NG>                                        My Wife and I are in the
 NG> middle of coordinating something with the County Attorney's
 NG> Victim/Witness Advocates office now where other parents who have
 NG> been through the ordeal that we have suffered can have someone
 NG> with whom they can identify with and perhaps get a suppport system
 NG> going.  IMHO Personally I think that does even more good than the
 NG> countless hours  spent in therapy and counseling etc.
I think that you are 100% correct, you are channeling what would have been
negative into something that is positive. What would have been rage and hurt
is now help for someone else. Telling your story also helps to end these
kinds of crime or at least begin to become harsh with them.
Reference your arrest on restoring the peace with a rifle, I understand your
confusion and the thoughts about the screwy system. I can tell you what would
have probably happened in my neck of the woods. The officer probably would
have told you to please be patient, that he had to arrest you, but he would
attempt to get a ruling from the District Attorney quickly. There are some
charges that must be filed, and only certain authorities can decline the
charge. In other words, the officer would not have the choice or make the
decision here. Chances here are that the officer would have a decline to file
in about an hour with the circumstances you gave. The booking log would
indicate the original charge and a "D.A. Whoever Declined to File - Date and
Time".  Some obvious matters here would require a court hearing and an
official court ruling. This is not bad in many cases, it puts the matter to
rest in an official manner. If I killed a suspect in the line of duty, I
would want an official ruling of Justifiable Homicide by the appropriate
authority. As a result, many of these cases involving the good guys is
positive, not negative. A serious event without an official ruling of some
sort can come back to haunt the good guy in the future. In conclusion, I
would simply say that would might be viewed as negative by some is actually
positive for the good guy. Does this make any sense?
Tom Rightmer - A Victims' Rights Advocate
... Why can't women remember to put the seat back up?
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30
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