Oside Resident wrote on Nov 10, 2008 4:49 PM:Justice is served! Thank you Officer Bessant, you will never be forgotten!

call me Johnson wrote on Nov 10, 2008 4:53 PM:He got what he deserves.....

Citizen wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:23 PM:THANK YOU TO THE JURY!

justice has spoken wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:43 PM:The officer was ambushed by a bunch of thugs. He and his cohorts deserve their prison sentences.

Taxpayer wrote on Nov 10, 2008 6:12 PM:Thank you jury.

Former OPD wrote on Nov 10, 2008 6:28 PM:For you Dan. Justice is being served.

Grump wrote on Nov 10, 2008 6:35 PM:One more domestic terrorist put away! Good job OPD and DA.

OsidePete wrote on Nov 10, 2008 6:45 PM:Justice prevails...Yet Dan's baby will go another Christmas without dad.

Give credit wrote on Nov 10, 2008 7:08 PM:Thanks Tom Manning, and your crew, for putting this dirtbag away for good.

God Bless this Jury wrote on Nov 10, 2008 7:16 PM:God Bless the Bessant Family and the entire OPD Family!

Justice wrote on Nov 10, 2008 7:41 PM:Thank you prosecutors, thank you jury. May Dan rest a bit more peacefully now and may the Bessant family breathe a little easier and enjoy the most blessed of holiday seasons!

Buford Justice wrote on Nov 10, 2008 7:43 PM:Thank god for justice. ... There is no place in society for people like these gangs.

Samoan wrote on Nov 10, 2008 8:31 PM:This should be a wake up call to parents in the Samoan-American community. Pay attention to what your kids are doing!!Don't let them listen to evil rap music and make sure they don't dress like gangsta. Put more effort into being good parents and take yourself and your kids to church.

Joe wrote on Nov 10, 2008 8:46 PM:Many people are ready to punish this guy, and rightly so. Dan should be alive today. What P.J. did was unexcusable. Even if he was'nt the one who shot Dan. He was there and he did partake of the shooting.
But I knew P.J. when he was a kid. He was so friendly, and sweet. We used to watch movies all night long. He was so respectfull and humble. When did he become a criminal?

aDAMANT wrote on Nov 10, 2008 8:47 PM:Give him the death penalty. This will be an example for anybody killing a cop. Especially gang members.

Dead man walking wrote on Nov 10, 2008 10:07 PM:The kids life is over ... This is what violence will bring you.

thanks wrote on Nov 10, 2008 10:52 PM:What a joke, look at the pic, he's smiling!!! he deserves the death Penalty ...

carla wrote on Nov 10, 2008 11:09 PM:This is no time for celebration. A kid is going to jail, perhaps for life.

It's just unfair for all involved. Consider his family while you are being judgmental.

What did they do to deserve your hate?

From the back gate wrote on Nov 11, 2008 6:22 AM:I live not to far from the area that the crime was committed. Justice has prevailed for a change. The shooter and all those involved in the seau killing and the gutless shooting of a police officer from hiding has aleast put one on his way for a long stay in prison. The rest of this group needs to join P.J in the same place so that they can see each other. Another one of the bad boys gone from the neighborhood. OPD Keep Up The Good Work. There are still a few more that need to be removed. Best start on this problem in 30 years. Keep them on the run and listen to the good people in the area when they call.

Jack wrote on Nov 11, 2008 6:43 AM:Good ridance "You do the crime You do the Time".

Don't send these "Guy's" to prison. Send them to "Iraq or Afganistan" for an indefinate "Tour of Duty". They like to shoot guns.

Pretty simple wrote on Nov 11, 2008 7:02 AM:"When did he become a criminal?"

When twelve of his peers decided he pointed a gun, and fired it at police officer.

Arlo wrote on Nov 11, 2008 7:31 AM:Lets hope the other proceedings go this well.

760Local wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:12 AM:...Yeah, newsflash lady, that "kid" MURDERED a good cop, husband, son, father, and brother. At 16 years old you know the difference between right and wrong. Put his punk*** in jail for life...

Karla wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:17 AM:The article says one of the women who was supporting the 18 year old kept saying "He's just a kid, he's just a kid." Well, um, yeah, so why is a "kid" with a friggin gun shooting people then??? What the heck happened with that upbringing?

Karla wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:20 AM:Re: my last post. Upbringing sometimes has nothing to do with it. Sometimes it has everything to do with hanging with the wrong crowd and trying to fit in and that's when kids make their worst mistakes in life.

To Carla wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:27 AM:Sorry but I am thinking of this officer's family before I think of the criminals family. This now convict was a child when HE comitted this horrible crime. HE chose to part take in this. HE chose to shoot a cop. He chose this path. HIS parents should have been more like parent and keeping him off the street no matter what it took. HE was 16, where was his parents.

I know that Dan's son will know what happened to his father. Why, because this idiot decided that shooting a cop was more important, not allowing Dan to grow old with his wife, he children and his family.
So I don't feel sorry for this jerk. He decided to waste his life. No one else did this but HIM

To Karla wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:30 AM:Are you for real? When the kids start hanging out with the wrong crowds, that when parenting truely begins....You obviously don't have children ...

To Carla wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:14 AM:Did you forget the police officer, a father, a son, a brother who was killed because this kid thought it would be cool to kill someone, a police officer doing his duty when this punk thought he would help take his life. where were this kids parents? Give me a break. I can't even finish this because I'am so mad at how you can have any sympathy for that kid or any kid who decides he is gonna take a life and think he is gonna get away with it.

Artsyrat wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:30 AM:We wished it hadn't happened. Justice is served, thank goodness, but to what outcome? Sorrow abounds.

It doesn't matter what we think. The Bessants and the families of the gang boys involved will suffer, mourn, wonder why and wished it had never happened...for the rest of their lives.

Lord help the broken hearted here. I hope and pray the gang members that are free will change their lives to the good and not for evil.

