READER’S EDITORIAL: REFLECTIONS ON THE SANDY HOOK TRAGEDY
By Nadin Abbott December 18, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–It’s not easy to speak of what happened last week at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, where a gunman opened fire. It is harder because this is not the first mass shooting, and probably will not be the last. But with the slaughter of 20 innocent children and 6 adults, we might finally hit a tipping point in how we look at guns and our culture. I come at this not just as a gun owner, but also as a former first responder who saw firsthand what a NATO round or a Warsaw round can do to the human body. Mexico, where I worked with the Red Cross, is a place where these weapons are used regularly by the cartels. It is a searing experience to have to transport an eight year old to the trauma center, with one or more of these rounds in his little body. It is even more searing when you have to reach for the sheet and cover the now lifeless body. I can imagine what those first responders in Newtown found at Sandy Hook Elementary. It was, quite frankly, a war zone. So, we all ask, what do we do? I have a series of proposals. First, we need to ban all high capacity magazines. So, I have to reload my magazine more often at the range. So what? It also takes a well trained shooter three seconds to change a magazine. That is a valuable three seconds if you are trying to find cover. This has to be a federal ban. It does not work if one state does it and not others. Second, we need to actually look at mandating smart technology on all personally held weapons the moment the technology becomes good enough to be widely deployed. Smart gun technology will do a couple things. If I own a gun, and I whip it out in a self defense situation, and it is taken away from me, it cannot be fired by the person who took it. The Sandy Hook shooter could not have gunned down 26 people with his mother’s guns if the weapons had smart technology. Smart guns will also increase police officer safety and reduce accidental shootings involving children. It may very well reduce them to almost zero if every owner does this. New Jersey already has that law on the books. This needs to be federal. http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/smart-gun/ Third, we actually need to start talking about what kinds of weapons we allow in civilian hands. I know this is very controversial, but this must be part of the conversation. Oh and this does not mean I am against hunting, hey, we need hunting… but ten rounds should be more than sufficient to bring down a deer. It goes without saying there are hunting standards that both state and federal officials have when issuing licenses; let’s make those magazines legal, and that is that. You want to go target shooting, use your hunting magazines. Fourth, we need to look at the underlying causes for our violence. Video games and movies are a cheap cop out. We have a lot of violence in our society, and a lot of fear. Popular culture is a mirror to that environment of fear and violence that we live in. Poverty is a form of violence, and our lack of access to mental healthcare is a huge problem. (In Sandy Hook should not have been an issue given Adam Lanza’s mother did have the economic means) We need to realize that commitment of somebody who should be institutionalized is almost impossible. We also have stigmatized mental disease to the point that people fear seeking help. It is, in some cases, a chronic condition, just like diabetes. It is time we realize that and just treat it that way. Fifth, we need to close the gun show loophole. All guns must have an NCIS background check. Enough of this nonsense where 40% of all guns are sold by private hands with no back groundcheck. For the record even NRA members want this, it is the leadership that is opposed to it. Do we have to have a moment of national self reflection? Yes. Do we need to change as a society? Yes. Why? Sandy Hook was horrible and terrible, but 34,000 Americans die every year from gun violence. That is the national average.The large majority of people who die from gun violence, die from suicide. The correlation between guns and mental illness is clear. This is one of those moments when we truly have reached a fork in the road. Does this fork mean broad confiscation of all weapons? This is just as silly (and some fringe voices have suggested that), as having teachers armed in schools and increasing the number of of loose gun laws, as Governor Rick Perry of Texas suggested today. We as a nation need to find a balance. I think we are quite capable of this. With that, I will leave you with this though. Mass shootings in movie theaters, places of worship and schools have left me with reaching back to the skills I developed way back when I was a first responder, going to real life shootouts. Looking for cover and being aware of my surroundings is right now the best defense. We should not live in a situation where we need to think of everyday tasks as if we were in a low intensity combat zone, but we are. This is how many in our society have been living for decades in disadvantaged communities. It is now becoming national. Hug your family, and hug your children. We need to do something to stop this senseless violence. If we don’t after this now, I don’t know when. Nadin Abbott is an award-winning freelance photojournalist and a former emergency responder. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East
TRAGEDY IN CONNECTICUT SPARKS MEMORIES OF MASS SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN EAST COUNTY
