Life
By Vinnie Sorce, Chino Valley, AZ
vsorce@juno.com
Whatever is on my mind.
Friday, August 31, 2007
It Could Never Happen To Us...
 Vinnie Sorce
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| Stacy and six-year-old Becca |
It could never happen to us I said to myself in October of 1996 when my wife Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. It could never happen to us I said to myself as I stood at my wife's graveside on Christmas Eve 1999 holding the hands of my boys, five and eight. It could never happen to us I said to myself as a policeman drove into my driveway recently...
On Monday August 13, 2007 my fiancé, Stacy Stubbs, lost her life in Peoria when a selfish, immature, unthinking, irresponsible teenager hit her head on while sending a text message and attempting to control her vehicle simultaneously. I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support, food, childcare, memorial fund (a Godsend since Stacy was not eligible for life insurance), etc. It's a great relief in this overwhelming time to have such support from the community.
Since this wholly avoidable tragedy I have discovered that texting while driving is not illegal in Arizona. Actually it's not illegal in much of the country. HB-2129 (http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2129) is an Arizona law to ban texting while driving which was defeated in this past session. I will wonder for the rest of my life if passage of this bill may have saved Stacy's life...
Laws however are no substitute for common sense. I've been watching carefully the last two weeks and the amount of people yakking on cell phones, applying makeup, not using blinkers and speeding among other things is just appalling! We already know that speeding around here is a sport, we may as well build bleachers on highways 69 and 89 and charge admission. Your car is not just a mode of transportation, it's also a two-ton weapon which deserves respect.
Everyone has asked me what they can do to help. Right now, this second, as you read this I would like to ask you to do two things:
1. Take a pledge to your self right now, out loud:
I will not text while driving. I will not use my cell phone while driving without a hands free device. I will use common sense while I'm driving. I realize it is a privilege to drive and other innocent souls, as well as my self, depend on my total concentration of the road and in the handling of my vehicle.
Talk to your teenage drivers about this, your neighbors, friends and family. Whoever will listen. Have them take the pledge as well.
2. Tell your local legislatures that you support HB-2129 and want it passed in the next session. E-mail and regular mailing addresses can be found here, http://www.azleg.gov. E-mail every member, it doesn't take long, I beg you.
New laws will never make us all safe but perhaps you may save the life of a six-year-old girl's mother from a small town in rural Arizona. Oh wait, it's too late for that...
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Posted: Sunday, September 09, 2007
Article comment by:
JoshuaWarrior
I am so sorry to hear of your and Becca's loss. Thank you for sharing this story and thank you for the reminder to me, personally about this sort of distraction. I do commit to being the safer driver you are asking us to be.
Posted: Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Article comment by:
s_lopatin
Vinny,
What an unfortunate situation. Your blog really reached out and touched me. I am so sorry for your loss (both of them), I cannot even begin to express it. Please keep fighting and informing the public. Your story and words will reach out and touch many people and many lives. Again, my deepest condolences.
Posted: Monday, September 03, 2007
Article comment by:
Stephen, Jacqueline, Anthony + Tommy
Keep the faith, Vinnie. Getting the message out there is half the battle. Someone may think twice before texting, calling or even eating while driving because of your story. You may be saving many lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Posted: Monday, September 03, 2007
Article comment by:
Stephen, Jacqueline, Anthony + Tommy
Keep the faith, Vinnie. Getting the message out there is half the battle. Someone may think twice before texting, calling or even eating while driving because of your story. You may be saving many lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Posted: Saturday, September 01, 2007
Article comment by:
Matt
Powerful Vin. What possible reason could any legislator have for not passing this law? What retarded lobby is fighting against it? For the person who says people will still break the law, that is true, but those boundaries may make the casual moron think twice. Texting while driving!
Stay strong
Posted: Saturday, September 01, 2007
Article comment by:
Beradette Mathews
Stacey was always an activist of sorts. Maybe this all serves a higher purpose.
Posted: Friday, August 31, 2007
Article comment by:
Lois Cary
My prayers are with you Vinnie Mike Joe and Becca. Love you all, Lois
Posted: Friday, August 31, 2007
Article comment by:
Mike, Marci, Bella & Anthony
Vinnie,
Very well written and I know Stacy would want each and every person who reads this to fight to pass this law. We love you and miss you terribly. Our hearts and thoughts are with you, Michael, Joey & Rebecca.
Posted: Friday, August 31, 2007
Article comment by:
my3teverboys
Well said Vinnie. What makes you think laws will change anything? In NY it is against the law to talk on a cell phone - people still do it and get away with it.
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