To P.J. wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:35 AM:Hey lil uso, only yoyu and God know what really went down. I don,t know why you were there doing all that madness. But now a man is dead and you're gonna do the time. I just pray that you will come back to the Lord and that he will restore you, even in prison. forget about the neighborhood and repent brother. Get on fire for Jesus and become a servant for the Lord.
From an old friend.

excon wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:06 AM:As a former gang member, I can tell you all that this kind of gang activities is the real reson I chose to leave the gang life behind. At 48 years of age,I have been a productive citizen for several years now. I am totaly against the drugs, violence and murder that stems for this type of lifestyle, and have grown to have the utmost respect for the law and those who wear the badge. I can tell you that this "kid" knew exactly what he was doing when he took the officers life, for that, he will pay for with his own. Being locked up is by no means easy(I know) but that is the path he chose and will be subjected to a living hell for the rest of his life. Still, justice has not prevailed. There are still 2 others that are resposible for the death of this officer. Untill ALL are sent to prison for life, justice has not been searved. Even then, OPD still have thier work cut out for then as there is still a gang problem in Oceanside. I for one, support all thier efforts and will continue to help in any way I can to stop the violence.

To 760Local wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:17 AM:Would it be different if he had killed a "bad cop"?

FTM wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:37 AM:We must honor Officer Dan.

How?

When you see any of these kids up to no good - CALL THE COPS!

When you see thier tagging - CALL GRAFFITI HOT LINE!

When you suspect a drug deal or crime is going down - CALL THE COPS!

CALL 760-435-4900 for OPD Dispatch.

Just tell them what you saw and where and let them take care of it.

THE COPS WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT! Your not bothering the cops when you call!

The OPC will stop the kids from getting into trouble! The OPD will break up the gang activity and frustrate the gangs and make many kids turn away from gangs BUT YOU MUST CALL THEM!

That is the best way you can honor Officer Dan - By preventing more of this kind of thing - and you also might change the direction of some kids life.

We residents MUST do our part or the system breaks down and fails. ALSO, when you call the cops your showing the cops AND the kids that YOU CARE and when YOU CARE people on both sides are more likly to do the right thing.

Call Call Call Call! It works!

South Osider wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:10 AM:Welcome to the BIG HOUSE youngster.

JakeinAK wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:27 AM:"HES JUST A KID"?? Are you effin kidding me? He sure didnt act like a "kid" the night he decided to end another humans life! To me, he thought he was God...I agree with someone who posted earlier...let the "kid" walk infront of my brother, my friend in Iraq! You want to play God? We will see just how STRONG you are!!! Disgusting waste of space!

David wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:45 AM:Not fair for so many teens to go through this...but it does take adults to influenced in these teens. They don't wake up one morning and decide to kill. The older crowd has a lot to do with this too and the way they were brought up. Some of these kids are raised by their own older siblings,grandparents, uncles or aunts etc. Everyone except for the parents who are working and can't take care of them cuz they had too many kids they are too tired to deal w/ them. They never get a parent to discipline them until they are teenagers when sometimes is too late! If you can't take care of your kids why keep having them? ..all these people having kids like crazy and having 'who ever' to take care of them does not help! No wonder their is so many people in jails, if us adults don't start taking responsibilities on our own how can we expect teenagers or kids to do so?? Is easy to blame, "bad influences" "Bad parents" I do not think is just that 'circle' everyone that is not a kid or teenager has the power to make their own decisions too and they are not all the smart ones. All these kids get raised by 'wolfs' because they don't have a parent taking care of them, they just put food on their table and send them to school. The kids from now are our next generation and if this is how 'we' adults decide to raised them is only going to get worst. My simple point is "don't have kids if you can't take care of them" Don't throw them to other people to take care of them and then turn around and blame it on "bad influences" "Gangs" etc. I was a teenager onced and I don't have the perfect parents and neither I'm perfect, but I know for sure if anyone was to ask me to pick up a gun and kill someone I will never do it. Because my parents have always tried to have me and my sibling close to God, regardless of all the ups and downs (mostly downs) we have gone through as a family I remembered always going to church..sometimes we stoped for a while and then we will go again. If God is in your family and your kids since they are little it will follow them...even when they are grown up and decide to go out to the world. Trust me, it will help them make different choices in life in the long run weather they are w/ the worst people or not. God bless the family of everyone involved in this because only their families are the ones that are going to still remembered all this 10, 20 yrs. from now.

OC RES wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:10 PM:Well smiley seems to be enjoying his day in court. I'm sure he will enjoy his time in the slammer. I wonder what his status in his gang will be now..? Oh wait. His new affiliation will be with the Chain Gang. It feels good to be a Gangsta.

To To 760Local wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:12 PM:Are we for real??
First of all, NCT took out half of my comment, so it doesn't really relay the message I was trying to get across. And second, when I put "good" in there it was because I knew him personally and I know what a great guy he was. I wasn't implying that it would be different if a "bad" cop was murdered. Give me a freakin break!

TCK wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:12 PM:WHO ARE ALL OF YOU TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH HIM? FIRST OF ALL YOU GUYS ARE NOT GOD AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE OF HIM. YOU NARROWMINDED AND SIMPLE HEADED PPL ARE ONLY COMMENTING AND STATING YOUR OPINIONS BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE ON TV AND THE NEWSPAPER. I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT YOU GUYS WERE IN THE COURTROOM THE WHOLE TIME OF THE TRIAL TO HEAR WHAT REALLY WENT ON. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE NOR CREDIBLE EYEWITNESS THAT PLACE HIM FOR COMMITING A HORRIBLE ACT. GET THE REAL KILLER AND FREE PENIFOTI.

P.S. JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVE!!!!1


COMMENT ON THIS ONE=]

CAT wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:23 PM:Artsyat said it all so well, my feelings exactly.

Karla wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:39 PM:Many of you obviously didn't read my first post. Take it easy people. I cried the day I saw Bessant driven to his burial site and I don't even know him.

Rob wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:40 PM:Kudos to the Jury! Unlike OJ, PJ got what he deserved. (Almost - he should have gotten the chair.) It's nice to see the justce system work for a change. One less POS Blood on the street.

the kids family is crying wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:45 PM:Where was their "care" when he was out gang banging. I have ZERO sympathy for a family that raises a peice of trash like this.

