Max Baucus: “I rise today to co-sponsor a Senate Resolution to designate March 24, 1999 as National School Violence Victims Memorial…”

“I rise today to co-sponsor a Senate Resolution to designate March 24, 1999 as National School Violence Victims Memorial Day. Just last week I spoke to the Montana State Legislature and introduced an education action plan, a major part of which is making sure our kids are safe in America's schools. While I was home I saw Steve Bullock. Steve works for our Attorney General, and every time I see Steve I remember his step-brother, Jeremy. You see, Jeremy was 11. He and his twin brother Joshua left for school together as they always did. The day was April 12, 1994. Jeremy didn't come home from school that day. He was shot and killed on the playground, leaving a family and a community forever changed. By recognizing March 24th as National School Violence Victims Memorial Day we will be honoring the memory of Jeremy Bullock and countless other children, families and communities by saying clearly, with one voice that we as Americans will meet the challenge of eradicating violence from our schools. It is, in many ways a challenge to decide what kind of a people we are. A challenge to stand up for peace and safety against violence and hatred. This is about remembering the victims of school violence and it is about what we are going to do in their names. The easy reaction to this kind of senseless violence is to cast blame and to turn our communities into one big episode of the Jerry Springer show.”