Blaming Victims Rather Than Guns

Blaming Victims Rather Than Guns

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

The obsession with guns and the “freedom” they allegedly represent has reached new heights.

The latest sick and twisted message from the NRA and other pro-gun groups is that we should blame the victims and potential victims for school shootings. You see those kids walking out in respectful protest? It’s their fault because they have not been nice enough to their fellow students.

Gun advocates believe that fact there are no standardized national background checks to buy a gun is not the problem. Nor is the fact high school students can buy an AR-15 in many states. No waiting period to buy a gun in many places? That’s not the real cause of this violence, they claim.

The problem is that students aren’t nice enough to each other. It’s their fault.

Instead of walking out to bring attention to the need for better laws and policies, those kids should seek out the bullied, the troubled, the unstable and help them fit in. That would be more effective than urging their adult counterparts in government to strengthen and standardize gun laws.

That is such a self-serving, insensitive, and stupid argument.

Hey, I’m all for kids being kind and inclusive. Bullying is wrong, and kids are key in stopping it when they can. We can all be nicer to each other.

But it is sickening to see adults who have power pass the blame for their own shortcomings to kids who don’t. Are we this desperate to avoid responsible gun regulations nationwide?

Is this the most effective way to curb gun violence in schools? Should kids make friends with the kid who is killing his/her pets and making threats towards others? Sitting at the lunch table with an overly introverted peer might make him/her more sociable and involved. Or it could make that outcast more likely to obsess over you.

Is it possible limiting access to guns for that child might keep everyone safer? Don’t adults have the responsibility of keeping guns out of the wrong hands?

Oh no – we need more guns. We need to arm teachers, place more weapons in among the children. What could possibly go wrong with that idea? A school shooting was ended this week by an armed police officer stationed in the school, but that’s a sad but reasonable reality.

Clearly, this is not an either/or situation. We can and should do both. Bringing kids together and providing stronger counseling services should be pursued.

But in addition to strengthening gun laws — not in place of that effort.

Criticizing these kids for the responsible actions they have taken is akin to blaming the victim in a rape. We should show students as much respect and honor their place in our society as we do guns. Considering it is their lives being threatened, we should be proud these kids have assumed some responsibility for their own safety.

We blame poor mental health services. We blame video games. We blame declining moral values. We blame families. And now, we blame students trying to speak out. We blame anything — except the ease with which guns can be obtained.

Thank goodness our kids seem to get what so many of us don’t.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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Bryce's Fight Is Our Fight Too

Bryce's Fight Is Our Fight Too

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

Every once in a while, something strikes you right in the heart. With that in mind, I’d like to talk about the Derosiers family. More specifically, 1-year-old Bryce Derosiers, who is my new hero.

Bryce’s dad Jeremy is a police officer in Taunton where he and his family now live, but to me he will always be a Norton kid. That means his amazing wife Jamie, 2 1/2-year-old daughter Aubriella, and young son Bryce are also by extension Norton kids.

Jeremy has been a friend of my son for years. He is an extraordinary young man.

In a cruel twist of fate, both Aubriella and Bryce have a severe form of mitochondrial disease, manifesting in a wide variety of physical and neurological problems.

For Bryce, it became life-threatening last month when he started seizing uncontrollably and wound up in the ICU at Children’s Hospital in Boston.

He had to be placed into a coma to let his brain rest, his incredibly strong mother explained. Doctors have done virtually everything they can to keep Bryce alive, but the odds have not been in his favor. Still, he has thus far defied them and come out of his coma and given everyone hope.

Jamie has documented Bryce’s daily fight on Facebook, and it is nothing short of miraculous.

It turns out Bryce is perhaps the toughest kid ever, and his struggle to survive — supported by the unending and unconditional love of his parents, family and friends — has been beyond all definitions of heroic.

Despite obstacles that would simply overwhelm most kids or adults, Bryce is holding his own. Progress is measured in the smallest of steps, and the ups and downs are unbelievably difficult.

But over time, Jamie and Jeremy have allowed us to watch Bryce’s fight. He clings to life as only the very strong can. He perseveres in a manner only made possible by love, faith, good wishes and prayers of people from virtually everywhere.

Jeremy’s fellow police officers have selflessly donated over 100 shifts to help him and his family in their time of need. People have shoveled their driveway, provided meals and offered support of all types. A GoFundMe account set up by Jamie’s high school friends has raised a considerable sum thus far for the family’s expenses, but much more is needed.

While Jeremy, Jamie and Aubriella are eternally grateful for the love and support, they really want only one thing. They want their “Mighty Brycey” to come back home, to play with his sister and grow up knowing how many people have already loved him without ever actually meeting him.

Jamie spends virtually every night sleeping at the hospital with Bryce. Jeremy is the only one able to make his son laugh since he came out of the coma. These parents give new meaning to the word “family.”

Some of us live to ripe old ages, but never make the kind of impact on this world Bryce Derosiers already has. He deserves both a break and a chance, as do his loving parents and sister.

Those Norton kids are made of tough stuff.