Education professionals and a Granite Hills shooting survivor offer advice for parents and students By Miriam Raftery (Photo from Facebook memorial page) December 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – News of today’s shooting at Sandy Hill Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 26 people including 20 children before taking his own life, has triggered strong reactions here in San Diego County, a region that has suffered through numerous school shootings. “Personally I am very shocked and saddened…I have shed tears,” Fran Zumwalt, a teacher wounded in the 2001 Granite Hills High School shootings, told ECM. “Words cannot express the sorrow I feel for those who lost loved ones today. No parents should ever lose a child. I hope all of the citizens of Connecticut can feel the prayers of all of us—for their children, their families and their communities.” The Granite Hills shooter wounded five people, leaving Zumwalt with injuries to her jaw and leg. But swift action by El Cajon Police Officer Richard Agundez, who was assigned as a school resource officer on campus, prevented a far worse tragedy. Agundez shot and disabled the 18-year-old gunman, earning a Medal of Valor for saving lives. The Granite Hills shooting occurred just three weeks after the deadly Santana High School massacre, in which a 14-yaer-old student who had been bullied opened fire, killing two students and injuring 13 others. The 2010 Kelly Elementary School shooting in Carlsbad injured two young girls before construction workers intervened to stop the gunman. In 1996, a graduate student at San Diego State University shot and killed three of his professors. San Diego’s earliest school shooting occurred in 1979, when a 16-year-old girl shot and killed two and wounded 9 others at Cleveland Elementary School, claiming she “didn’t like Mondays.” “Tragic events such as these have similarities and also unique differences,” Zumwalt said. One lesson learned from the Granite Hills and Santana tragedies was that both shooters had indicated that they planned to harm people, she recalled. After the shootings, students and faculty were encouraged to report trouble signs. In addition, class sizes were reduced and the number of students per counselor was also lowered to enable adults to have a better chance to observe potential behaviors of concern. “Unfortunately, class sizes are larger now, as is the radio of students per counselor, due to years of school budget cuts in California,” Zumwalt noted. “Being vigilant is important now, because sadly, there may be another person who may copy the actions of the Connecticut shooter.” From her experience, she has learned that everyone involved in a school shooting reacts differently. “We learned that being closer or farther away from the actual shooting does not determine who is more or less affected,” she said. Listening is important; students should be encouraged to ask questions of experts to help them process their grief, but keep answers age appropriate, she said. “When children know the adults in their world are involved in working to secure their safety, theyw 8ll feel and be safer.” “Emergency planning—what steps to take if a shooting occurs—will save lives,” she added. “I have no doubt that the teachers and other adults at Sandy Hook Elementary, who practiced their emergency responses before the shooting, protected many, many children from being victims during the shooting. Those stories will be revealed over time.” San Diego County Behavioral Health Services director Alfredo Aguirre issued a statement today advising parents that incidents such as today’s shooting “can generate a lot of fear and anxiety that can last a few days or weeks. That’s why it’s important for parents to be aware of their children’s response and be ready to talk openly about it, without providing too many details.” He also suggests controlling the amount of information that young children can access about the tragedy. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson called the Connecticut shooting a “terrible, senseless tragedy. Our grief is made all the deeper when we think of the innocence of the lives lost and the valiant efforts of teachers and school leaders to protect them.” The shooter in Connecticut has been identified as Adam Lanza, 20. Lanza apparently first killed his mother, a teacher, in the family home before donning body armor and taking multiple guns to the campus. There he shot and killed six adults, including the principal and school psychologist, as well as 20 young students before taking his own life. The massacre is the second worst school shooting in U.S. history, second only to the Columbine, Colorado tragedy that left 32 people dead. It has renewed calls for gun control nationwide, although in this instance, the guns were purchased legally and registered to Lanza’s mother, police have indicated. Lanza had been an honor student, but he also had a dark side. Some described him as a “deeply disturbed kid” and police have indicated he may have had a personality disorder. It has not yet been disclosed where Lanza may have been under care of a mental health services professional, or whether he was taking any psychiatric drugs which would have affected his mental state. President Barack Obama has ordered flags flown at half-mast nationwide to mourn those killed at Sandy Hook Elmenetary. “I know there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do,” said the President, fighting down tears. ”As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago — these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.” He also promised to take action to stop such senseless killings in the future. “We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics,” the President concluded. “This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every
PARADE OF LIGHTS FESTIVAL REFLECTS CENTENNIAL HERITAGE IN EL CAJON
By Miriam Raftery December 18, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Vintage cars festooned in lights rolled down Main Street in El Cajon last week for the city’s first Parade of Lights. The celebration continued at Prescott Promenade Park, where members of the San Diego Costume Guild garbed in Victorian attire—as well as some attractive Santa’s helpers, mingled with the crowd, evoking images of Christmas past and present. The festival sponsored by the El Cajon Promenade District also included vendors, food, music and more as El Cajon’s centennial year of celebration continues.
