Back in Black
Just got in from Charlotte, NC. I was working a coin show in the convention center, very draining and never had a chance to get online for very long.
I usually don't stay in nice hotels, just the standard Hampton or Holiday Inn but this show was at the Hilton and the office booked the room for me. When I got there I unpacked, then looked around the room for the TV, and couldn't find it.....I was getting mad at the thought of packing and moving to another room. Started to call the front desk, then saw the 40" plasma TV hanging on the wall! Glad I didn't call....LOL
I'll update our situation later on. RN
Good Fight
Here's a photo from the front page of the Ft. Smith Times. We were fighting the good fight!
Party Politics
I hate party politics!
The rally went well, but we got lampooned by the State Representative! I think he was sent to deliver a message by party officials - and he certainly did. We're not quitting! In fact, his statements will drive me to the "ends of the earth" to make this happen. I will post some photos later and some of the articles from the press. Below is our official statement to the press after the rally:
Press Statement from Roger Nix, Coordinator,
United Victims group will continue to fight for changes in Title 43A and the impeachment of 3 Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals judges.
Comments made by State Representative Bud Smithson were disappointing and our group is seeking support from Republican House members in an effort to make the necessary changes to protect the public safety. I was surprised that Mr. Smithson did not support the impeachment issue, but I'm beginning to understand party politics. Since the Court is made-up of 4 judges appointed by Democratic Governor's, I suppose it was naïve to think Mr. Smithson would take a stand against the Democratic Party in Oklahoma. Smithson did say he contacted several people to discuss the impeachment issue, I just don't think he spoke to the right people. Judges Chapel, C. Johnson and Lewis need to be investigated by the House not only for the Fears case, but also for many others. Our group is currently researching decisions reached by the OCCA and will compile a list next month for review.
Smithson also commented that changing Title 43A will be hard, but we already know that. We were looking for support from his office to help persuade the Governor to call an emergency session of the Legislature. Smithson's only comment was that an emergency session will cost over 2 million dollars and we would likely not get it. Our belief is that if it cost 10 million dollars it would be worth it to save lives. Changes in Title 43A will not only keep Daniel Hawke Fears from the public but several other criminally insane "consumers" (patients) from endangering Oklahoma communities. I personally was perplexed by Mr. Smithson's lack of interest in Title 43A changes, especially considering that he is a retired State Trooper. The safety of the public is always at the forefront of police officer's minds as demonstrated by Sallisaw Chief of Police Shaloa Edwards who I spoke with after the rally. Chief Edwards is supportive of our group and encouraged us to continue pushing for changes in Title 43A.
Overall the rally was a success in my mind because we were able to brainstorm and bring new ideas to the table. I appreciate the support of the citizens of Sallisaw who attended the rally. We gathered many new supporters and they left with a plan of action to help make changes in the law. All we need now is a House member to champion these issues and help make the changes possible. I can guarantee that if Daniel Hawke Fears had killed a family member of a State Legislator, that changes would be made immediately. Unfortunately, most State Legislator's are very insulated from issues that haunt most people of Oklahoma. They should "walk a mile in the victim's shoes" and see things from their perspective.
Roger Nix
United Victims
Big WOW!
We made it to Oklahoma!
Set-up our "network" in the hotel room (2 computers & a real printer) and have officially ran out of room. We have hauled in, hauled out, set-up chairs, moved tables, met with District Attorney's and visited Sam's club for cups, plates, etc.
I'm tired and I wanna go home (and get a stiff drink)!
The building is set-up, still working on the PA system but we'll get going tomorrow (after all I am a geek....not a nerd...just a geek)
Hoping things go well. Wish us luck!
Thanks, Roger
Latest Blurb
Rally Planned To Protest Court Ruling
By Lareign Ward
Times Record
Relatives of victims of Daniel Fears' 2002 shooting spree are organizing a rally next weekend as part of an attempt to change an Oklahoma law that could free Fears from a state mental hospital.
The United Victims group also is urging the impeachment of the three Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals judges who vacated Fears' 2004 conviction, directing a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
"The way the law is written, it doesn't take (the conviction) into consideration," said Roger Nix, who heads the group. "Right now, he's not a criminal, he's not a felon; he's considered by Oklahoma a ‘consumer.' Basically, he's a patient. All they have to do is say he's not a danger to himself or others, and if that's the case then the state requires that you release him."
