Posted on 04/14/2005 7:10:35 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
RED LAKE, MINN. -- A percolating debate about whether teenage gunman Jeff Weise should be called a "victim" is turning financial.
Families of Red Lake High School shooting victims set to receive a flood of financial support from across the country have seen only a trickle so far.
Yet there are angry divisions about whether Weise, who on March 21 killed his grandfather, his grandfather's companion, a teacher, a school guard and five schoolmates before taking his own life, should be called a victim.
"Why are they considering him to be a victim when he killed everybody?" asked Victoria Brun, sister of slain guard Derrick Brun. She railed against the Tribal Council's decision that Weise be seen as a victim and that his family be allocated at least some money.
"The people who donated the money have a right to know and question how the money is divided," Brun said.
Donna Lewis, the mother of victim Dewayne Lewis, 15, stormed out of Tuesday's Tribal Council meeting after hearing that council members were considering giving a portion of the memorial fund to Weise's survivors.
"He ain't no victim in this," Lewis screamed as she stood near the makeshift memorial near the middle school. "He was a murderer."
Tribal Chairman Floyd (Buck) Jourdain Jr. said Wednesday that the Red Lake Memorial Fund, set up at Wells Fargo bank branches, has received more than $200,000 in donations and that more is arriving.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Remember, 9 kids and adults were murdered in a school. I wouldn't expect you too...the media doesnt really remember either.
All members of the Victim Tribe certainly deserve the same benefit.
It might not be to their liking, but a cold bucket of water should help nevertheless.
This is exactly why I do not donate to these sort of funds. You loose complete control over your money.
I remember the day after it happened, the local news (Twin Cities) had a list of the victims up on the screen, the shooter's name was on that list
I turned to mr coder2, and said that it's good to know that the media considers the shooter to be a victim and watch how long it takes before this becomes widespread opinion (especially in the liberal cesspool of mpls/stpaul)
They are in the process of assigning blame and you won't make money blaming a dead person.
Nothing like asking a question and answering it for us before we have a chance.
Here on FR, we'll have to remember this one for years, because the gun-grabbers will try to exploit it for years. We'll have to have the facts handy to repel those vampires. And we'll have to ask the questions the liberals won't, such as how this kid fell through the cracks, why others in the community didn't see this coming, and what impact the anti-depressants had.
See, in this state, the white man is to blame for everything (especially if one is conservative).
It must take a peculiar warping of the liberal mind to consider the killer a victim.
My opinion, it is being hushed up because it did happen on indian land and there have been numerous problems up there that haven't been reported because they pretty much govern themselves. The trick of making the shooter a victim goes into the typical victim mentality we see so much.
What is starting to trickle out now, is that many kids and others in the community knew this was coming and did nothing to stop it. Also hearing of other violence in the school that has been kept under raps for years. Again still conjecture, but wouldn't be surprised --- I used to go to school about 20 miles away from Red Lake. We heard the stories first hand then, but they never made the news.
Welcome to Minnesota !!!! Land of the 10,000+ whacked out liberals residing in the cesspool of Mpls/stpaul. Used to be beautifuly and safe cities (was born there and lived for many years). The libs have managed to trash them though --- crime has taken over huge areas.
Oh I better not get started on that...
Sounds like we grew up "close" to each other. I was a city-clicker from the big city of Grand Forks.
I too know of these kinds of stories...its difficult to see the absolute poverty many of the indians live in. Its disgusting.
I don't quite get the concept of giving money to the victims' families. This accomplishes exactly what?
oh, woops, I just read that you grew up here in the cities and escaped up north. we've gone in opposite directions
Happens everyday in the Strib.
not sure either...ummm, that your kid was worth about $1.98 to someone else.
Born/raised in the cities. Went to college in Brrrrrrmedji (lol)
Went back to the cities, met mrcoder2, got married, had kids and then said enough is enough, this place is going down the toilet.
Escaped over 10 years ago and live in the beautiful brainerd lakes area. NEVER regretted one minute of it, especially when we go back for a visit and hit the constant traffic !!!
I dunno, maybe pay for funerals, put some money in college funds for orphaned kids, pay the rent--that's the common wisdom, anyway. I think it harkens back to the tradition of bringing food over to the widow's house when pa died so she didn't have to worry about cooking.
My neighbors finally managed to burn down their house last week. They were the stereotypical white-trash renters--motorized vehicles (cars, boats, motorcycles) parked on the front lawn next to furniture, different people living in the house on any given week, etc. They burned the house down when they left an open bar-b-que under a wooden patio cover.
After the disaster, the renters started a bank fund and got all the local news channels to play it up. The TV stations were more than happy to have a "poor me" sob story to tell. The renters claimed that they had "grandma's antiques" in the house, but I talked to the property manager and he said that grandma must have shopped at Wal*Mart if that was the case.
16 years in Minnesota (Prior Lake). Traveled up to Duluth and North shore every three-four weeks when we lived there. Great place to raise a family but really, really cold.
LOL -- tell me about it !!!
But there is nothing like the lakes area in the springtime/early summer... But I'm getting old so the winters don't thrill me anymore !!!
Dogwoods are in spectacular bloom here at Lake of the Ozarks. Redbuds (another southern tree) are full of red blossoms. We are probably a full month ahead of Brainard.
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