Our northern California neighbors in Salinas saw 26 homicides so far this year, not exactly a romantic Steinbeck visual.
With the seemingly overwhelming acts of violence everywhere, I am reminded of the 1993 film “Falling Down,” directed by Joel Schumacher, starring Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall. Douglas” character goes on a violent rampage as he heads toward the home where his daughter lives with his ex-wife. From minor irritators to major societal dilemmas, Douglas” character is left with the question, “How did I get to be the bad guy?” He questions the detective played by Duvall, “Have you looked out there?”
To some degree the immense frustration the character feels is created by his environment, poverty, greed, ugliness, gangs and hate groups around him. Concepts that buck equality and challenge fairness slap him in the face with each experience.
My own frustration with violent behavior, and its aftermath, is the feeling of helplessness and the desire to create change, to live in a more peaceful world.
University of California, Davis has a program worth mentioning. The Violence Prevention Research Program is described as “an organized research program of the university. Work addresses the causes, nature and prevention of violence. Current major areas of emphasis are the prediction of criminal behavior, the effectiveness of waiting period/background check programs for prospective purchasers of firearms and the determinants of firearm violence. The mission is to conduct research that will further America”s efforts to understand and prevent violence.”
Lake County District Attorney Jon Hopkins says one of the most impressive examples in Lake County of a prevention model is Team DUI and the DUI response team, because collaboratively, it calls to action a number of entities in the community to work as a community. The program was not created by government, rather a broken-hearted mother whose child died as the result of a drunken driver during the holiday season.
Why? Because, Hopkins points out, crime is not an act between criminals and cops. It is an act between criminals and communities. After all, just who pays when a shoplifter steals? Other shoppers must make up the difference.
Hopkins says it is tremendously effective when a community puts its collective foot down.
Lake County Sheriff/Coroner Rodney K. Mitchell says that violence prevention is a process, not a program. Lake County”s answer to violence prevention comes in the form of the Sheriff”s Citizens Academy, started in 1998. It is typically a 13-week program, consisting of 13, three-hour sessions. It allows the public to learn what law enforcement is able to do and works in collaboration with the community. There is an academy coming up soon. Watch the paper for dates and times or check the Lake County Sheriff Office Web site at www.lakesheriff.com.
To learn more about the violence prevention program at UC Davis visit, www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/vprp/.
The holidays are usually a time of celebration and joy, but for some these are times of desperation and incredible sadness. Be a part of your community. Stop tragedy in its tracks, now matter how you chose to do so. By the time government is assigned to solve a problem it is in reaction and response to tragedy that has already occurred, as is the nature of things. Give the gift of safety, trust and peace of mind this holiday season.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