SYCUAN SPONSORS FAMILY HOLIDAY PARTY FOR PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
December 18, 2012 (San Diego)–For the 10th consecutive year, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, owners of the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, sponsored the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s free annual family holiday party for people with MS, as well as their family members and caregivers. The National MS Society in San Diego said more than 600 people attended the 2012 event held on Sunday, Dec. 9 at the San Diego Community Concourse Golden Hall in Downtown San Diego. The holiday party featured a brunch, entertainment and gifts for children delivered by one of Santa’s helpers. Sycuan has sponsored the annual event since 2003.
BAJA CALIFORNIA PLANT FIELD GUIDE, 3RD EDITION, OFFERS A LUSH LOOK AT REGION’S FLORA
Baja California Plant Field Guild: 3rd Edition, by Jon P. Rebman and Norman C. Roberts (Sunbelt Publications, San Diego, California, 2012, 451 pages). The desert regions of Baja California and Southern California satisfy my need for scientific adventure while providing a sense of excitement towards botany, reverence for nature and its unaltered beauty, appreciation for the complexity of natural history, and an overall feeling of peace and purpose. -Jon P. Rebman Book Review by Dennis Moore December 18, 2012 (San Diego)–Having lived in Baja California for a number of years and traveled all over this beautiful country of Mexico, from Cancun, Cantamar, Rosarito Beach and Tijuana, I have gained a great appreciation of the book written by Jon P. Rebman and Norman C. Roberts; Baja California Plant Field Guild: 3rd Edition. For those with an interest in the outdoors south of the border, this book, rich with beautiful photographs and descriptions, would make an appealing holiday gift. When one thinks of Mexico, and particularly Baja California, generally it is not about the vast array of plant life in this country. The Baja California Plant Field Guild, by Jon P. Rebman and Norman C. Roberts, is a manual for the common, interesting, unusual, and useful native and naturalized plants of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. Over 715 different plants in 111 plant families are covered, many of these with spectacular accompanying color photographs. Both scientific and common names are listed, most in English and Spanish. Nomenclature is updated, but synonyms still in common use are cross-referenced. Diagnostic features of the larger plant families precede species and intraspecies accounts. The plant descriptions, while detailed and technically accurate, are written in an exceptionally clear manner. The descriptions encompass plant habit and height; stem, leaf, flower, fruit, and fruit morphology; range; elevation; pollination biology; ethnobotanical uses; and discriminating comparisons with close relatives, all according to Dr. Michael G. Simpson, San Diego State University. The authors indicate in Baja California Plant Field Guide that the case of Guadalupe Island deserves a special mention, and by viewing the numerous photos of the lush plant life throughout Baja California I can understand why. They point out that in March 2000, a binational, multidisciplinary expedition with eight Mexican and nine American scientists was organized by the San Diego Natural History Museum to survey the biodiversity of the Island, at that time ravaged by more than a century of destructive grazing from introduced feral goats. Overall, the expedition found a bleak picture, with more than 20 of the island’s unique species gone and others seeming on the brink of extinction. In view of these results, in 2002 Mexico’s National Institute of Ecology started promoting an initiative to restore the island. The initiative proved successful, and in 2004 the Grupo de Ecologia y Conservacion de Islas started a comprehensive program to remove the goats. In February 2007, the island was declared free of feral goats. If it is true that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” after the removal of the feral goats, the landscape of Guadalupe Island in May 2010 shows a dramatic difference in the establishment of native and endemic plants, as depicted by photos in this book by the authors. Summaries of the climate, geology, vegetation, ecoregions, and endemism by experts in these fields provide the framework for understanding the basis for the evolution of the plants of this region. Also included are chapters on the diversity and impacts of nonnative and invasive plants and on conservation aspects of the region. A glossary defines technical terms used in the descriptions. Again, all according to Dr. Michael G. Simpson, San Diego State University, who obviously appreciates the scholarly research done by Rebman and Roberts for this book. Baja California Plant Field Guide will entice a range of people, including me, from the interested layperson to the professional botanist. It will doubtless become an essential reference for learning the plants of the Baja California peninsula, one of the most floristically diverse regions of the world. In addition, this book will also be useful for plant enthusiasts interested in the flora of the entire Sonoran Desert and southern California, as over 50% of the species covered in this book also occur in these regions, according to Dr. Michael G. Simpson, San Diego