Gay couple w/ 4 kids bullied in Arizona for months, kids threatened with gun

[Wait Wut]

This is a fairly long article with some really upsetting information. Please, read the entire article.

http://www.examiner.com/article/gay-couple-w-4-kids-bullied-arizona-for-months-kids-threatened-with-gun

In the last 120 days the Bermea's family vehicles have been vandalized, with gay slurs scratched into them. Their property has been set on fire, and their home has been broken into -- again with slurs and profanity left behind. One of the children's rooms was vandalized, and they now are afraid to sleep there. Can you blame them? How would any child be able to sleep knowing that there are people outside your walls who want to do harm to you and your family? The trauma on the minds of these children is heartbreaking, as they will likely carry these moments terror with them for the rest of their lives. It is despicable, deplorable and truly tragic that these innocent children have learned at such an early age what it means to live in fear.

/snip

Just recently over the weekend of June 30th two of the children were accosted by at least two men in a white SUV, one who had with a gun! According to the new Facebook group created to support the family it was reported that a man drove along side them and another got out of the vehicle and pointed a pistol at the defenseless, blameless children. The children then fled home, with both men giving chase. One on foot, and the other slowly following in their vehicle. Upon arriving they told their parents what happened, who again called the police. Again, no leads -- and no help.

[HappyMe]

1. Oh my God!

What the fuck is wrong with people.

[lpbk2713]

2. The article calls the perps in the SUV *men*

They could not be any further off the mark.

[The Doctor.]

4. +++

Guys with guns chasing little kids?

Should be exterminated like rabid vermin.

[Zalatix]

11. Exterminated like rabid vermin... I HEAR THAT!!!!!

That is why I am an avid fan of the 2nd Amendment. That shit woulda got handled.

[Wait Wut]

13. It's Arizona.

In this state, the 2nd Amendment is too restrictive. I know far left, passive, peaceful Liberals and Progressives that carry just because of whacknuts like these.

[backscatter712]

24. Fight hate crime: Shoot back!

This would be a proper application of Stand Your Ground...

[freshwest]

16. Arrested as violent predators. Where are the LEOs during this flagrant criminality?

[backscatter712]

31. In their white sheets, burning crosses. n/t

[AzDar]

3. I lived in Gilbert for nearly a decade. It is a town dominated by Mormons. The elementary

school my children would haved attended had we not moved is referred to as "Lord Of The Flies" Elementary by some, due to the fact that the children of prominent Mormons are allowed to run so completely amok. It is also worth pointing out that a huge Mormon Temple is under construction there. Juuuust saying.

[Wait Wut]

12. What were the adults like?

Did you get the sense that they were completely intolerant and off their rockers? Or, has this been a recent development?

I ask because I lived here (AZ) for just over a year 20 years ago. I left and came back in '01. There seems to be a steady decline in decency in Arizona. Our local paper is horrid. The comments would be banned from most web sites.

[blueamy66]

14. Oh God. Gilbert is a cesspool.

The cops are corrupt and the Mormons own the town.

And yes, there is a huge temple being built.

I hate AZ and want to get the eff outta here.

[freshwest]

17. Okay, that answers my question about LEOs to the Doctor, then.

Another area controlled by American Taliban overlords. All protected under the First and Second Amendments to harm others. I wonder how we can legally stop any of this since they appear to own the place. I hate to say it, but the family should move. I've seen this in rural areas before. Rosewood and other terrorist acts carried out in this country and never brought to justice at all.

[xchrom]

5. Pulling guns on children. Nt

[Wait Wut]

10. Tough guys.

We got a lot of them in this here state.

[Initech]

6. If I were them - I'd get the hell out of Arizona.

Seriously - go to San Francisco or Massachusetts - no one deserves that kind of bigotry or intolerance.

[HappyMe]

7. Especially after this.

None of them will ever feel truly safe again.

[yardwork]

8. Not everybody can afford to live in San Francisco or Massachusetts. There aren't enough jobs.

San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The cities in Massachusetts are also extremely expensive. Not everybody can find a job there. It's not easy to find a job anywhere. And why should people have to move away from places in the U.S. to get away from illegal threats on their lives and the lives of their children?

[HappyMe]

15. You're absolutely right.

They should not have to leave their home and friends behind. I'm not one to give up, but this horror they are living...this sounds like it may escalate even further.
Maybe if there weren't kids involved, I would be more likely to say, fuck it stay where you are and fight.

[yardwork]

19. Go where and live on what money?

If I had to leave my state in a hurry, it would be difficult to find a job in my field. Here I have a good job and can therefore provide for my children and other people who count on me. I am the breadwinner for an extended family. I can't just pick up stakes and move to another city overnight.

I am sure that this couple is doing everything they can to get their kids to safety, but it's taking time. I suppose that they could go live in a homeless shelter in another state. Wait. Homeless shelters are notorious for rejecting gay couples, so I guess that's out.

[Initech]

21. Those were the first two places I could think of.

But I'm sure there's communities around the country that are far safer than where they're living. Pointing guns at children because you don't like or approve their parents lifestyle is such sick behavior that it crosses the line.

[boppers]

34. Yo, Portland.

Similar costs of living to suburban AZ, only we actually have rain. Like, more than a few times a year.

-A Tucson expat.

[Wait Wut]

9. That was my first thought.

I live in Arizona and I'd leave if I could.

