[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 92 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1171-E1172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       STATEMENT OF LINDA SPANGLER

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, on June 2, I was privileged to attend the 
signing ceremony for a bill to increase the penalties in the cases of 
vehicular homicide in the State of Tennessee. This ceremony took place 
at the South Knox county home of the late Katie Spangler. Mrs. Spangler 
was killed by a drunk driver as she was stringing Christmas tree lights 
in her yard in December 1993.
  Just before this bill was signed by Governor Don Sundquist, who had 
made it part of his crime package, Mrs. Spangler's daughter, Linda, 
made one of the most beautiful and moving statements I have ever heard. 
Her words touched me deeply, and I wish that everyone in this country 
would read them and think about what she had to say, especially as it 
relates to the nationwide tragedy of drunk drivers who kill people.
  I would like to recall the statement of Linda Spangler to the 
attention of my colleagues and other readers of the Congressional 
Record.
       Today my family and I with utmost humility would like to 
     express to Governor Sundquist what an honor it is to welcome 
     him to our home. Words fail us as we attempt to convey to our 
     Governor our deep appreciation for signing a new vehicular 
     homicide and DUI bill into law and arranging for funding for 
     such a desperately needed law.
       In an attempt to signify what this means to our family I 
     would like to say that our mother, Katie Spangler was a 
     Christian. My family and I are Christians. We believe that 
     God is sovereign. At the time of mother's death each of us 
     children began to question God as to why our mother had to 
     die at the hands of a drunken driver. We agonized over the 
     question ``why'' because we knew that God could have let 
     mother die naturally, die in her sleep--a peaceful death. 
     Because God had promised in his word that He would protect us 
     ``Lest we cast our foot upon a stone,'' yet He had allowed 
     our mother to die in such a horrifying way. What we had 
     experienced would shatter the faith of the strongest 
     Christian.
       Well meaning Christians would tell us that we must not 
     question God as to why. We felt this was not scriptural as 
     the Bible says that Jesus while dying on the cross for our 
     sins said My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me. God 
     understands when we ask why from a broken heart.
       God continued to love us even though we questioned Him. He 
     held us in the palm of His hand, gave us strength for each 
     day, guided us in decisions that needed to be made, gave us 
     rest when there was no rest. God's grace was indeed 
     sufficient for us.
       Finally we concluded that we may never know why but that 
     God does not make mistakes and that in His own way God would 
     turn this horrible tragedy into something good.
       We then entered into the criminal justice system for the 
     first time seeking justice for the wrongful death of our 
     mother. The person who killed our mother was given the 
     maximum sentence of 6 years with 1 year in jail, 5 years 
     probation. Our faith in the judicial system was at that 
     moment destroyed.
       There was a public outcry of protest against the 
     sentencing. Petitions were signed and brought to us. People 
     were very angry. We could not let their cries of outrage go 
     unheard so we channeled these petitions to our 
     representative, Wayne Ritchie, to whom we would like to say, 
     Mr. Ritchie, you are the epitome of what it means to be a 
     representative of the people, one who cares what the people 
     in his district are interested in. Good luck to you always.
       As a young person and a new Christian I sat through a 
     sermon about testing the 2 spirits, the Holy Spirit and the 
     evil spirit. I did not understand this sermon and I asked my 
     mother to explain to me. She said that if I were trying to 
     make a decision about one thing or another that the first 
     thought I would have would be a positive thought, and that 
     immediately I would have a second thought that would be 
     negative. She said my first thought would be the Holy Spirit 
     and the second thought would be the devil. She said I should 
     always abide by my first thought.
       My family and I feel that you, Governor Sundquist, along 
     with all of those who voted to pass this legislation, and Mr. 
     Wayne Ritchie, have listened to your ``first thought.''
       In so doing no greater compliment could be paid to you than 
     to know that God has used you as an instrument for turning a 
     tragedy into something good and for us as a family it 
     [[Page E1172]] answers our question ``Why?'' because God has 
     used our mother's untimely death to have far reaching effects 
     for the citizens of Tennessee and perhaps these new laws will 
     prevent any other families from going through such agony and 
     loss of a loved one.
       Governor Sundquist, you and your administration are to be 
     commended for your stand against crime. It is our prayer that 
     God will give you the courage and the wisdom to make 
     Tennessee a safer place in which to live for its citizens.
       For the first time in 17 months some of our faith has been 
     restored in the judicial system and we realize ``Why'' God 
     took our mother in such a tragic way and are truly humbled 
     that God could use mother and this family for His purpose.
       We hope you get to meet our mother someday in heaven after 
     Christ says to you ``Well done, thou good and faithful 
     servant.''
       These words are so feeble to express our deepest gratitude 
     to you, Governor Sundquist, but please know they come from 
     our heart.
       May God bless you and watch over you.
       We wish you Godspeed.
       

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