State University. Dr. Rebman, who holds the Mary and Dallas Clark Endowed Chair and has been the Curator of Botany at the San Diego Natural History Museum since 1996, for more than 22 years has been conducting extensive floristic research in Baja California, Mexico and in San Diego and Imperial counties in California. Dr. Roberts was the author and co-author of the two earlier editions of this book. Dr. Roberts, a devoted conservationist for the region and led countless expeditions and trips to Baja California, passed away in April 2009 at the age of 88 years old. We tend to take for granted the floral array and lush vegetation that we come across as we travel through Mexico, and in particular Baja California, but after reading Baja California Plant Field Guild and understanding the harmony of nature, I have gained a greater appreciation of what the authors of this book has shared with us through photos and their knowledge of the ecosystem. Dennis Moore is the book review editor for SDWriteway, an online newsletter for writers in San Diego. He has been a freelance contributor to the Baja Times and the Baja News, as well as EURweb and the San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper. He is also the author of a book about Chicago politics; “The City That Works: Power, Politics and Corruption in Chicago.” Mr. Moore can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you can reach him on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8
DANGEROUS TOY CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING: DUNECRAFT RECALLS WATER BALZ, SKULLS, ORBS AND FLOWER TOYS DUE TO SERIOUS INGESTION HAZARD
Toys expand 400 times in size, causing blockage in intestine if swallowed December 18, 2012 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada today announced a voluntary recall of Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H20 Orbs “Despicable Me” and Fabulous Flowers toys imported by Dunecraft, Inc. About 94,700 of the toys have been sold in the U.S. at major retail stores, internet sites and other locations, as well as 600 sold in Canada. Some products were sold in stores at Bed Bath & Beyond, Five Below, Hobby Lobby, Lakeshore Learning Materials, Microcenter, Urban Outfitters Direct, Wegmans and other stores nationwide, and online at amazon.com, incrediblescience.com, keyporthobbies.com, americantoystores.com and other websites from September 2010 through November 2012 for about $3 per package. The H2O Orbs “Despicable Me” were sold exclusively at Universal Studios stores during June 2012 for about $3 per package. Fabulous Flowers were sold exclusively at Milaeger’s in Racine, Wis. from June 2012 through November 2012 for about $3 per package. This recall involves marble-sized toys that absorb water and grow up to 400 times their original size. They were sold in packages of six in green, yellow, red, blue and black colors. “Dunecraft,” the name of the toy and the model number are printed on the toy’s packaging.When the marble-sized toy is ingested, it expands inside the body and causes a blockage in the small intestine, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and could be life threatening. The toys do not show up on an x-ray and require surgery to be removed from the body. The firm received one report of an 8-month-old girl from Humble, Texas who ingested a Water Balz and suffered an intestinal obstruction in August 2011. The Water Balz had to be surgically removed. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Manufactured in: China and United States Remedy: Consumers should immediately take this recalled toy away from children and contact Dunecraft for a free replacement toy. Consumer Contact: Dunecraft Inc.; at (800) 306-4168, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.dunecraft.com and click on the recall tab for more information. Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1745 To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml13/13071.html
READER’S EDITORIAL: SYMPATHY SHOULD GO TO VICTIMS, NOT TO JILLIAN HANSON-COX
By Councilman Gary Kendrick I have been very saddened by the discovery that my fellow El Cajon City Council Member, Jillian Hanson-Cox, was not the person I thought she was. I had always seen Jillian as a very warm-hearted, caring and honest individual. The documents now on file in the federal district court convincingly show that she is just the opposite. Jillian embezzled an almost unbelievable amount of money from a family who thought of her as their own offspring. The victims of her crimes are numerous, and these people are from all economic strata. These innocent victims should be the primary objects for our sympathy. My heart also aches for Jillian’s family members who have been hurt by her actions. While a large portion of the money she embezzled may have gone to charitable or otherwise worthy causes, she also spent enormous sums of money on herself for frivolous luxuries. There is no excuse, nor is there any justification, for her actions. While none of the embezzled funds came from the City of El Cajon, she has nonetheless harmed our city by bringing shame upon herself while serving as a public official. In doing so, she violated the trust placed in her by the citizens of our city. I strongly disapprove of all of her actions, and ask that we all focus our sympathies solely on her victims. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.