(IL) Program emphasizes gun danger message

Drizzt · May 20, 2002, 01:11 PM

Program emphasizes gun danger message

By Don Grigas, Staff writer

Testimonials from two area residents whose lives were abruptly and permanently shattered by gun violence converted a gymnasium packed with 1,700 noisy teens into a hall of silence on May 9.

Organizers of the 75-minute ``SAFE Survival Day'' program, which extolled firearm safety to students in the Bolingbrook High School gymnasium, said they had some trepidations at the outset of the program because of the amount of attendees.

``There was some concern because when we deliver this program at middle and elementary schools, it usually involves 50 to 100 kids, not 1,700,'' said Bolingbrook police officer John Sullivan, who helped coordinate the event.

The concern grew when the program began at 8:30 a.m. and pockets of anxious students in the bleachers continued to talk, laugh and display typical adolescent exuberance, while a theater group began to perform a skit at the center of the gym.

The cast -- about 12 students from Joliet High School's ``No Name Club''-- enacted a scenario of a small party inside a home gone awry, culminating with a teen-ager playing with a loaded handgun and accidentally shooting another party-goer.

Within moments, uniformed Bolingbrook police officers rushed forward and secured the ``crime scene'' while Bolingbrook Fire Department paramedics worked on the ``victim.''

Students observed the action on the floor and on two large video screens set up at each end of the gymnasium.

After the ``body'' was wheeled out to a waiting ambulance, and the program's first speaker provided a graphic presentation of photographs of the horrendous damage inflicted by gunshots, the gymnasium's sound system failed -- for 6-1//2 minutes.

``I have to be honest -- I was a little worried we might have lost them at that point,'' said Therese Davoren, DuPage Township youth director, one of the event coordinators.

But the audience turned respectfully silent when testimonials were delivered by two other people who have been touched by the tragedy of gun violence.

Most poignant was the 10-minute talk given by Wanda Faulkner, mother of Tatiana Cannon, the Bolingbrook High School freshman who died June 7, 2001, of an accidental gunshot to the chest while attending a party at a private residence in Bolingbrook.

A 16-year-old male pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in Will County Juvenile Court last November, and is scheduled to appear at a hearing before a judge Friday, June 7, a year to the date of Cannon's death.

It was Faulkner's riveting recounting of that day's events -- and her plea to the students to understand the dangers of handguns -- that had many in the audience wiping their eyes.

Wearing the necklace that her daughter was wearing the day she died, Faulkner walked slowly in circles while holding a microphone, speaking of the personal anguish and helplessness she felt as she drove to Edward Hospital after officials had notified her of the incident.

Upon arriving at the hospital, doctors told Faulkner the severity of the situation.

``It was the week before Tatiana's 15th birthday, and a doctor came in and told me they were trying to revive her. I knew what he was saying,'' said Faulkner, her voice breaking with emotion.

Faulkner said she then prayed, but a short time later, Tatiana was pronounced dead.

Faulkner wasn't the only one who needed time to compose herself following her presentation.

``There were many students sitting near me who were crying,'' said Tad Dallas, a 15-year-old freshman at the high school. ``It was really moving.''

Faulkner, a Bolingbrook resident, went on to tell the students that possessing and handling firearms ``is not a game.''

``I am here today to tell you the truth. What is the truth? The truth is that guns were designed to kill, and when that happens a life ceases to exist,'' she said.

``Life is a precious gift from God.''

As Faulkner left the center of the gymnasium, the entire audience stood and applauded.

Moments later, students sat down again and watched in the dimly lit gymnasium as Chris Pesavento, former football star at Plainfield High School, appeared in a motorized wheelchair.

Pesavanto, paralyzed from the neck down, was a high school senior in 1993 when he was shot by Quan Cole following an altercation at a graduation party.

According to Illinois Department of Correction records, Cole served eight years and nine months at Sheridan Correctional Center for attempted murder before being paroled in February 2002.

``I was a football player with a scholarship to college,'' Pesavanto said. ``I was like you guys, young, going to parties, in my own little world.

``But then, so much of my life and dreams disappeared in one moment. At that point, my life was forever changed,'' said Pesavanto, who still requires a breathing apparatus during sleep.

Pesavanto said he was attending a graduation party that night when a group of uninvited teens arrived and were told to leave.

An altercation ensued, and with one of his friends he drove after a car whose occupants had issued a challenge to fight, setting up the event that changed his life.

``When the cars stopped a lot of guys got out, and I heard someone say somebody had a bat. That's when I got back in my car. Then I heard a buddy say, `He's got a gun,' and the next thing I knew, somebody opened one of the car doors, pointed a gun at me, and pulled the trigger,'' Pesavento said.

Today the life he lives is significantly different from the one he envisioned while a student at Plainfield High School, where he played fullback.

