California State Senate SENATOR JACK SCOTT TWENTY-FIRST SENATORIAL DISTRICT June 11, 2001 John Johannessen, President Stop Our Shootings P.O. Box 16206 Irvine, CA 92632-6206 Dear Mr. Johanessen: Let me commend you for your wonderful work in starting the organization Stop Our Shootings. I am happy to know of others who are involved in this fight against gun violence. I am saddened that the critical wounding of your daughter Shanelle occasioned this occurrence. I am pleased to learn that she has recovered from this serious injury; however, I am sure the trauma still remains. As perhaps you know, I lost my son Adam to an unintentional shooting in October 1993. A young man was displaying a gun at a party, and pulled the trigger instantly killing Adam. Adam had just graduated from USC Law School, and was a person of great promise. Perhaps the letter from me that you could use in your work could read something like this: "I joined thousands of others in supporting the work of the organization, Stop Our Shootings. This organization will inform the public of the danger of guns in our society. Unfortunately, our nations leads all other nations in the number of gunfire deaths with over 30,000 killed annually. This gunfire death rate is twelve times that of Western Europe. Surely, by a concerted effort, we can reduce this dreadful toll on young and old lives. I encourage people throughout the nation to support the efforts of this organization." Sincerely, JACK SCOTT Senator, 21st District Back to Endorsements Index Page