Posted on 04/06/2008 1:07:06 PM PDT by Mark
ANITA Shaw says, "My country let me down." It's hard to argue with her. Not only did America let Anita Shaw down, so did California and Los Angeles.
Truth be told, Anita Shaw is being diplomatic, if not generous, by not lashing out in righteous indignation at the massive tragedy she has suffered at the hands of an indifferent government. Our government: federal, state and local.
Who is Anita Shaw and why should you care what she says? Pull up a chair.
Anita Shaw is a sergeant in the United States Army. On March 2, little more than a month ago, she was serving in Iraq when her CO told her to report to the Red Cross office. It was there she learned her 17-year-old son, Jamiel Shaw II, had been murdered - gunned down exactly three doors away from his own home.
Jamiel Shaw Sr. heard the shots that killed his son; one to the chest, one between the eyes. Jamiel Sr. sprinted down the block, arriving just ahead of the police. The cops found him standing over his son, already dead, still clutching the cell phone he had used to tell his dad he'd soon be home. Now he was never coming home.
But his mother was. Sgt. Shaw was given 20 minutes to pack for a flight out of Baghdad.
Jamiel Shaw was a star football player with a solid GPA and a bright future. He was the apple of his father and mother's eye; a hero to his kid brother, 9-year-old Thomas. Tom Shaw wanted to be a football player like Jamiel. Maybe even wear his big brother's number 4. That was before. Now Thomas wants to be "a scientist" so he can "invent a time machine" and go back and save his brother.
Shaw's killer? Police believe they have him - 19-year-old Pedro Espinosa, an illegal alien gangbanger, a killer for the 18th Street Gang.
And here's how America let Sgt. Shaw down: Pedro Espinosa should never have been allowed into this country.
Here's how California failed Sgt. Shaw: It allowed Pedro Espinosa to live in a state that does nothing about its open borders except shift the blame to Washington.
Here's how Los Angeles failed Sgt. Shaw: We accommodated gangs, we still throw out the welcome mat for illegal aliens, we allowed Pedro Espinosa to serve 180 days on gun charges without checking his immigration status. We released Espinosa onto the streets, and 24 hours later he murdered Jamiel Shaw II.
While Jamiel's mother patrolled the streets of Baghdad, helping spare Iraqi mothers the grief Los Angeles visited upon her, we did nothing. This transcends outrage. It's obscene.
The ultimate responsibility for the murder of Jamiel Shaw rests with the triggerman. But let me be blunt - the cowardice of local politicians who hide behind political correctness and racial pandering as an excuse to look the other way on the mounting death toll perpetrated by illegal aliens are enablers of death.
This may be uncomfortable for some to read. I assure you it's uncomfortable to write. Jamiel Shaw's death was preventable. The president, Congress, the governor, the state Legislature, the mayor, the City Council, the County Board of Supervisors, the chief of police, the county sheriff - all of us failed him.
The son of a U.S. solider was murdered on the streets of L.A. What are we going to do about it? What are you going to do about it?
The good intentions that created Special Order 40 surely weren't intended for gangbangers. Personally, I believe Special Order 40 has been a vast and deadly failure. It's a poverty and crime magnet for L.A. and every other city that has its equivalent.
But whatever view you hold on sanctuary-city policies, can't we at least agree the special consideration given illegal aliens by Order 40 should not apply to domestic terrorists? Gangbangers should be hunted down just like international terrorists. In fact, a case can be made Pedro Espinosa is an international terrorist.
We need to pass "Jamiel's Law." We need to force every local politician to explain how they are not complicit in the murder of Shaw. We can't return Jamiel to his mother, however, we can restore her faith in the country she has served better than it has served her.
Doug McIntyre hosts the "McIntyre in the Morning" program on Talk Radio 790 KABC, weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m.
Is this an actual paper newspaper? Or an online one?
Very good story. Sad.
Ummm, Anita, your commander in chief let you down.
This administrative indifference/incompetence is not limited to L.A. Get a load of this example of our ‘Institutions’ demonstrating competence and responsibility in protecting the Public and enforcing our laws;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1995891/posts
Liberalism failed Shaw.
Just another undocumented immigrant seeking a better life for himself and his family. How uncivil of the author to mention his status. After all, America is a nation of immigrants, just like Pedro. At least that's what George Bush has been telling us.
Yes, it’ a newspaper- it’s an alternative to LA Times.
I can’t help but wonder what our soldiers must be thinking...going off to risk their lives, while their loved ones here are so vulnerable and their CIC absolutely flat out refuses to EFFECTIVELY SECURE OUR BORDERS...risking loosing the WOT, not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan, but right here in our own backyards.
This is the part to me that really p*sses me off....how damn hard is it to verify someone's residency after being arrested? And, if they're found to be ILLEGALLY here, why cannot they be deported after the complete their sentence?>p?Sorry, I need to make 'preview' my friend..
CIC yes, but with lots of support from many of this country’s citizens. Heck, I see support on FR. Republicans like the cheap labor, DemocRATS want the cheap vote, and so it goes. Anita is right. Her COUNTRY let her down.
“Jamiel’s Law.”
I like it. It would make a great state ballot initiative.
If someone would write it and file for it I’d sign the petition, I’d circulate the petition, I’d volunteer to work in the campaign.
The son of a U.S. solider was murdered on the streets of L.A. What are we going to do about it? What are you going to do about it?
I’ve applied to join the Colorado Minutemen & I’m reading the Colorado message board putting together a list of decision makers who have a proactive stance on immigration .
I’m also voting for who best represents my Republic wether he has a shot or not . You guys ( whom it applies to ) can vote for the same ‘ole bullshit artist because they have an R .
And what I do about it in my county & my State on my time is between God and I .
We need to pass “Jamiel’s Law.”
Doug .. This is where you and I are on difference .
It's not hard. The problem is, the law in LA County PROHIBITS the police from verifying someone's legal status or reporting it to federal authorities.
Any locality that does that should forfeit all state and federal revenue sharing dollars.
I’m with you. I’m not voting for any of the open border clowns. I’ll be writing a name in on my ballot.
Although perfectly true, those words somehow seem inadequate.
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