This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
My heart is heavy as in one day two tragedies occurred. First, Xavier Lucero-Waters, who was shot and killed by his father, and then Kipaofaki Kinikini, who was killed by an oncoming train. Both events leave loved ones whose hearts now carry a burden that will never fully recover.
I then considered a resounding theme between the two: guardrails that could have saved them both. What kind of guardrails could have saved the precious life of Xavier? I think of the diminished capacity of DCFS to open domestic violence-related child abuse cases, putting Utah's children in grave danger. I think of our hypocritical society that says, "Why doesn't she just leave?" and then looks the other way. Then I consider the same system with lacking resources and innumerable barriers making it impossible for her to actually leave. I think of our flawed criminal justice system that cannot hold offenders accountable.
I then wonder how we can save children who are currently living in homes just like Xavier's. Guardrails, people. Until we stop this train of domestic violence that is coming at us at full speed, we must work as a community to build these guardrails that can save our children.
Tallie Viteri
Woods Cross