-=> Quoting Tom Rightmer to Neal Godfrey <=-
 TR> Grassroots efforts around the country are beginning to make many
 TR> people start asking themselves, "What about the right of the victim for
 TR> a change?" Meagan's Law is a result of such grassroots efforts. They
 TR> all start from the right of one person to be heard, and people are
 TR> beginning to listen. The "It could never happen to my family" syndrome
 TR> is beginning to fail as the numbers of victims continue to mount in the
 TR> thousands. There is a growing number of citizens who have been
 TR> victimized in one or more ways who are demanding to be heard. How else
 TR> will others understand unless they are heard? 
The "It could never happen to my family" syndrome rings so true. In the 
beginning of this stinkstorm I was in a daze and then I went into a rage, to 
this day, whenever certain details come up relating to the incidents, I 
either become horribly enraged or I am on the verge of tears. 
Now I think the next thing to do is working on a way to get rid of  
incompetent judges and unethical defense lawyers (BIG PIPE DREAMS! I know). 
Sad to say that NH is way low in regards to judicial reform. I could tell you 
stories about incompetent/crooked judges up here that could fill  volumes. 
My Wife and I are in the middle of coordinating something with the County 
Attorney's Victim/Witness Advocates office now where other parents who have 
been through the ordeal that we have suffered can have someone with whom they 
can identify with and perhaps get a suppport system going.  IMHO Personally I 
think that does even more good than the countless hours  spent in therapy and 
counseling etc..... and I say that due to the fact that  I am also a 
recovering alcoholic as well (15 years sober) just doing it One  Day at a 
Time. 
Enough of that let's see if I can get back on topic here.
 TR> It is one thing to be the victim of a vandalism, a burglary, or some
 TR> other property crime. It is quite another thing to be the victim of a
 TR> crime against a person, especially the type of crime your family has
 TR> dealt with. Other people are beginning to understand portions of the
 TR> pain, suffering, and nightmare of mending a young life. I admire you
 TR> greatly for your patience and again wish your family the very best.
 TR> Your family will be in my prayers. 
I have also been the victim of property crimes on more than one occasion, but 
those I let roll off. One thing that I have seen happen more and more now in 
society is the "We're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it  anymore" which 
does play back to the beginning of your letter. Something that I haven't 
mentioned up until now is that April of last year we had a rather heated 
incident take place on my property between a bunch of wannabe gangbangers and 
a local kid. An assault occurred and it was beginning to  escalate into 
something a lot more violent. We to try and make a long story short the 
perpetrators refused to leave the property until I came out with a rifle. 
Most of them scattered and right after that the local constabulary arrived to 
respond to a call of "A man with a gun". I cooperated fully with the officers 
investigating the matter and to sum it up I ended up being  arrested for 
"Reckless Conduct with a Firearm". This is a matter that I take no pride in. 
The officers involved came across as being truly sorry for  having to arrest 
me but they had no choice. Off the record I heard it was  done primarily to 
cool off the wannabes. Anyhow I spent an hour at the PD before being released 
on a $3,000 PR bond. 3 months later the matter was  finally dropped after the 
grand jury refused to indict me. 
Despite all of the BS that I have been forced to endure, I am releived that 
the justice system does work even though parts of it are rather screwy to say 
the least.
As for the patience portion, I can thank my grandfather for that. He was an 
old Irish Boston beat cop who passed a lot of wisdom to me as I was  growing 
up. While he had the legendary Irish temper  it took him a  long time 
to blow his top. He would always remind me "Every dog has his day" and when 
all was said and done this dog had his day.
Thanks for the prayers, we can use all of the help we can get. This is truly 
an issue that we may be dealing with the rest of our lives though I hope the 
girls will soon get back to the business of being little girls and not 
victims. The aftermath of the ordeal has been with their behavior, they 
regrettably have turned into holy terrors and discipline with them is now 
quite difficult to acheive.
Needless to say we do have our hands full.
Thanks
Neal
... Arkansas owes America an apology.
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