Today I came out against California's three strikes law
I was coming home on the bus and ran into one of my old students. She lives around the corner from me. Her grandmother had a stroke recently and I asked about her. Then I mentioned I haven't seen her dad for awhile. She told me he committed suicide on Easter Sunday. Her father had been in jail for drugs during the 80's. He was about my age and even though we didn't go to the same high schools we had mutual acqaintances. When I met his daughter he had just come out of jail and was cleaning up his life. He had re-finished the library benches in the classroom and he was painting houses. I was going to have him paint my house as he did a beautiful job on one of my neighbors. I didn't ask why he was in jail again but he found out that he was going to be in jail for the rest of his life because of the 3 strikes law. The guy was not a violent man just had a drug problem which he admitted but was working on straightening out his life and being a good father and son. I got choked up and speechless. I asked his daughter if she was seeing a therapist. She said yes but I think she is holding back as she was so calm. She's 17. She showed me her prom pictures. Her friend she was with seemed to be her support rock which was a good thing.
But how sad that someone would feel so lost and desperate to take their life in jail. Poor Ed. I am not religious but I will say a prayer for his soul. I'm sorry I ever supported this law and will work to overturn the law for the poor Eddie's of the world.