheel. Hubby and I no longer associate with them.

It is the ultimate in self-denial. Any one who does this is just sick in the head.

I think 1 year mandatories for the first offense are appropriate if no one is injusred, and it should escalate from there depending on the damage done.

Kill or maim someone for good: Five years, mandatory.

On eo fthe problems is that "nice people" do it; if they spent some time in jail, maybe we wouldn't think they were so "nice," because they just aren't.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

9. Sorry to hear that

My thoughts will be with you :hug:

[Susang]

12. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow

And him, his family, and his girlfriend. I stand at that intersection daily. I was at that intersection earlier that evening. The whole thing is so unbelievably horrible. The worst part? This isn't the first time something like this has happened in our neighborhood.

[Ellen Forradalom]

26. No, it isn't.

Some years back a regular denizen of the Charleston had a long recovery period after being hit by a car whizzing down Hoyne. And I barely missed being hit on Hoyne during a car chase.

[Pithlet]

13. I'm so sorry.

A life cut short. When things like that happen it makes me realize that the future isn't promised to any of us.

[Supply Side Jesus]

14. I know how you feel. I had to attened a funeral for a 2 year old

right before christmas.
He chimpmonked a piece of apple in his cheek and when the mom went to wipe his face he jerked back and got the apple lodge in his throat. It was so stuck they couldn't remove it until the autopsy. They worked on him for 40 minutes before giving up. Completely heartbreaking. *sigh*
Never know when our turn is. That collegue of yours was a hero for what he did. He will have a place with the honorable ones.

[Ellen Forradalom]

27. Oh god.

How utterly heartbreaking.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. I know how you feel, and I sympathize.

I once had a girlfriend who was killed on the morning of her 23rd birthday. It was a foggy morning and a badly marked intersection, and neither her or the other driver ever knew what happened.

Another friend, 19 years old, was thrown from a vehicle, breaking his neck. All in the car were drunk.

And so it goes. Hang on to the knowledge the pain will fade as time goes by. But don't be afraid to cry today! And don't let go of your faith. It'll come in real handy one day...

[Milspec]

16. I am so sorry

I just attended a funeral for the mother of a co-worker of mine. A older woman & of natural causes. Still the event takes a toll. My only hope is that the pain you will feel at the event will alleviate some of the pain felt by the other loved ones. White light being sent to you in this hard time.

[Fleshdancer]

17. My condolences for your loss

My heart goes out to his family and especially his girlfriend who...hell, I don't want to imagine what's going on in her mind at this time.

26. Way too young. It's situation like this that make me want to peel off my skepticismm and believe in a place called heaven.

[JI7]

18. this sucks

i'm 25 and to hear about someone around this age losing their life is sad. but the way it happens is even worse. just walking , doing something normal,and then suddenly lose your life because of some stupid ass jerk. just sucks. i'm sorry for you and other friends and relatives for this loss.

[HEyHEY]

19. Always the hardest

No words, just condolences

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. Very sad..and yes it makes me wonder

Condolences to his family. I am very sorry to hear this.

[RebelOne]

21. That's really sad. So sorry to hear about it.

I've had two people in my family killed by drunken drivers.

[boilerbabe]

22. That's too sad...

It's hard to lose someone you know and love, no matter what the circumstances are. Especially when they are young...Hang in there, and just remember that you are still alive and must carry on. I am sure that your friend that has passed on would never let you sit and vegetate...what would you want if you were in their place?
Hang in there, hunny!!

[jimbo fett]

23. I know what you're going thru. My best friend was killed by a DD last sumr

I wish I had great wisdom to share with you but I'm still sorting this out myself.

I have found that the community of her friends (from different parts of her life) have come together over her death. So in a way her death has created new friendships. Which I think is a pretty darn good tribute.

[blondeatlast]

25. I'm so sorry. So senseless.

People who imbibe and drive are scum. Period.

Idrink, but never if I'm going to drive. Consequently, I'm most often the designated driver, becuase I volunteer.

I don't care, because the thought of someone being hurt or killed is too terrible to bear.

[Ilsa]

28. I'm so sorry for you and him and his friends and family.

And surviving must also be a terrible burden for the girlfriend. She'll always be wondering if she lived up to expectations of his life.

[Logansquare]

29. I read about your friend's death on Monday in the Trib

I am so terribly sorry--it was an act of utterly depraved indifference to human life. We have had three murders within a few blocks of my home committed by this kind of scum recently. They don't care who they take out while they are playing their sleazy gangbanger games.