The San Bernardino mass shooting horror just came home to me this morning.

[BlueCaliDem]

Many DUers know me here. I've been a star-member of Democratic Underground since November 2004. Many people know my political activism, my passion, and my dedication to get as many Democrats elected as we possibly can. Some even know me a little bit more than that.

But what no DUer knows is, I have a son who has cerebral palsy and autism since birth. His name is Mark. He's 34 years old and my oldest child. Mark is developmentally disabled with a mental ability of a six year old child. And we live in North Fontana. That's why I haven't been around much yesterday since 1:45 a.m. when I learned on MSNBC that gunfire had erupted in San Bernardino. I hadn't paid much attention up until the moment I heard the dire voices as I was going about my business.

Since my son is developmentally disabled, he uses services provided by the Inland Regional Center, and has since 2010. His consumer service coordinator works in that building where, yesterday, 14 people were murdered and 17 were injured. I don't know if his service coordinator was part of that group, but I know she was there. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

Yesterday, after all hell broke loose, it ended in front of the facility where my son goes "to work" every day. I didn't know this. I believed he was safe where he was which, I believed, was a good distance from the Inland Regional Center. But the danger and horror was closer than I knew.

This morning, ten minutes after I said "have a good day" to my son as he walked out the door with his lunch pack and big smile to meet the luxury bus that had come to pick him up, I received a call from the transport service that he'll be returned. They just received word from his facility that they're closed and that the entire street is blocked off. Only this morning I learned that the gunfire that ended the lives of Farook and his wife happened in their street, right in front of their building.

My son never told me. I knew he'd come home a little later than normal yesterday since his work facility is in San Bernardino and the police, FBI, and SWAT had cast a wide security net in that area, but I never thought he could have witnessed the shootout. Naturally, I'm a bit more than just a little rattled by this news because nothing like this has ever happened to me or mine.

I don't know more than what I've written here or what's already being reported in the media, so please don't ask. It's all now just sinking in with me and I'm a bit more than just a little rattled after I learned about this. I'm just happy he's being returned home today, safe and sound.

Thank you for allowing me to blow off some steam.

[Iliyah]

1. Hugs and kisses

[still_one]

2. That is why from the barrage of media coverage, many don't appreciate the personal loss and

suffering unless they are actually affected.

It is so important for America as a people to empathize with those who have to go through such ordeals.

I am glad your family is safe, and hope your service co-ordinator is ok.

All the best

[bigwillq]

3. .....

[kimbutgar]

4. I hear ya

I just got home from my long term sub teaching job with k-2 kids with disabilities and noticed my husband left the garage door open. My husband was inside and had the tv on and was watching in horror. He told me what happened and I burst into tears hearing it was at a regional center serving special needs. Our son lives in a group home and attends a day program. It just hit me how much I hate guns and am getting sick of these senseless killings. Our government is so corrupt and owned by the NRA we can't get rid of these guns that shoot 300 rounds per minute. No one should own these guns unless they are in the military. We live in a sick sick country.

[SidDithers]

5. ...

Sid

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I can relate to the cold chills that come over a momma when she learns of a child's too close call..

Have been in similar circumstances with a son.

Thank god your son is safe.
and thank you for sharing this information with us.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. I am glad that your son is safe

and yes, these shootings "come home" to a lot of people. I have a friend who had it "come home" at another recent mass shooting.

[Beaverhausen]

8. So glad he is safe

I have a friend who is a nurse at the Loma Linda hospital where some of the victims were taken.

[oldandhappy]

9. Glad your Mark is safe.

The coverage was hard to watch because of the lack of so much information. Hugs

[KamaAina]

10. The service coordinator is probably okay

As you must have heard by now, the shooting took place in a conference room that the regional center had rented to county public health employees for a holiday awards function. Farook was one such (apparently disgruntled) employee.

[bklyncowgirl]

11. It is a terrible, upsetting thing when someone you love is close to such horrific events.

I can understand a little of what you are feeling. My husband was standing outside the World Trade Center when the second plane hit. He'd been inside that building buying a newspaper an hour before. Hope all is well with you and your family.

[Fast Walker 52]

12. heart-rending

thanks for sharing

[malaise]

13. I feel it for you

Glad your son is OK

[flamin lib]

14. Welcome to the club. One in three

people will be touched by gun violence either directly or indirectly. One in three.

That's more than 100,000,000 people.

Too bad the club isn't more exclusive . . .

[Sissyk]

15. Thank You for sharing, BlueCaliDem.

I know from personal experience what it feels like to know your child came that close to being gone forever.