``When you are young, you don't often think about the whole picture, but only focus on your own little world. You need to know there are consequences to actions,'' he said.

To this day, he said he cannot recall specifically what the argument that resulted in his shooting was about, although there was one thing he made clear to those assembled.

``You guys don't want my life,'' he said.

The message struck home for Jermaine Austin, 19, a senior at Bolingbrook High School who has played varsity football for three seasons.

``It made me think a lot about how dangerous guns are, because he was so athletic, and I am an athlete,'' said Austin.

Now, he said, if he were at a party at which a gun was produced _ even by someone he knew -- ``I'd be gone.''

At the conclusion of the program, six Bolingbrook police officers walked through the gymnasium carrying two firearms, one real and one fake, according to Officer John Sullivan.

Sullivan, who helped coordinate the program, heads the department's SAFE, or Students Against Firearm Encounters, program.

After slowly walking around the gymnasium and displaying the guns to students, the officers finally showed which ones were real.

``The demonstration of the guns really made me think because one officer told us both of his guns were real, when I thought the one was fake,'' said Dallas.

Sullivan ended the program by providing an anonymous hot line phone number for students to call if they know of people with weapons in school, a Will County program that offers rewards of up to $1,000 for tips.

The phone number for Will County Gun Stoppers is (800) 323-6734.

Don Grigas' e-mail address is:

dtg@libertysuburban.com

http://reporter-met.chicagosuburbann...ROOK/C9203.TXT

Gotta get those kids properly indoctrinated.......

SkySlash · May 20, 2002, 01:16 PM

What would have made a good program, is a good friearms safety course combined with that indoctrination crap.

Teach the kids that guns are dangerous with shock value, but educate them on their proper use instead of trying to terrify them into completely avoiding them..

-SS

Modifiedbrowning · May 20, 2002, 05:12 PM

Quote:

is not a game.

No sh*t Sherlock.

mussi · May 20, 2002, 06:17 PM

In the village I grew up, these crocks would have gotten three lessons:

1. The four mantras of gun safety.

2. Never use guns when intoxicated. If you think you need to do violence, that's what your feet and fists are for.

3. Never pick a fight unless you can retreat (with a bunch of very belligerent foreigners down here, this is the best option - unless somebody shows up with superior firepower like a semi-auto rifle or shotgun).

