[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11083]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN REMEMBRANCE: TIFFANY TAYLOR OF ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 21, 2002

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Tiffany Taylor. Fifteen-year-old Tiffany was killed by random gunfire 
as she rode home with her friends after an evening at a Roseville 
roller skating rink. I am truly saddened and offer my deepest 
condolences to Tiffany's family and friends.
  It is hard to understand why this senseless act of violence has 
occurred. Even the strongest faith can be shaken when a young life is 
cut short. But at a recent gathering of Tiffany's family, friends, 
classmates and neighbors, it was clear that this community has not lost 
its faith. They came together to honor Tiffany's memory, and pledged to 
work together to end violent crime in our community so that nothing 
like this ever happens again.
  All of us have to do our part to end violence in our communities. 
Parents, teachers, clergy, community leaders, students, police 
officials and counselors are all part of the solution. We need to 
support the efforts of community groups like Citizens of Macomb Behind 
All Teens (COMBAT) to stand up for our youth and work with them to 
offer positive ways for them to be involved in the community. We need 
more counselors in our schools so that young people have caring adults 
to turn to in times of distress or crisis, and prevent violence before 
it occurs. We need more places for our youth to go to stay out of 
harm's way, like the community center planned for Mount Clemens, and 
afterschool programs so that they will not become victims or 
perpetrators of crime.
  Our hearts are heavy with loss. But as we look back and remember 
Tiffany, we must also remember to look forward--and to work toward a 
community without violence. I stand with Tiffany's community ready to 
do what is necessary to protect our children and youth from violence.

                          ____________________