Every year, nearly 3000 children and teens die from gunfire, and nearly 14,000 are injured.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

15-year old Oregon girl commits suicide after being bullied

Kaitlyn Boris, age 15
15-year old Kaitlyn Boris was described as "full of life and always joking", who could "light up a room with her smile."  But, after constant bullying at school and the resultant low self-esteem, Kaitlyn took a .45-caliber handgun and shot herself to death.  It was only afterward that her parents found notes indicated what had been going on at school.

From an article and video:

"She was at home with her sister, and dad came home and found her," said Patricia Nesbitt, Kaitlyn's grandmother. 
The 15-year-old had loaded a .45 caliber gun and taken her own life within a matter of seconds. 
"None of us could believe what happened," Nesbitt said. 
Within the last week, Kaitlyn's family found notes she had written about "kids tripping her down stairs" and "footballs getting thrown at her face." 
After reading these notes, her family said it all became clear that their daughter was a victim of bullying. 
"We're finding notes saying how she despised herself," said Dennis Boris, Kaitlyn's father. 
"When she looked in the mirror, she just saw nothing but ugliness, and she was so beautiful. There was nothing wrong with her." 
Kaitlyn's family said she would draw to cope with the pain. 
"In the last picture we have from her, those are tears coming down her face," Nesbitt said. 
Kaitlyn's family is hoping to raise awareness about bullying in the community to help keep a tragedy like this from happening to someone else.     
"Parents need to ask those tough questions, push it out of your kids and don't just let it go," said Kelly Boris, Kaitlyn's mother. "Just always give your kid a hug, because you never know."

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

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