To TCK wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:45 PM:I have been in Dan Bessants families shoes....Let me guess in your eyes the cops made up the story, the procecutors office went with the cops story, and your friend is just and innocent little boy who is caught up in the middle. Sell your story to someone else. He was there at the scene....

CARING FAMILY MEMBER wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:08 PM:OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS GOES OUT TO OFFICER BESSANT AND HIS FAMILY. TRULY NO FATHER SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE SUCH DEVASTAED LOSS OF A LOVING SON,FATHER,HUSBAND. THAT IS OUR RESPECT TO MR.BESSANT AND HIS FAMILY. AS TO NON-FAMILY,ETC..,COMMENT ALL YOU WANT,BUT P.J.IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TERRIBLE CRIME THAT HAPPENED NOR IS HE THE COLD-HEARTED PERSON THAT ALL OF YOU COMMENTS ON. HOPEFULLY NONE OF YOU COMMENTING WILL EVER BE IN HIS SHOES,ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SONS,EVEN IF IT'S IN THE NEXT GENERATION,JUST PRAY AND HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE IN YOUR FAMILY TREE.GOD BLESS BOTH SIDES.

to all wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:10 PM:nobody deserves anything bad people, not the Bessant family or PJ's family. somebody other than the devil influenced in this kid, yes a kid because even though he was only 16 yrs. old when he commited the crime, I bet their is a story to how and when he got to this point.. and it wasn't by just a simply gang member telling him to do this. Or a parent not being careful, this kid didn't have God in his heart and the 'people' that knew that took advantage of that. He was weak and he didn't know God, that is the people that do these things. We as older people need to start from our homes if we want things to get better, teenagers look up to us and to everyone else. We mess up just as bad as these teenagers but we are so good at judging and talking about everyone else but don't worry about our own. God is the only one that can follow you everywhere you go and help you thru life. Adults, please start talking to ur kids about God! Kids can't ask you to do so and take them to church "they are kids" Hello?? that means you take them before they are teenagers not after. The first 8 yrs. of our lifes are the most important ones. I see lots of parents not watching over their own kids. Too busy doing everything but teaching them about God. That does not cost money, you don't have to go anywhere or drive to teach them that. If you don't know about God look for him =) Their is plenty of churches and different religions to choose from if you have never been to a church. Don't be afraid to approach it..God is everywhere no matter what religion it is. God will be w/ you and your kids and family IF you let him in your heart. Is Free!!! (should be) and it might save your life or your loved ones.

dan wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:11 PM:" Only god can judge " ?
Wrong... this is the real world and
we govern and judge ourselves.
There can be no justice living in a
world of make believe friends.
If anything we should have allowed the death penalty in this case.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:28 PM:Carla sounds like a family member or friend. And, from the sound of it, the woman who was saying "he's just a kid" is sympathetic to Taeotui as well. Well, I guess I'm from a different school of thought. My thinking is; "now we have a child growing up without a dad."

Growing up in the mid-west, I have a different set of morals and values than some of the people who are upset that Taeotui is going to prison. My family would have had extreme shame if any of us committed this sort of atrocity. I would have anger, shame, and embarrassment if one of my own children did this.

Sadly, Taeotui may not have had the best upbringing, but he was old enough to know that what he was doing was wrong. He made a very poor choice, took the risk, and lost.

It has taken me several months to deal with the anger and grief of this situation, which happened down the road from my home.

I really like what EXCON has done with his/her life. While many make poor choices while they're young, it's never too late to change. Maybe poor parents can/will take up the challenge to keep their kids focused on becoming hard-working law abiding citizens.

Lastly, let's hope that others responsible for this tragedy are put away, and that this serves as a lesson to others who are involved in gangs and criminal behavior, that sooner or later, poor choices now will catch up to them.

grj wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:49 PM:quit sticking up for gang members ,they are all guilty of making life miserable to all the havoc they reek on society with their killing,fighting,drug selling etc.No way does this cop killer deserve to be free.

TCK wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:01 PM:YOU ALL ARE A JOKE. LIKE I SAID. COMMENT ON IT ALL YOU WANT. YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH P.J. STILL ISNT GOING TO BRING DAN BESSANT BACK. LETS FACE REALITY. AND YOU ALL ARE GIVING PATS ON THE BACK BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY BY PUTTING AWAY SOME GANG MEMBER WHO BTW IS INNOCENT. WHY WOULD WE GIVE P.J THE DEATH PENALTY WHEN HE DIDNT KILL THE OFFICER. LET ME THROW SOMETHING AT YOU MORONS. THE D.A WOULDNT CARE IF ANOTHER GANG MEMBER OR CIVILLIAN WAS KILLED INSTEAD OF THE OFFICER. LETS BE REAL. THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS DEATH AND P.J WAS THE ONE TO PUT BLAME ON.


I THINK THIS NEWSPAPER COMMENT THING IS SO DUMB FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE ARE BEIN BIASED BY STATING OUR OPINIONS ON ONLY WHATS IN THE MEDIA.

haha wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:05 PM:YOU ALL ARE SO BOLD HIDING BEHIND YOUR KEYBOARDS TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ALL LACK KNOWLEDGE OF. GET A LIFE AND MIND YOURS.

GRJ- SAD LONELY PERSON WHO THINKS THE WORLD OF NOTHING. ... JOKES YOU ALL ARE JOKES

grj wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:21 PM:All gang members are useless and they ruin an otherwise friendly and beautiful san diego, to stick up for them is a shame. The parents are at fault also. I look forward to the day when san diego is free of all gangs.

TOTHE KIDS FAMILY IS CRYING wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:25 PM:THE FAMILY IS NOT ASKING FOR YOUR SYMPATHY NOR ANYONES. TRAGEDY HAS TAKEN AWAY A CARING LOVING/FATHER/SON. THE FAMILY UNDERSTANDS NO AMOUNT OF WORDS CAN EXPRESS THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY FOR MR.BESSANT AND HIS FAMILY. AS FOR P.J.'S FAMILY,THEY ARE NOT CRYING OUT,BECAUSE THIS AND THAT WASN'T DONE RIGHT ON HIS BEHALF,SO DON'T ANALYZE EACH AND EVERY COMMENT AND THINK THE FAMILY IS TRYING TO LOOK FOR SYMPATHY. KEEP YOUR FILTHY COMMENTS TO YOURSELF.