It's such a depressing thought that the only real solution to this family's problems is to leave the damned state. I can't imagine what these parents must be going through. Your first instinct is to protect your children and they can't. If they leave, the assholes win the war. I think maybe we need to find more gay couples to buy homes in their neighborhood.

[freshwest]

18. There are rumor mills talking about dissolving the USA. This is a form of ethnic cleansing.

[MineralMan]

20. That's not always a possibility, and many will refuse to

leave their homes when subjected to this kind of thing. They shouldn't have to leave in this country. Instead the bigots should be brought to justice.

Some might recommend armed resistance, but it's likely that the cowards who are doing this are careful not to do it when adults who might be armed are around. Personally, I'd be guarding my home fully armed, but might not appear to be there. My tolerance for this kind of stuff is very, very limited.

This is one of those situations when a strong community watch should help assure that whoever is doing this shit are identified and prosecuted. That may not be possible in Gilbert, AZ, though.

[LeftyMom]

33. Do you know what a place with room for four kids would cost in San Francisco?

[ryan_cats]

22. This is not America

How do these hateful kooks justify vandalizing the kid'sroom?

House and vehicles vandalized.

Someone brandished a gun at the kids and chased them!

12 reports filed to police.

4 months of continuing escalating harassment.

Why haven't the police staked out their house and tailed their kids? I don't know what kind of coward attacks a child with a gun because he doesn't like the parent's lifestyle. Well, I don't like bigoted gun brandishing morons; isn't one of those crimes a felony?

The police have no excuse, none whatsoever to let this continue. By sweeping it under the rug, they're emboldening the kooks.

Will it take the murder of an innocent kid to get something done?

This whole family has done nothing wrong, nothing. The citizens of Gilbert AZ need to remove the police chief and whoever else is sweeping this under the rug.

Shameful.

[rufus dog]

23. For those not familiar with AZ, Gilbert is in Maricopa County, a suburb of Phoenix.

When I saw the OP I figured it was Phoenix/Suburb.

Gilbert is in the East Valley, Northwest/West side is messed up too. Last week was my 27th anniversary of getting out out Phoenix. I know my anniversary date, my kids birthdays, most of my families birthdays, and the day I left Phoenix.

Remember two things; there are a lot of reasons a people can't leave an area and other parts of AZ aren't as bad as Maricopa County.

[backscatter712]

32. Ah, so when you call the cops, you get Joe Arpaio and his buds.

I know, I'm a bad person for saying it, but I'm going to be singing "Ding Dong" and dancing an Irish jig the day Arpaio dies.

[rufus dog]

37. I am with you on that one.

Hopefully we can do the jig sooner rather than later.

[blueamy66]

40. No, you are a smart person for saying it

But his buds aren't cops...they are deputies that don't do jackshit....

And I will dance an Irish jig as welll on the day that arpaio kicks it...thank goodness my Mom was 1/2 Irish and she taught me well.....I will attend that asshole's funeral, wear bright pink and orange and smile all day

[blueamy66]

38. At least the people in the West Valley aren't freaking hypocrites!

There's alot more crime and poverty in the West side, but Gilbert just plain sux ass.

[nolabear]

25. I can't tell you all how KKK this is.

I grew up in Mississippi. This reminds me so much of old school Klan/Law Enforcement behavior that it gives me the heebie-jeebies. How far can the insanity go before we don't stand for it?

[kestrel91316]

26. This family needs to arm themselves to the teeth and use their weapons

to protect their family. It's AZ. I'm sure it's legal to do so.

Time to fight fire with fire.

[Wait Wut]

27. It's absolutely legal to do so.

But, that's up to them. It makes me wish I lived next door. If they're concerned about having guns in the house with the kids, my husband and I would be glad to assist. Not sure how legal THAT would be, but at this point...I'd take my chances. This whole story makes me sick.

[lpbk2713]

29. Thanks for posting your thoughts.

And welcome to DU.

[boppers]

35. It takes a while to get over the Monsoons.

Same with warm winters.

I still wouldn't go back for more than a few days, though, ugh.

[Scuba]

48. Welcome to DU.

[lonestarnot]

36. So can you ascertain from the information provided what cops are doing about it?

You say no leads, no help. Has the family elevated their complaint within Gilbert police department or contacted media or political figures such as the Mayor of Gilbert?

[blueamy66]

39. Why bother speaking to the gilbert police dept?

they won't give a flying fuck

the mayor of Gilbert? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

Where are you from?????

[lonestarnot]

41. Why bother doing anything then?

[blueamy66]

42. Um, you didn't answer my question.

Do you live in AZ?

waiting.....

[lonestarnot]

46. What does that have to do with anything... We have lots of smarm running around the Valley, most

from someplace else. Were your born here? I'm a native zonie.

[blueamy66]

47. Might has well have been born here.

I am 45.....lived in Buffalo for 6 years, 3 years in Hawaii and the rest in AZ. My brother's "extended" family all lives in Gilbert.....they are my family too....hard to believe, but some people care about others.....

Anyway, again, Gilbert is a fucking cesspool...hate to even drive in that fucked up town....

[fascisthunter]

44. but guns make peace possible... didn't ya hear!?

[Bluenorthwest]

45. People read the lies foisted by Freepers and other right wing liars and they take action

This is why the hate propagandists work so hard and strain to hide. They should all of them be shunned by society until they shuffle off this mortal coil. Those who have written libels and published them for the public to see are party to each act of violence they incited with their hate speech.