Donations to help the Derosiers family can be made at www.gofundme.com/all-mighty-brycey.

Bill Gouveia is a localolumnist and lifelong Norton resident. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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Candidate's Conflict Position Inconsistent

Rep Candidate Juggling Conflict Problems

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

This column first appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Friday, March 16, 2018

Attleboro City Councilor Julie Hall is arguably the front-runner for the state representative seat formerly held by Mayor Paul Heroux. With that unofficial designation comes increased scrutiny, and some criticism for inconsistencies surrounding “conflicts”.

Council President Mark Cooper suggested Hall abstain from voting on approving the special election on April 3 for both the debt exclusion and the vacant legislative seat. His reasoning was it could be seen as an attempt to increase turnout and help her chances.

Hall complied with his “request” and abstained from what was a routine vote that ended up being otherwise unanimous. It did provide Hall with political cover, which may or may not have been the intent. But since councilors routinely vote on funding for elections in which they are involved, the claims of conflict were hollow at best.

Then came controversy over campaign contributions Hall received from individuals connected to entities with business before the council, past and present. Hall claims there is nothing wrong with them legally or ethically, and she may well be right.

However, the idea that voting to fund a special election is a conflict, but accepting money from people seeking your vote to aid their business is not, makes little sense. A case can easily be made that either each is a conflict, or neither is. But having it both ways seems awfully convenient.

Now the issue of whether or not Hall would keep her council seat if she wins the rep race has arisen. Voters are sensitive to that, as they were when Heroux briefly considered holding both posts before wisely deciding against it.

Hall has indicated she would keep both seats initially, particularly because the special election winner only holds office until November. Then that person must run again and win to stay in office.

When asked, Hall acknowledged she currently plans to hold both seats should she win, at least until the November election. She notes that former representatives and councilors Bill Bowles and George Ross held both positions simultaneously, thus creating a precedent. She said that did not seem to cause any problems.

Hall said she suspects that if she won both elections, in November she may find herself not being able to vote on certain issues due to possible conflicts between the two positions. She also pointed out that if she won in April, resigned from the council and then lost in November, she would be completely out of public office.

Which is a reasonable explanation of why holding both would be better for her, but not for why it would be better for the city.

If something is probably going to be a conflict in November, why would it not also be a conflict in April?

Being a councilor is not a full-time job, so this is a bit different from the mayor’s situation a few months back. No one is saying Hall would not have the time, or would be “double-dipping” for two salaries.

Hall is an excellent, well-qualified candidate for state representative. But she is already worried about conflicts. That should worry the voters.

Hall can end that worry by simply promising to resign from the council should she win the legislative seat.

No conflict there.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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Power Goes Off, So Do We...

When The Power Goes out...

by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle

(this column appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Monday, March 12, 2018)

I was one of the fortunate few that never lost power last week, despite a couple of pretty powerful storms.

Still, I have gone without electricity for prolonged periods of time before. It is not fun. It can be costly, unhealthy and downright dangerous for seniors and those with medical issues.

Like most, I never think my power comes back fast enough. And I complain about it.

Logic tells us we can’t control Mother Nature. When trees and telephone poles are tossed around like toothpicks, wires are going to go down. Roads are going to be blocked. Crews have to wait until it is safe to start making repairs.

But logic can fade quickly. As the food in the refrigerator starts to stink, so can your attitude. The lower the temperature in the house drops, the lower your spirits sink. Before you know it, you are going through the “Three Stages of Power Loss.”

Stage 1: Adventure. You prepared and now is your time. You break out the generator. You find and light the candles. You locate that stash of “storm food” you carefully stored away. You grab the 20 pounds of batteries you bought just for this occasion. You gather the kids, toast marshmallows in the fireplace and laugh about times gone by.

Stage 2: Anger. The kids are whining. You smell and there is no hot water. You’ve watched 12 Disney movies on your phone and don’t want to go to the car to charge it again. That family you hate a few streets over got their power back three hours ago. The electric company’s website says your power won’t return until midnight tomorrow, causing you to throw a battery through the radio. A tree is resting on your garage, there is water in the basement and your blood pressure and blood sugar are competing for the highest number.

Stage 3: Blame. You power company has one lousy job, to make things work in your house. Now they can’t even do that. They should have anticipated that “bomb cyclone” thing. The four transformers that caught fire should have been replaced years ago. All those property taxes we pay and the town can’t make sure they trim trees everywhere? Why is MY town always losing power, yet that town next door always seems to be lit up? I told my spouse we should have bought the generator.

Then the lights come back on, and things slowly return to normal. The Celtics game is back on TV. The ice cream isn’t melting in the freezer.

You are back to complaining about the price of heating oil, microwaving the leftovers and not going to town meeting to support that budget increase requested by the department of public works in order to trim the trees you were just complaining about.

This past week produced some legitimate complaints concerning state supervision of utilities and their job performance. But boy, are we spoiled.

Our utility companies and communities can always do better. But wouldn’t it be a novel approach if we expressed our appreciation for them when things run well as fervently as we complain about them when they don’t?

After all — we could be in Puerto Rico.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.