Best of good thoughts for you both! And, his care provider.

[Vinca]

16. That's really scary. I'm so happy your son is safe.

[zomgitsjesus]

17. Glad your son is safe.

Good luck to you all.

[pinstikfartherin]

18. I'm so glad he's safe. nt

[flamingdem]

19. My best to you and your son nt

[jwirr]

20. I am another parent. As soon as I heard it was a facility for

the care of developmentally disabled persons my heart crashed. I will admit I did not even think about the parents - just the residents. So innocent.

Very glad Mark is safe.

[WillyT]

21. (((((((BlueCaliDem & Mark)))))))

[ngGale]

22. Hugs...

...

[Glimmer of Hope]

23. I am so sorry you went through this.

We need to make this county safer.

[hibbing]

24. Damn

I can't even imagine, thanks for posting this.

Peace

[Marty McGraw]

25. World wide impovrishment

Has really set the stage to the ills of this world, as well as the left-over manipulative minute percentage that hold key to all the power.

[Hekate]

29. Really. Is this thread the place for politics?

[Hekate]

26. I just got chills all over. Hugs to you and your son from the Central Coast.

I don't know the area well, as I lived and worked in Cucamonga only 3 years (Chaffey College), but one of my closest college friends was from Fontana....

[marym625]

27. words fail.

Please know we're here for you in whatever way you need. Thoughts are with you and your family.

[Duval]

39. Absolutely!!

[bunnies]

28. So sorry BCD.

Im glad he safe. Thats horrible.

[Dont call me Shirley]

30. Peace and Love to you both.

[Raine1967]

31. BlueCaliDem,

I am so sorry that you went through this. I am so happy that your son is alright.

Situations like yours, when it comes so close to home, knowing how close a loved one is to danger is something that will forever change outlooks on life and the world around us.

sincerely.

I totally identify with what you are saying.

[TBF]

32. ((Hugs))

I can only imagine how you feel. I'm so glad your son is safe, and grieve for the other innocent folks that we lost.

[joanbarnes]

33. Thoughts and prayers to you and your son, not physically harmed yet still more victims.....

[Squinch]

34. I am so sorry you have to know that your baby was in such danger. I'm glad he's here today

with a big smile on his face.

[The Blue Flower]

35. It's so hard to be brave when the safety of our children is threatened

I'd stand up to anyone or anything for my children and grandchild. It's a totally different thing when we feel they're vulnerable. I completely empathize with what you're feeling. Very happy to know he's safe.

[yallerdawg]

36. Safe and sound.

What a world has grown up around us.

You come back and tell us how to fix it!!!

[Duval]

37. I'm so glad your son is safe.

It is sure to be terribly frightening and if you need to blow off more steam, do it, BlueCaliDem. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and community.

[Starry Messenger]

38. (((hugs)))

I'm so sorry.

[Scruffy Rumbler]

40. May you find some peace today...

And when you son arrives, big hugs... and one from me. I hope you can both just be with each other for a quiet and peaceful evening.

[Indepatriot]

41. Love to you and your family.

[Liberal_in_LA]

42. Glad you son . Is ok

[JDPriestly]

43. I'm happy to heart that your son is well and safe, but what a senseless act.

Religious fanaticism justifying killing? I assume that was what was behind the San Bernardino and Planned Parenthood attacks. That has to stop!

[LibDemAlways]

44. I sympathize with you. My daughter lived a

block from where 2 female students were murdered by a maniac on a rampage in Isla Vista in May of last year. Fortunately, she was at the movies at the time. However, a short time later she found a spent, twisted bullet in a box of kleenex she purchased at a nearby mini mart where a third student was slaIn.

I'm so sorry your son was a witness to the horror. What will it take before the US takes action to stop this madness?

[Dr. Xavier]

45. What can you say at a time like this...

My wife and I grew up halfway between San Berdoo and LA, the San Gabriel Valley. We know people, who live in that area. We know people, who work in that field. We now live in Northern California, in Fremont, my wife is a school librarian. Her school is surrounded by million dollar homes. Yesterday, she told me that someone found three bullets on her school's grounds. I couldn't even tell her the news from Berdoo, I just told her to watch the news. I couldn't even tell her what had happened, I couldn't even wrap my mind around it. I don't know what to say, what can I tell you that would let you know that you're are not alone? Maybe I can't think of anything to say, because deep down inside, I know that's not true. And that is incredibly sad to realize.

[niyad]

46. hugs for you and your family, and all impacted by this horrendous crime. have some small idea

what you went through--was very worried about friends on friday.