To Haha wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:38 PM:what the hell are you doing on this forum then? ha ha right back at ya!

TO GRJ wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:43 PM:YOU MUST BE A JAHOVA'S WITNESS HAHA. THINKING THAT ONE DAY WE WOULD BE GANG FREE. THATS LIKE SAYING WE WOULD BE KKK FREE. OR WAR FREE. ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS MINIMIZE THE VIOLENCE HAPPENING AROUND. YOU ARE IN DENIAL AND OBVIOUSLY LACK KNOWLEDGE.

Eyeswideshut wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:51 PM:Was TCK at all the trials and court preceedings? Is that why he feels this young man needs to be free? Its ironic that life brings you what you reap. This fine young man was certainly not thinking straight. Gang banging brain washed his soul and now he has to live with the fact that he helped in murdering someone that helps people protect and serve. My heart goes out both families. What a waste of life.

USO wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:56 PM:JUSTICE IS SERVED AS TO THE CRIME. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU ESPECIALLY FAMILY ON TRIAL YOU TEND TO FEEL LIKE THE LAW SHOULD SHOW SOME REMORSE. IM SURE OFFICER DAN WAS A GREAT MAN, HUSBAND,FRIEND, AND FATHER. AND HE WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED AS THAT. AND IM SURE P.J. ,IN THE EYES OF THE COURTS AND FAMILY OF THE SLAIN OFFICER, GOT WHAT ANY PERSON OF SUCH CRIME GETS. DONT BLAME THE SAMOAN COMMUNITY, DONT BLAME HIS SURROUNDINGS, DONT EVEN BLAME HIS OWN FAMILY. EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS HIS OWN MIND. SO EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER ACTIONS. AND HE SHOULD ACCEPT HIS OWN ACTION. ITS JUST SAD TO SEE MY FAMILY GO THROUGH THIS. HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE EFFECTED BY THIS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE. BECAUSE THOUGH IT ALL MORE THAN ONE FAMILY IS HURTING. I LOVE YOU P.J. AND R.I.P. TO OFFICER BEASSANT.

1RST DEGREE wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:08 PM:1RST DEGREE MURDER SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON P.J. IF HE IS BEING CHARGED FIRST DEGREE ON ALL COUNTS AND HE WASNT EVEN THE ONE WHO HAD THE GUN OR SHOT THE FATAL BULLET, THEN WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE MEKI.

DO NOT JUDGE THE SAMOAN COMMUNITY OR P.J.'S FAMILY ON SOMETHING THAT INDIVIDUAL IS TO BE BLAME UPON.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO BOTH FAMILIES

haha wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:10 PM:hahaha i like t0 read everybody's comments because it shows their true colors. its so easy to speak your mind behind a mask. why not bring it out in the open. you guys obviously got no balls what so ever. haha this and haha that.

OCEANSIDIAN wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:17 PM:The adults of the Samoan community should do more to curb gang activity by their own children. Somebody at this boy's home must have known he was a gangbanger. What did they do about it? The parents should own up to their lack of good parenting. If I had a kid who was gangbanging, I'd do all I could to get him out of it, and if I couldn't I'd either move to a gang free area or if I couldn't do that, I'd go to law enforcement for help with him. Or a counselor or whatever. Parents whose children are in gangs do bear a responsibility for it and for their failure to supervise minors. This little killer deserves NO sympathy. May he remain in prison for the rest of his natural born days! Officer Bessant, RIP.

READBETWEENTHELINES wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:25 PM:OF COURSE THE NEWSPAPER IS GOING TO POST THAT PICTURE OF TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE PJ SMILING. THATS HOW THEY GET GREAT CREDIBILITY OF THEIR JOB. THEY PICK AND CHOOSE THE PICTURES THEY KNOW THAT WILL SELL. HOW DUMB CAN YOU GET WHEN YOU MAKE A COMMENT OF SAYING THAT HE DESERVES THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE YOU PORTRAY HIM AS HIM BEING HAPPY AFTER HE HEARD THE VERDICT. A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS. YOU DONT KNOW WHATS GOING ON HIS MIND. YOU ARE ALL A DISSAPPOINMENT BY JUDGING PJ. YOU MAKE HIM SEEM AS IF HE'S A MONSTER. WELL KARMA GOES AROUND AND IF YOU DO HAVE KIDS JUST MAKE SURE YOU DONT GO THROUGH A SITUATION LIKE THIS FOR BOTH SIDES. OR WORSE.

HaHa wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:34 PM:I have no balls what so ever , cause here I am doing the same thing, BLOGGING! I have no true colors. Ha Ha

Pitbull Friendly wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:58 PM:These boys were lying in wait. They were waiting to commit a crime they either went and got the gun, or it was with them all the time for the opportunity and (according to the media) to kill a police officer would give them a greater standing in the gang. Doesn't matter if he shot the gun that killed Officer Bessant. HE WAS THERE SHOOTING HIS GUN. The Evidence put PJ at the scene, that's what proved him guilty. Guilty by association? NO, GUILTY BECAUSE IF HE WAS A BETTER SHOT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HIS GUN THAT KILLED OFFICE BESSANT. No disrespect to Officer Bessant or his family.PJ fired a gun (any gun) with the intent to kill.
Officer Bessant was just doing his job. Shame on their families that weren't aware that these kids were standing out in front of their houses in this neighborhood with a rifle perched on a mailbox sniper style...

grj wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:58 PM:to ha ha and to grj,
why I am ostrasized for speaking out against gang violence and put down as being jehovahs witness or sad? I am a contributing member of society I work 2 jobs, I wen to high school and college. Thanks Oceansidian for sharing my view that these ethnic communities and families need to become accountable knowing and preventing kids from being in gangs. To bloggers it is not me that is a criminal.

unknown wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:12 PM:THATS IT. THERE'S NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ON PJ. NO FINGERPRINTS ON THE GUN NO NOTHING. NO EYEWITNESS CAN SAY THEY SAW PJ. THEY ONLY CAN DESCRIBE SOMEBODY WITH AN AFRO LIKE HAIR AND BIG WHICH OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL KNOW SAMOANS LOOK ALIKE AND HAVE SIMILAR HAIRSTYLES.