Nix's mother, Patsy Sue Wells, 61, of Sallisaw, was shot and killed by Fears after he took a rifle from his father's Sallisaw home on Oct. 26, 2002. Two people were killed and eight wounded before Fears surrendered to police. Reba Spangler, 68, of Fort Smith was also killed in the shooting spree.
A Sequoyah County jury convicted Fears of two counts of first-degree murder, five counts of drive-by shooting, eight counts of shooting with intent to kill, discharging a firearm and feloniously pointing a firearm. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
While Nix said the rally "is and isn't" about Fears, he points to changing an Oklahoma statute that would allow for Fears' release as the key goal of the group.
"We're not talking about revenge or putting him in prison or making him pay for what he's done," Nix, of Florence, Ala., said. "The court has already determined that. What we want to do is we want to leave him in the mental institution with security. He's proven he's capable of killing innocent people.
"They said he just snapped; who's to say he's not going to snap again? We don't know that and the doctors don't know that."
Nix said he does not concern himself with likelihoods on if a mental institution would or would not release Fears. Rather, he said he is concerned simply that the possibility exists.
"We can't say what they're going to do six months from now, a year from now, 10 years from now," Nix said. "The fact is he has demonstrated he can kill people. We just don't believe that a person can be cured of that deep of a mental illness."
He said under current law, the director of a mental institution has too much power in deciding if a patient will be released.
"You do not have to have a judge, just the director of the facility solely. We want a lot more safeguards than are out there," Nix said. "It's just too loose at this point."
Nix wants Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry to call an emergency session of the state Legislature to address the issue.
The group has invited Henry to the rally, but Nix said it had not received a response as of Friday afternoon. State Rep. Glen Bud Smithson, D-Sallisaw, plans to attend, according to Nix.
The rally will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds Community Building in Sallisaw. Nix said he expects a "very large crowd" of 500 to 1,000 people.
Nix said the three appellate judges who voted to direct a verdict of not guilty by insanity for Fears should be considered for impeachment because of their use of a law that was passed, then repealed, before it could take effect.
"The public needs to understand that the judges are unchecked," he said. "They have a tremendous amount of power. There's no one to question their judgment. ... They can basically do anything they want."
The two other judges on the court of criminal appeals agreed with the majority that Fears' guilty verdict should be overturned, but argued he should be granted a new trial instead of acquittal.
State Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, has proposed a bill that would limit the court of criminal appeals' authority to ordering a new trial or sentencing in cases dealing with an insanity defense.
Staff-o-Rama
Best staff in the World! (L to R) Bill Beck, Erika Martinez, Roger Nix (your fearless leader) John Appuhn and Christy Conley.
Getting a lot done, just a few more days, the clock is tickin' RN
News Updates
Got a call from a reporter in Ft. Smith, AR yesterday (it's about 20 miles from where our rally will be held) it's a small MSA of about 500,000 people in the area, so it will get some good publicity. She wanted to know about the rally and all of the details - it went well.
Had a rough day yesterday....got mad over a technical issue with someone at work. I suppose the pressure is building-up as the rally approaches. I need to calm down! Jeezeee
Picked-up about 500 or so coloring books from our warehouse - donated by the president of our company. Very nice of him. It's just another sort of feature for the 1/2 page ad we're running next week "Free Coloring Books for Kids" "Free Soft Drinks", etc. etc. We need to get the community to hear what's going on with our case. Hopefully the ad will work. United Victims volunteers are out today posting flyers all over town, next week when I arrive I'll probably hand them out at Wal-Mart. Everybody flocks to Wal-Mart! It's unreal.....
I'm at the office today (Saturday), something I haven't done for a long time! I forgot how quiet it could be (HA) Just found out that after the rally I have to do a tradeshow in Charlotte, NC! Not that I mind going but had hoped for a little bit of R&R after the frenzy of the rally. Oh well, life sucks - then you die! LOL
Remember the victims! www.unitedvictims.com
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