Let the Family Grieve

Let the Family Grieve

Are times becoming so insensitive, that the media and lawmakers have no regards to the emotional state that the family members are suffering? Seventy –two hours after the death of Harris County Precinct 5 Deputy Jason Norling has not passed and the media and members of the state lawmakers are recruiting Norling’s family members to become spokespersons to support measures to pass regulation on cell phone usage while in operation of a motor vehicle.
“Officer’s death may provide surge to pass cell phone limits.’’ Was the subtitle of Sarah Viren article in Thursday’s Houston Chronicle “Somebody has to do something”. The family member’s of this officer are not being allowed the time to grieve the death of their love one.
Office Norling was killed Monday, while writing a ticket, by a SUV driver who hit him because he was distracted by a conversation he was having on his cell phone. This incident has refueled a battle in the state house to pass a law to limit cell phone usage on Texas roadways. Viren article states “although such bills have failed to gain momentum in the past, Jason Norling’s niece, Delta Humphreys, has started a campaign on MySpace to change the law, and Lisa Norling [wife] says she will petition lawmakers if that could make a difference.”
Do not get me wrong, I would support a bill to limit the use of cell phones while driving. My concerns are dealing with the timing of such questioning. The family is still in the process of planning a funeral for their love one and the media is presenting questions of measures to possible prevent this from happen to another family. Yes, this tactic may sway public opinion but let the family have some time to remember their love one before presenting questions of measures of prevention. The time will come for such discussions at a later date.