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE. ???? ALL THEY GOT IS WHAT PPL TESTIFIED WHICH THEY ALL HAD IMMUNITY. WHERE IS THAT IN THE PAPERS?HMMMMMM


SINCE WHEN DOES HEARSAY EVIDENCE DETERMINE GUILT? EVERYBODY LIES AND TEND TO STRETCH THE TRUTH. ...

To TCK wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:13 PM:Yes i can see that you are the smart cookie on this sheet.. Ha Ha.. if anyone is a joke its you. You have me laughing at your ridiculously stupid comments.. Keep up the great work! As for PJ... it was all a conspiracy and he was the sacrificial lamb... R U for real? He admitted to his crime.. By that he was obviously proud of it. Its only a sad day for the officers family

TO OCEANSIDIAN wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:28 PM:SAMOANS ARENT THE ONLY ONES THAT IS IN A GANG. MAYBE HE DID LACK PARENTING IN HIS LIFE BUT YOU DONT KNOW FOR WHAT REASON? SO SAVE THE SUNDAY SERMON FOR SUNDAY MORNING CHURCH

Prevention wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:43 PM:No girls where he is going. The young man better start building muscle. What happened to those scared straight programs where they take at risk teens on an inside tour of prison ? O-side High school should be required to start up the scared straight program immediately !

To TCK wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:48 PM:Using all caps means you yelling at us. Why? OK you voiced you opinion funny though not everyone wants to read your opinion. Yes the photo op in the paper was just the convict smirking at his family and friends to say goodbye, but this person chose his own fate. I am sure his gang banging friends are the ones that feel that he is innocent.

dog wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:59 PM:Idiots! There is no death penalty if you are a minor when the crime is committed.

To Dog wrote on Nov 11, 2008 6:04 PM:Then that is a law that should be changed.

Scare these kids straight wrote on Nov 11, 2008 6:57 PM:High schools should implement the scared straight program in gang areas. Take the at risk students on a field trip to show them what prison is like. But that would be too much work ? I would like NCTimes to push this issue

Tori wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:26 PM:Oside High take on the responsibility to implement a Scared Straight program? There are many programs and interventions in place but it takes a village, regardless of color or ethnic background. We have a societal problem, as clearly illustrated by this sad case. Instead of spending time writing comments and ripping one another apart, spend your time volunteering in your local school and communities. Be the change you want to see! Help prevent another kid from going down this path, learn from this... It's the least we can do to honor the memory of every person affected by gang violence.

Mary wrote on Nov 12, 2008 6:06 AM:This is unfortunately just another example of how we fail our kids. You always pay the price - what is the currency? Pain and suffering or write a check and fund longer school hours, more police, better paying jobs so parents can spend more time with their kids instead of having to work two jobs. As a society we have decided that we will tolerate this level of crime. Both families are paying the price for our collective neglect.

TO DOG wrote on Nov 12, 2008 7:53 AM:i agree.But that just shows how ignorant people are, oh but the whole ignorance and judgemental concept would change if the shoes were on them. Both families hearts are broken, my heart goes out to both of them. we all can agree that no one's life should've been taken that night, so lets be real none of you guys were there that night, all your comments are based on what's in the news and t.v.

stop being so ignorant, you act like he was born to kill, i pretty sure if you got to know him you would see that he was just there at the wrong time and wrong place.

As for his family, they arent asking for your pity nor sympathy so save all that b.s for another family. if you know the samoan community you would know that they are big on family and besides God, family is their priority.They understand that pj has to face the consequence but not with that 1rst degree. get to know every aspect of the story before you start analyzing it. And please stop preaching about the parenting in this situation, especially if you have kids because i gurantee that you are not the PERFECT parent either.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Nov 12, 2008 8:18 AM:Tori and Mary, what on earth are you saying? A societal problem? Sheesh, now I've heard it all! Let's pass the buck, right?

Ok, let's talk about volunteerism, shall we? I volunteer countless hours in this community, including at Melba Bishop, specifically to help our kids. Guess what? I’m not alone either, and there are hundreds of others, mostly concerned parents. But there are too many so-called 'people' (I'm not calling them parents) who've shirked their responsibility of parenting their offspring and just let them run rampant around the neighborhood and do whatever they please. I've encountered kids at Melba Bishop Community Center who have no respect for authority, or adults. If my own kids acted like this, we'd have some issues to deal with, and it might include my hand and a part of their anatomy that they sit on.

Also, my spouse is an educator in this community (and volunteers personal time) and deals with at-risk kids. Time after time the parents are in complete denial about the behavior of their child, who don't do anything to positively change their child’s behavior, and who can't seem to understand they have a serious problem on their hands. And who's to blame? You be the judge, but I can tell you this, it isn't society.

Tori and Mary, don't pass off responsibility of raising kids on the community. Give credit (or blame) on those who deserve it, namely the clueless parents who’ve failed miserably. And, it’s time to hold parents accountable and put financial burdens on them for the problems their children cause.

As for the people who want to post in caps trying to get their distorted views across and come off sympathetic to Taeotui, you're the very people we need to be concerned about. Your values and morals are totally askew. The life of a HERO in our community was taken by a PUNK, bent on achieving status in the world of gang culture. I just pray the sympathetic aren't having kids, because they obviously don't know right from wrong.