May 20, 2002, 01:11 PM	#1
Drizzt Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Going Out of My Head at a Rapid Pace..... Posts: 2,511	(IL) Program emphasizes gun danger message Program emphasizes gun danger message By Don Grigas, Staff writer Testimonials from two area residents whose lives were abruptly and permanently shattered by gun violence converted a gymnasium packed with 1,700 noisy teens into a hall of silence on May 9. Organizers of the 75-minute ``SAFE Survival Day'' program, which extolled firearm safety to students in the Bolingbrook High School gymnasium, said they had some trepidations at the outset of the program because of the amount of attendees. ``There was some concern because when we deliver this program at middle and elementary schools, it usually involves 50 to 100 kids, not 1,700,'' said Bolingbrook police officer John Sullivan, who helped coordinate the event. The concern grew when the program began at 8:30 a.m. and pockets of anxious students in the bleachers continued to talk, laugh and display typical adolescent exuberance, while a theater group began to perform a skit at the center of the gym. The cast -- about 12 students from Joliet High School's ``No Name Club''-- enacted a scenario of a small party inside a home gone awry, culminating with a teen-ager playing with a loaded handgun and accidentally shooting another party-goer. Within moments, uniformed Bolingbrook police officers rushed forward and secured the ``crime scene'' while Bolingbrook Fire Department paramedics worked on the ``victim.'' Students observed the action on the floor and on two large video screens set up at each end of the gymnasium. After the ``body'' was wheeled out to a waiting ambulance, and the program's first speaker provided a graphic presentation of photographs of the horrendous damage inflicted by gunshots, the gymnasium's sound system failed -- for 6-1//2 minutes. ``I have to be honest -- I was a little worried we might have lost them at that point,'' said Therese Davoren, DuPage Township youth director, one of the event coordinators. But the audience turned respectfully silent when testimonials were delivered by two other people who have been touched by the tragedy of gun violence. Most poignant was the 10-minute talk given by Wanda Faulkner, mother of Tatiana Cannon, the Bolingbrook High School freshman who died June 7, 2001, of an accidental gunshot to the chest while attending a party at a private residence in Bolingbrook. A 16-year-old male pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in Will County Juvenile Court last November, and is scheduled to appear at a hearing before a judge Friday, June 7, a year to the date of Cannon's death. It was Faulkner's riveting recounting of that day's events -- and her plea to the students to understand the dangers of handguns -- that had many in the audience wiping their eyes. Wearing the necklace that her daughter was wearing the day she died, Faulkner walked slowly in circles while holding a microphone, speaking of the personal anguish and helplessness she felt as she drove to Edward Hospital after officials had notified her of the incident. Upon arriving at the hospital, doctors told Faulkner the severity of the situation. ``It was the week before Tatiana's 15th birthday, and a doctor came in and told me they were trying to revive her. I knew what he was saying,'' said Faulkner, her voice breaking with emotion. Faulkner said she then prayed, but a short time later, Tatiana was pronounced dead. Faulkner wasn't the only one who needed time to compose herself following her presentation. ``There were many students sitting near me who were crying,'' said Tad Dallas, a 15-year-old freshman at the high school. ``It was really moving.'' Faulkner, a Bolingbrook resident, went on to tell the students that possessing and handling firearms ``is not a game.'' ``I am here today to tell you the truth. What is the truth? The truth is that guns were designed to kill, and when that happens a life ceases to exist,'' she said. ``Life is a precious gift from God.'' As Faulkner left the center of the gymnasium, the entire audience stood and applauded. Moments later, students sat down again and watched in the dimly lit gymnasium as Chris Pesavento, former football star at Plainfield High School, appeared in a motorized wheelchair. Pesavanto, paralyzed from the neck down, was a high school senior in 1993 when he was shot by Quan Cole following an altercation at a graduation party. According to Illinois Department of Correction records, Cole served eight years and nine months at Sheridan Correctional Center for attempted murder before being paroled in February 2002. ``I was a football player with a scholarship to college,'' Pesavanto said. ``I was like you guys, young, going to parties, in my own little world. ``But then, so much of my life and dreams disappeared in one moment. At that point, my life was forever changed,'' said Pesavanto, who still requires a breathing apparatus during sleep. Pesavanto said he was attending a graduation party that night when a group of uninvited teens arrived and were told to leave. An altercation ensued, and with one of his friends he drove after a car whose occupants had issued a challenge to fight, setting up the event that changed his life. ``When the cars stopped a lot of guys got out, and I heard someone say somebody had a bat. That's when I got back in my car. Then I heard a buddy say, `He's got a gun,' and the next thing I knew, somebody opened one of the car doors, pointed a gun at me, and pulled the trigger,'' Pesavento said. Today the life he lives is significantly different from the one he envisioned while a student at Plainfield High School, where he played fullback. ``When you are young, you don't often think about the whole picture, but only focus on your own little world. You need to know there are consequences to actions,'' he said. To this day, he said he cannot recall specifically what the argument that resulted in his shooting was about, although there was one thing he made clear to those assembled. ``You guys don't want my life,'' he said. The message struck home for Jermaine Austin, 19, a senior at Bolingbrook High School who has played varsity football for three seasons. ``It made me think a lot about how dangerous guns are, because he was so athletic, and I am an athlete,'' said Austin. Now, he said, if he were at a party at which a gun was produced _ even by someone he knew -- ``I'd be gone.'' At the conclusion of the program, six Bolingbrook police officers walked through the gymnasium carrying two firearms, one real and one fake, according to Officer John Sullivan. Sullivan, who helped coordinate the program, heads the department's SAFE, or Students Against Firearm Encounters, program. After slowly walking around the gymnasium and displaying the guns to students, the officers finally showed which ones were real. ``The demonstration of the guns really made me think because one officer told us both of his guns were real, when I thought the one was fake,'' said Dallas. Sullivan ended the program by providing an anonymous hot line phone number for students to call if they know of people with weapons in school, a Will County program that offers rewards of up to $1,000 for tips. The phone number for Will County Gun Stoppers is (800) 323-6734. Don Grigas' e-mail address is: dtg@libertysuburban.com http://reporter-met.chicagosuburbann...ROOK/C9203.TXT Gotta get those kids properly indoctrinated....... __________________ "That a free citizen should have to go before a committee, hat in hand, and pray for permission to bear arms - fantastic! Arm your daughter, sir, and pay no attention to petty bureaucrats." Robert Heinlein - Red Planet

May 20, 2002, 01:16 PM	#2
SkySlash Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 496	What would have made a good program, is a good friearms safety course combined with that indoctrination crap. Teach the kids that guns are dangerous with shock value, but educate them on their proper use instead of trying to terrify them into completely avoiding them.. -SS __________________ There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

May 20, 2002, 06:17 PM	#4
mussi Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2000 Location: Berne, Switzerland Posts: 762	In the village I grew up, these crocks would have gotten three lessons: 1. The four mantras of gun safety. 2. Never use guns when intoxicated. If you think you need to do violence, that's what your feet and fists are for. 3. Never pick a fight unless you can retreat (with a bunch of very belligerent foreigners down here, this is the best option - unless somebody shows up with superior firepower like a semi-auto rifle or shotgun).