February 19, 2006

To:

Small Business, Committee on

Representatives Van Roy, chairperson,

Honadel, vice chairperson

Representatives M. Williams, Ballweg,

Mursau, Sheridan, Fields, and Hebl

Re: Senate Bill SB-251

I am one of the parents whose son was tragically killed in the accident that involved the magazine sellers in Janesville on

March 25, 1999. I am writing to you to encourage you to pass SB 251 in its entirety. Even though I am not a resident of your state, it is my hope that this bill will encourage my state of Virginia and other states to pass comprehensive legislation

regulating the way these "crews" are allowed to operate in their state. No law governing these crews, either state or federal, is just not good enough anymore. I can not help but wonder why these laws were not passed before my child's accident? This is not a new problem that has just surfaced but a tragedy that has been allowed to continue for longer than my son's life.

Even though the accident that took my child's life was almost seven years ago, I still vividly remember the day I got the "call"

that changed my life forever. In reality, it not only took my child but destroyed his family along with it. I live everyday with a gaping whole in my heart for a child I will never see, nor will I ever have the pleasure of his children. A child was meant to bury a parent but a parent was not meant to bury their child. When he died, a part of me died as well. You know, I was not in the van that night, but I might have well have been as sometimes I wish that I could have switched places with him- trust me when I say " If I could have sold my soul to the devil to save my son, no price would have been too high."

I sometimes wonder whose child will have to die, be raped or savagely murdered for our country to wake up and demand that enough is enough? Why are we putting human life in such danger rather than fix the problem or totally eliminate the problem? Why is this such a big problem but is being allowed to be swept under the rug? Each day that is allowed to go by before this problem can start to be corrected makes the distinct possibility that the list of victims grows as well. If, I had only known seven years ago what I know today, I would have done my best to prevent my son from joining one of these crews.

You have the power to possibly prevent this tragedy from possibly ever happening in your state again. I beg you to use that power so another family does not have to suffer the same tragedy as the victims have to this point. As the kids say nowadays - "It's a no brainer". When a family suffers such a tragedy as we all have, there will never be any closure until the last breaths we take, but, we can have peace within ourselves if their deaths will make a difference. I can not bring my child back but I can beg you to spare someone else’s family the torture my family has gone through since we buried my son. Please do not hesitate to pass this bill and protect human life.

Sincerely,
Pamela A. Christman

Mother of Peter J. Christman