TO GREG IN OCEANSIDE wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:15 AM:PER YOUR LAST PARAGRAPH..DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT US. JUST BECAUSE WE POST IN CAPS.FYI..
Sometimes you post logic comments,but then you have to trash the end of it by showing more hatred. Sadly,a HERO,was taken down(RIP.OFFCR BESSANT),and to clarified to you and others,it was not to gain gang status,nor any type of status,not when it's taken another human life. The sympathy and prayers needs to be spent more on Officer Bessant and his family.

ex-con wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:17 AM:This country and society today was brought up by gangs, crews, homies and friends, it is what you do with these groups. I am an ex-con and I did join a gang when I was 10 not because I wanted to go out and shoot, kill or rob anybody, it was because that's were all my friends hung out. When I was growing up I was raised as a respectful and well mannered child, I made some bad decisions and learned from them before they turned to more serious decision making. I finally woke up and saw the light, I had my first child and looked into his eyes and seen myself, the gang life is not what I wanted for him. He made me grow up real quick and he showed me how to love my life, his life and society. I personally didn't know either side of the families but my remorse goes out to both sides. Two young life's wasted by evil. Parents please tell your child how much you love them, that one day could save their life. I love you SON

Oside Teacher wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:31 AM:Both comprehensive high schools in Oside do take at risk students to the prisons to get an idea of where they may be headed. We as a community need to step it up and help these kids find the right way...especially when parents won't.

Hes Just a Kid... wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:51 AM:He's just a kid who participated in murder. He's just a kid who wasn't taught that being in a gang is evil and will only result in evil. He's just a kid who didn't get the right guidance from his family, friends, and community. He's just a kid that is now suffering the consequences of his own actions. He's just a kid that will now be spending the rest of his life in jail. Hopefully, his community will see that they need to invest in their youth, teach them right from wrong, discipline them at an early age, and help them do good in the world instead of evil. His community should reflect on this and figure out how they can prevent the murders of other law abiding people and prevent the incarceration of their childeren. Their failures have many victims.

jimi wrote on Nov 12, 2008 11:45 AM:why don't these guys have any fear of getting caught? life in prison...why doesn't that thought deter them? what a trajedy.

what i see wrote on Nov 12, 2008 11:49 AM:Is a tragic story. I once heard a friend say she didn't pray for her child to be perfect, she prayed for her to get caught! Unfortunatly too many parents are in denial about how much trouble their children are in, rationalizing it's just teenage mischief. This kid's family member (I believe it was an Aunt)stood in her front yard after Officer Bessant's murder and complained about OPD breaking down her door to get to the criminals inside. She carried on about how they were "good kids" and how OPD scared the smaller children. Denial, these aren't good kid's, and the smaller children will only learn from them. Nobody wants to admit their family is up to no good, but it is the only way to help them. If you can't help them, at least save the smaller children from their example.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Nov 12, 2008 12:50 PM:Ex-con, I see some positive in your writings, but I have to vehemently disagree with you about "This country and society today was brought up by gangs, crews, homies and friends, it is what you do with these groups."

Sure, a lot of us hung out with groups when we were younger, but they weren't gangs, crews, and we weren't homies. Gangs, homies, crews, etc. are groups generally reponsible for problems, fights, criminal behavior, and claiming turf. Groups of friends are just that; groups of kids usually from the same block in their neighborhood who get together for healthly activities, riding bikes, playing ball, etc.

From my perspective, the homies you're referring to run around looking for trouble, starting fights with other gangs, claiming turf, and crews are for committing crimes. We never thought of 'claiming turf' because it wasn't anyone's to claim.

But the biggest difference between the lifestyle you describe and mine is we had parents around who kept us on the straight and narrow. 'Little birdies' (aka other moms), would call our mom if the saw us doing anything stupid. So, when we came home our mothers would have the straight scoop before we walked in the door, which means we didn't get away with much.

I hear time and time again about how parents today have to work two jobs, or other excuses of 'why' they can't parent their child/children. I'm not buying any of it. And, if a parent has to work two jobs this should serve as a strong message that to get out of the cycle of poverty kids need to stay in school. But les't be real, a lot of homies, crews, etc. have a parent around at night etc. who's just not doing their job. And these parents have not been doing their job since having their children. It starts at birth, not when they start having problems. If morals, values, and behavior isn't in place by before 10, then it's almost too late.

sister wrote on Nov 12, 2008 2:06 PM:In this case it wasnt just a gang that he was involved with. Those people were his family. Sad to say but P.J is going down for the fact that he wont say anything for the safety of his family. The news doesnt cover that now does it. P.J. has been found guilty already so save all your comments to yourself. If this is how bad you are talking about P.J. I wonder what you would say about Meki who was the person that is being charged for actually shooting the fatal bullet???

JUDGE NOT wrote on Nov 12, 2008 2:18 PM:Wow everyone is using really big words and only a few are saying anything. Judgement power has been given to everyone I see. It's so easy to comment how bad the child is however if the shoe was on the other foot I'm sure it would be hard for you to swallow what others are saying about your kid,right?
And the comment regarding the smile, could it be at all possible that he was smiling to his family, the people that he will not see quite possibly forever.(let's not assume)Please in no means am I trying to disregard the loss the Bessant Family is enduring.It just seems several of us have been quick to pass judgement when in reality that's not your job

wow wrote on Nov 12, 2008 2:20 PM:f.y.i to you slow people. If you didnt catch on... the woman who cried out "he's just a kid" wasn't crying for sympathy. That was the mother of PJ. Can you blame her for saying that? What mother wouldnt cry out that when they hear the news? In a mother's eyes all her children are just kids no matter what age. Dont try to analyze that statement because if you were in her place you would feel the same way.

I have known PJ all his life. He's a really good kid. Just mixed up with the wrong crowd.The media paints a picture of PJ as a cold blooded killer whose goal is to kill. WRONG. He is now facing the consequence of his actions. We dont even know what his actions were truthfully,all we know is by what the papers are telling us.

but what about the third gangbanger Compre? Why did the judge dismiss his case? Lack of evidence? yeah right. The whole time of PJ's trial all you heard was Compre's name come up. ???

I think all 3 of them should've gone through trial, not just those 2. What kind of justice is that?

To Judge Not wrote on Nov 12, 2008 2:48 PM:i agree with you all the way

To Judge Not wrote on Nov 12, 2008 3:01 PM:i agree with you all the way. Just shows how judgemental society can be when we're all living in an imperfection world

When.. wrote on Nov 12, 2008 3:32 PM:I lost a close family member to murder (he too was a cop) my family issued a statement to the defendant family offering our condolences to what this person did to us.... Everyone! It is not only my family that was suffering it was theirs too. No one wins in this matter. The criminal sits in jail and his love ones suffer. THe victim's family sits and tries to through each day and they are suffering too.

