Last night I attended a M.A.D.D. Victim’s Awareness Panel. This was a real eye opening experience – two fold. Fortunately Lynnsey Eakins (M.A.D.D. WPB Chapter) allowed me to enter as a volunteer. This meeting is usually reserved, and mandated by the court system, for first-time DUI offenders to listen to victims, lawyer (for both sides) all intended in persuading the offenders from driving under the influence.

I say that it was eye opening – two fold – because listening to the victims perspective is really sad & I can be compassionate to them. Listening to CD tell us how a drunk driver drove head-on into her daughter’s car, was very heart – wrenching. Her only child was no longer alive.

But standing outside waiting for M.A.D.D. to open the doors, I got a different perspective. One of the offenders was chatting with several others. He was bragging that he’s been here before (mind you, it’s only for first time offenders) & telling everybody in his group, what to expect. “They will put an old man in a wheelchair in front of the group. He will tell us how a drunk driver took his legs & his wife. But all I know is that I wasn’t the one who did it – otherwise I don’t give a sh*t!” – Everybody laughs a nervous laugh.

Now this is why I am here – yes I am mad!! I want to not only assist the family heal, but to create awareness so that this does not happen again. This story made me mad & it made me realize that there are some real ignorant jerks out there, that I may never reach – until it happens to them.

I wish them luck & pray that they are not the next ones to cause a crash because of their choice to remain ignorant.