[FailureToCommunicate]

47. Thank you for sharing how close this came to you and your family. May you find some

calm in the next few days...

We were swept up in that fearful time of the Boston Marathon bombing, with my son close to the finish line, and later, my brother

rattled by the police searching his street and neighborhood for the bombers.

[lonestarnot]

48. .

[Liberty Belle]

49. So sorry to hear of your ordeal. We had a mass shooter and had to shelter in our house

About a year ago - crazy guy fired off over 200 rounds, then killed himself.

We live in a school district that has had two mass school shootings, too.

I am so sick of all the violence. One thing for sure is that no matter the cause (mental illness, workplace violence, terrorism etc) if automatic and semi-automatic weapons and ammo were hard to get, we would have a lot fewer mass shootings and a lot less casualties.

I guess it would take someone shooting up the capitol or a Republican convention before we'll see any of them grow a backbone and stand up against the NRA.

[CaptainTruth]

50. Peace & love.

Just peace & love. And deep breaths, & relax, & hug your son, & give thanks.

[Tarheel_Dem]

51. I'm so glad he's safe, and I hope the same for his service coordinator.

[gwheezie]

52. My heart goes out to Mark and all of you

My daughter was on her way to work in lower Manhattan when I saw the WTC attack on the news. I couldn't reach her for hours. When we did briefly talk she didn't go into detail as she was trying to get home, and I just was relieved to know she was OK. It took a few days for her to tell me what it was like for her.
Mark might have more to say as time goes on. I know you will be there to listen.

[Lil Missy]

53. Hugs to you.

My son lived at an Intermediate Care Facility for age 19 and under. I immediately thought of the safety of the special needs clients at the facility when I heard of this shooting. I was really concerned, at first, that it could have been targeted because it contained special clients. That rattled me to my core. As it turns out, that was not the case. Still horrifying, but specifically targeting the truly helpless just seems like an additional level of evil.

I'm glad your son is okay.

[Cha]

54. I'm so glad Mark is okay and heartbroken about those who were

right in the path of terror.

You blew off steam very well, BlueCali.. I felt as if I were right there with you. I've been thinking about those poor people and their families all day today.

[Ilsa]

55. One of the things about the shooting

that for me and my husband, drove the knife in deeper, was that it happened at this facility. We, too, have a developmentally delayed son, and we have learned that it takes really special people to choose to work with them.

I'm so sorry that Mark was any where near that scene. I hope you are all able to put things back together so he can resume his routine again. I realize that for so many others, it'll never be the same, and I don't want to seem unconcerned for them, but for those with Special Needs, getting back to the routine is usually best.

Sometimes we forget how these tragedies affect others, more than just the direct victims. Thank you for sharing with us. I'll send my hopes and prayers for all of you.

[Dorian Gray]

56. Wow

I hope that his service coordinator wasn't harmed. It would be something for you guys.

I don't know how to wrap my brain around this, and I'm in NYC. I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to process this whole thing. It's touched closely upon your life. And your son's life.

Hugs to your family.

[OnionPatch]

57. So scary!

I'm so glad your son was safe but can imagine how scary it must have felt when you understood how close he was to danger. We just never know these days. Nowhere is off limits for this kind of random gun violence I guess.

This hit a bit closer to home than most shootings for me as well. Or should I say closer to work. I work about a block from Farook's home and it was police cars converging and copters hovering all day yesterday. Not your normal work day, for sure.

Glad to know there are DUers nearby though. Stay safe.

[MerryBlooms]

58. .

[Generic Other]

59. Hugs and well wishes to you

I am so glad your son is safe.

[riversedge]

60. The angels were with you and yours. Take care

[mfcorey1]

61. Wow! This world, this world. I am glad he is safe.

[Laser102]

62. That would make my knees buckle. Hold him close. Give lots of kisses. I'm happy he's safe.

[Samantha]

63. Thank you for sharing your story

I am so happy you and your son are safe, but so sorry this happened to you. I think it does help to "talk" about these matters with sympathetic friends, and you have an overabundance here.

Sam

[NNadir]

64. May you know peace hereafter. n/t.

[leanforward]

65. Hold him close

He's back. I'm just one of many who know what a special child means. I understand.

[gademocrat7]

66. Glad your son is safe.

Take care.

[Tiggeroshii]

67. I'm glad he is safe. I lost a co-worker and former classmate in that rampage, so I totally feel how

this has hit home.

[romanic]

68. Glad to hear your son is okay.

I can't even fathom having that kind of violence so close to home.

[LWolf]

69. (((hugs)))

I'm glad you, and your son, are okay.