HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 93-4664, by Representatives Wineberry, Locke, Kremen, J. Kohl, Veloria, Leonard, Long, Shin, Conway, Heavey, Roland, Casada, Hansen, Miller, Schoesler, Stevens, Thomas, Dyer, Brough, Horn, Forner, Rayburn, L. Johnson, Cothern, Cooke, Springer, Valle, Rust, Morris, Karahalios, Linville, Grant, Appelwick, Wolfe, Anderson, Sheldon, Vance, R. Meyers, Zellinsky, King, Jones, Holm, Sommers, Brown, R. Fisher, Ogden, Ballard, Wood, Silver, Tate, Brumsickle, Mielke, Sheahan, Schmidt, Morton, Padden, Ballasiotes, Lisk, Van Luven, Campbell, Wang, Foreman, Eide, Johanson, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen and Romero

            WHEREAS, Violence involving handguns is a growing problem in Washington state and throughout the nation; and

            WHEREAS, Young people have increasingly become both the victims and the perpetrators of violent acts involving handguns in our schools and in our communities; and

            WHEREAS, The idolization of guns by some young people has led to senseless acts of violence including playground murders and drive-by shootings; and

            WHEREAS, Nine year old Loetta Coston, a third-grade student at Bryant Elementary School in Seattle, was robbed of a promising life by one such senseless act on the night of April 17, 1993; and

            WHEREAS, Loetta, known as a quiet girl who enjoyed playing computer games and basketball, was killed by a bullet while riding home in her mother's car; and

            WHEREAS, The young man charged with killing Loetta told police that he believed those in the Coston's car were rival gang members; and

            WHEREAS, Loetta's mother, Cynthia Coston, is known in her community as a loving and protective parent, concerned for her children's safety; and

            WHEREAS, Loetta's death will be mourned by all who knew her and thousands who did not as an innocent victim of a gangland mentality that has no place in a civilized society; and

            WHEREAS, This tragedy is a wake-up call to those who believe that guns and violence are a way to settle our differences;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives offer its deepest sympathies to the Coston family and all who knew and loved her; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Loetta's tragic death sound a call to people young and old to increase the peace in our communities, heal the wounds, and work together to prevent further violence; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Cynthia Coston expressing this body's sorrow at the loss of young Loetta Coston.

                                             I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

                                         Resolution 4664 adopted by the House of Representatives

                                                                        April 24, 1993.

                                                    ________________________________

                                                              Alan Thompson, Chief Clerk