Parent wrote on Nov 12, 2008 4:24 PM:I agree with wow on the person crying out he's just a kid. Our children will always be our kid no matter what there age is. Yes PJ was found guilty, by why do so many people feel that they need to talk about him and disrespect the family. The family don't want to hear this right now. Yes a person has died,however we can not bring back officer Bessant. Justice has been served, do we really need to talk about PJ. What is the purpose? The smile may have been caused by his nervousness. You know how a lot of people smile when there in trouble, or nervous. Please everyone don't judge it could happen to your family no matter how good you think your children are.

Oside resi wrote on Nov 12, 2008 4:32 PM:Based on the article, PJ's gunfire did not kill Officer Dan. And I can see how his family would be persisting on that one detail, that PJ did not technically kill someone.

But he stood by and let it happen and perhaps encouraged it too.

Sadly, he had one of the most important decisions in his life to make at that moment. I think in PJ's family's eyes, their boy was scared, gave into the gang's peer pressure, followed along with something immoral and stupid. In the jury's eyes though, they convicted him, which leads me to believe the evidence and testimony brought forward did not make PJ out to be this frail, follower sort of kid, but an UNapologetic, hardcore member of a gang with a god complex and morbid fantasies of playing Grim Reaper.

I hope officer Dan's family pulls together and keep strong. Find strength in this ordeal somehow.

For PJ, I'm sad for him too. Such a sad fate and wasted life ... to live as someone's jailboi.

Let this be a lesson to any kids out there. It takes real character to do the right thing. Gangs are a virus, not a cancer. They can be eradicated.

Please wrote on Nov 12, 2008 5:37 PM:The family doesn't want to hear that now? Maybe if they had listened to people telling them what their son was doing, and had done something about it, they wouldn't be hearing it now. They didn't want to hear it from the school, or the officers knocking on the door, telling them their son was in trouble. Disrespect the family? Who disrespected the family? PJ did, he caused the imbarassment, the judgement, the pain and the anger. He's a good boy? How many good boys point a loaded weapon at another human being and fire it? Doesn't sound like a good boy to me. Mom, broken hearted and saying he is just a kid, that's true and heartbreaking, he is a kid, but if our kids make bad choices, we have to do something to correct it, or we can lose them. That's what needs to be learned here. These people NEED to hear it, like it or not. Maybe another tragedy can be avoided for two families. People don't tell you your kid is in trouble for fun, listen to them, act on it, avoid your child becoming the next "good kid" to spend his life behind bars. It is a message that NEEDS to be heard in these communities.

What does TCK stand for wrote on Nov 12, 2008 5:47 PM:It is a blood thing! As in TCK means: The Crip Killer! So we all know why this TCK is favoring this guy! Hmmmmmm! Ooh nooo yo dident!! Hmm Hmm! Isn't that right TCK?

rodney wrote on Nov 12, 2008 5:56 PM:why can't we all just get along?

MURDER FIRST DEGREE wrote on Nov 12, 2008 6:43 PM:In order for someone to be found guilty of first degree murder the government must prove that the person killed another person; the person killed the other person with malice aforethought; and the killing was premeditated. (Proven!)

To kill with malice aforethought means to kill either deliberately and intentionally or recklessly with extreme disregard for human life. (Taeotui fired on Bessant to elevate the status of his gang and his role in it!_

Premeditation means with planning or deliberation. The amount of time needed for premeditation of a killing depends on the person and the circumstances. It must be long enough, after forming the intent to kill, for the killer to have been fully conscious of the intent and to have considered the killing.

First-degree murder in California includes a killing that is "willful, deliberate, and premeditated," or that is committed in the perpetration, or attempt to perpetrate, certain felonies, including burglary, and not including the petty offense of shoplifting. Cal. Penal Code S 189.

Was the gang name lil uso wrote on Nov 12, 2008 6:45 PM:What is with the gang names for this PJ guy? "Lil Uso"

USMC GySgt wrote on Nov 12, 2008 7:10 PM:'PLEASE' says EXACTLY what needs to be said. Ok, PJ was a 'good kid' to family and so-called friends. I'd really be curious what 'good' has this punk done for anyone or anything? Was he a good student? Or was he a upstanding citizen and hard-working employee?

Let me reiterate, a 'good kid' doesn't point a loaded gun at police officers, innocent people, or anyone who isn't a threat, let alone fire it!

This is one of the basic safety rules;
Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
Keep your weapon on safe until you are ready to fire.
Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire.

Maybe this 'good kid' didn't actually fire the fatal round, he took aim and pulled the trigger.

I can't even fathom the idea, but 'if' any of my offspring would have done something like this I'd expect outrage from an entire community. And, I wouldn't be defending him/her, making excuses, or any statements about what a 'good kid' they were. I'd be devastaed and hide my head in shame for being such a failure as a parent.

God be with you Dan Bessant.

Patrick wrote on Nov 12, 2008 8:50 PM:to Sister and others: Obviously the jury was in the courtrom everyday and did not get their info from the newspaper. Just because you are family & friends you can't/don't want to see the truth. There was evidence in the case that the jury heard & saw. PJ is protecting no one and probably does not fear anyone either. The jury also heard both sides of the story and all decided 1st Degree Murder was the appropriate charge, along with the other charges. Of course it is hard to imagine that the PJ you knew could do something like this but he did! As family members you continue to make excuses for him.

TO ALL you supporters... wrote on Nov 13, 2008 12:18 AM:"I have known PJ all his life. He's a really good kid. Just mixed up with the wrong crowd.The media paints a picture of PJ as a cold blooded killer whose goal is to kill. WRONG."

PLZ.. these kids act, dress, walk, talk, and slang all in the lifestyle of what took place... This lasts for months and possibly years, and if family members, neighbors, or the community can't see this - I pity you all. They were blues, reds, browns, whites, and blacks and all think they are hard. The block belongs to the taxpayers with guns, not the lil homies with guns. Everyone here saying stop judging, he's a kid, he was nice... seriously do us all a favor and move because your lack of education is hurting our image. If one person said Charlie Manson was a nice kid.... I mean come on...

