Late but not forgotten

I just recently came across this article. I no longer live in Chico so I did not find out until recently.


www.chicoer.com/news/ci_13443109

If I understand correctly, the drunk driver has, like Troy Hovey, pled not guilty.

PLEASE write the courts and make your voices heard. The courts need to hear that the community of Chico wants drunk drivers punished...That drunk driving is not an accident...it is a crime!

Please, let us not witness a repeat of the travesty of justice that Deepika and Amit's family and friends suffered.

August 7th, 2008

This poem is Amit...it embodies who he was and why we are better for having had him touch our hearts and our lives...

The Optimist's Creed

Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you met.

Make all your friends feel there is something in them.

Look at the sunny side of everything.

Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

Give everyone a smile.

Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.

Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.

-Christina D. Larsen

August 6th, 2008 - August 6th, 2009

Please see my other blog: http://strengthlovehope.blogspot.com/

where I share my thoughts and feelings of the last year.

We will have a memorial table set up at this Saturday's Chico Farmer's market where people can share their memories of Amit, well wishes, etc.

Take action today...don't wait until you have one more reason...enough is enough.

Stallworth Gets 30 Days In Jail...pleads guilty to manslaughter in DUI case

Read more about the sentencing and plea deal for the NFL football player:

http://www.justnews.com/news/19766406/detail.html

In the News...Deja Vu

The man on trial for hit and run DUI in southern CA is pleading not guilty and the lawyer is asking for change of venue...He was at three times the legal limit when he took the lives of innocent people...will the three dead and one injured get justice? or will another killer walk away with a slap on the wrist?

Don't stay silent...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/08/california.pitcher.killed/index.html

"Prosecutors say that Gallo was on probation before the April crash and that his license had been suspended after a previous drunken-driving charge."

June 6th, 2009...10 months

On this, the 10th month since Amit was killed by Troy Hovey, I would like to direct viewers of this blog to view my second blog (http://strengthlovehope.blogspot.com/). At this blog, I have been documenting the ongoing story of Deepika, Amit's beautiful wife and their son, Jevesh. Jevesh was diagnosed with multiple heart defects, no spleen, and malrotated intestines. Jevesh will be 6 months old on the 9th. He has already endured to major heart surgeries, multiple procedures, and has spent more time in a hospital than he has his home.

Deepika has had to struggle every single day with the loss of Amit, all the tragedies that resulted from his loss, and the concerns for her child, keeping the business running, paying the bills, and so on. So many times, the public at large and the media, not only gloss over the sickening deja vu of drunk driving death after drunk driving death, they forget about all the other victims that survive such accidents...the ones that don't die physically but lose a piece of themselves that can never be replaced.

I continue to advocate for change. I believe that individuals should not only be educated about and deterred from driving drunk and action be taken to reduce repeat offenders, the punishment needs to be appropriate to the crime...The victims and the families that survive must suffer and be punished for the rest of their lives...so to should the perpetrators of such crimes, and I do not speak of these criminals and their conscious if they have one, I mean long term punishment. Prison, loss of license, and lifelong community service...I do not believe these are unreasonable requests...and yet thousands of people die each year at the hands of drunk drivers and the perpetrators not only physically walk away from the crime, they legally walk away with minimum sentences and slaps on the wrist.

Please pass on the address of this blog. Please help make a difference. I am looking for assistance to mount a large scale media effort in August for the anniversary of Amit's death, not just for Amit, but for all the victims and survivors that have suffered senselessly.

Three more lives cut short...and counting...what will it take

http://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyId=2847

Last week, three people were killed in a hit and run dunk driving collision. The driver was caught and will be tried for three murders. We will see if justice will be served. In the end, regardless of the outcome, three more lives are lost and three more sets of families and friends must come to terms with the grief caused by one person's selfish act.

I am still working on ways to make a difference, however, I have been focusing my efforts most recently on doing what I can to help Amit's widow, Deepika, and his son Jevesh (See my other blog if you are interested in reading more).



I have pondered many ideas on what to do......

Do we try and achieve justice?......The courts and insurance companies have stolen those chances away.......

Do we hope Troy Hovey is willing to make amends for his actions?......I won't hold my breath for a man who has made no legitimate act to apologize (I do not believe an apology before sentencing when facing prison is a heartfelt apology...not to mention his declaration of homestead to protect his assets)......

Do we hope people will voluntarily make the right choice...? Some do, some don't...we hope that most just make the right choice because it is just that...the right choice...some will make that choice because they were touched by tragedy, some will make the right choice for fear of the repercussions (often not to others, but to themselves)......Too many will not make the right choice, whether for laziness, selfishness, etc.

What do we do to enact change...do we focus on getting people to make the right choice...do we try and get the courts to enact harsher punishments...do we inflict heavier monetary fines, longer jail terms, longer terms with no license, etc.

I have sent emails, letters, posted on facebook and MySpace, I write this blog...and it is not enough...it is liking walking up a sand dune...but I will continue to work...figure out other venues, contact other victims....I will not let Amit and other victims fade into the backdrop....