[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E98-E99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMENDING THE PREVENTION OF A TRAGEDY AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest 
appreciation for the excellent investigative work of the San Jose 
Police Department and the actions of an extraordinary citizen. 
Yesterday, through the thoughtful work of our law enforcement and a 
concerned citizen who chose not to ``look the other way'', a tragedy 
liken to Columbine was averted.
  A young man, whose motives are not yet fully understood, was 
apprehended with a

[[Page E99]]

cache of weapons and explosives, which he allegedly was intending to 
use in an elaborate mass killing scheme and blowing up of the campus of 
De Anza College in Silicon Valley. Having spent much time at De Anza 
College and working with many of its wonderful students, I was shocked 
to hear of this news.
  As a former schoolteacher and principal, I know how hard it is for 
young people today to deal with the many pressures they face. We don't 
yet know what this young man's motives were, but this news is a 
powerful reminder to all of us that we must continue to do better in 
identifying the warning signs for violence in our schools and work 
personally with our students, teaching diversity, and tolerance.

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