FUNNY wrote on Nov 13, 2008 12:19 AM:" It's so easy to comment how bad the child is however if the shoe was on the other foot I'm sure it would be hard for you to swallow what others are saying about your kid,right?"

My kid's shoes wouldn't be red, blue, or brown.... nuff said

EVERYONE GET IT??? easy...

a friend of PJs wrote on Nov 13, 2008 3:30 AM:I remember going to high school with P.J., he was a good kid who got good grades. His teachers and friends loved him. Sad to say, Yes he got involved with the wrong crowd. But when people ask "What good did that ... ever do?" I just shake my head, because he has helped so many people out,PJ was there when you were down and make you laugh, also give you great advice. I know he helped me in times of need.PJ always came to my rescue.He was a GREAT kid, who got influence by the wrong people.

(and to those "people"..i hope your happy. PJ takes the fall while you all sit pretty at home without a care in the world.)

But now PJ is doing the time, so why sit and bad talk him and his family more?? What will the death penalty do? Will that bring Officer Bessant back? no. it will do Nothing! Leave him be.

my heart goes out to both sides. Taeotui and the Bessants.

Love you lil bro!! Keep your head up!

To a friend of PJs wrote on Nov 13, 2008 10:13 AM:Very heartwarming story. I'm sure PJ was a great kid at times. But on the other hand he CHOSE to do what he did with out any thought of the consequences. How can you sympathize for someone that shots at an innocent person, better yet someone that is trying to help the community be safe? He obviously had no concern about that. I don't buy the whole gang member thing. You can't blame anyone or anything for this behavior. He was old enough to know right from wrong. And for the people that are sitting pretty at home with no care in the world.. What are we supposed to be crying and supporting this behavior? I'm sitting pretty at home because i did not chose to point a gun at an innocent cop that was only doing his job and never knew it was coming. My condolences go out to the Bessant family and friends. Sorry but i don't feel bad for this kid. He deserves what he got. I don't think life in prison is the answer but he should of thought about that before playing with guns and hangin out with the wrong crowd.

grj wrote on Nov 13, 2008 10:17 AM:What are 16 year olds doing with high powered rifles anyway? all gang memebers with guns should be locked up, no sypathy for these killers at all.

TCK wrote on Nov 13, 2008 12:28 PM:ARE YOU SERIOUS??? ARE YOU REALLY THAT IGNORANT OR JUST PLAIN DUMB. PEOPLE ARE EVEN BEING JUDGEMENTAL OF MY NAME. HOW LAME ARE YOU.

AND SUPPORTERS????? ... IF YOU DIDNT GET IT BY NOW IM NO SUPPORTER. PJ IS MY BLOOD AND I AM NOT SAYING THAT WHAT HE DID WAS RIGHT. IM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HOW YOU ALL WANT TO DISRESPECT MINE AND PJ'S FAMILY. DONT JUDGE THE FAMILY BECAUSE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL'S FAULT. HE ALREADY WAS FOUND GUILTY SO PUT IT TO REST ALREADY. YOU ARE ALL NOT PERFECT EITHER.

GRJ-WHERE DO YOU THINK THESE KIDS GET THEIR GUNS?? DUH. THEY GET IT FROM THE OLDER GANG MEMBERS WHO THEY LOOK UP TO. WHY ARENT THE POLICE AFTER THEM?

FUNNY- SMH. YOUR COMMENT WAS A WASTE AS WELL. SO YOU ONLY BUYING YOUR KIDS SHOES IN WHITE AND BLACK?SAVE YOUR INSIDE JOKE FOR THE COMEDY SECTION ON THE NEWSPAPER

PATRICK- THE PAPERS ARE SAYING WHAT MANNING SAID AND AS FOR THE JURORS THEY FELT LIKE HE GAVE A GOOD ARGUMENT BUT THAT DONT MEAN THAT WHAT THEY DECIDED WAS RIGHT.


F.Y.I

TCK IS NO ACRONYMN OF A GANG ...JUST MY INITIALS OF MY NAME SO PLEASE SAVE YOUR COMMENTS.

LOVE YOU PJ

grj wrote on Nov 13, 2008 1:37 PM:so the role models are other violent gang members with guns.
I recomend staying in school and finding better role models.

Artsyrat wrote on Nov 13, 2008 2:08 PM:Hey PJ. 35 years ago I was a teenager. I was angry, on drugs, not in a gang but in a crowd that partied tons, broke the law, some of us lost our lives because of it. I'm one of the lucky ones. My parents gave me too much freedom, didn't pay too much attention to what I was doing. My Mom loved me.

The road from there has been strange and difficult. I've seen friends die from overdose, suicide and car accidents. My best 2 friends from highschool are addicts and a few friends are in prison. I could have have been really successful in my career field but was so lame in my personal life I made wrong choices that took me nowhere.

At age 40 I woke up from my denial and realized I needed more. I found what I was looking for. I'm still reaping the consequences what I've sown all those years but on the other hand, I'm a new person, with purpose and hopes and goals. I'm 52 now, still struggeling from my past, but looking to the future, making a difference for the good, not for evil. What a relief!

PJ, your anger is clear, I'm really sorry your friends are in prison, they made some horrible choices that night that are effecting everyone that loves them. It's up to you now PJ to make your choices, do you want to be in denial your whole life? Are you in denial?

Make the right choices PJ...today, while you are young. Tomorrow may never come.

My choice is God. He loves you man.

Artsyrat wrote on Nov 13, 2008 2:10 PM:The comment I wrote at about 2:09pm to PJ is meant for his friend TCK.

Fathers Day speech by Sen. Barack Obama to Apostolic Church of God in Chicago wrote on Nov 13, 2008 4:06 PM:Good morning. It’s good to be home on this Father’s Day with my girls, and it’s an honor to spend some time with all of you today in the house of our Lord.

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus closes by saying, “Whoever hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man who built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.â€