Guest Jason Report post Posted November 26, 2004 How about it. Day after day I watch the news and hear about a child, anywhere from 5 to 17 who has done something horribly wrong. Either bringing a gun to school and shooting a classmate, Killing someone for looking at his girlfriend, teen gang violence and such. Children today seem to have no conscience anymore. They kill for dumb reasons and don't seem to have an appreciation or respect for human life. (this isn't a summary of all kids, just the ones who commit these crimes.) But when I hear of a 14 year old who robbed and shot another teen for whatever reason goes to court and recieve time in Juvenille detention, I can't help but feel that isn't enough. Every now and then, a teen will get tried as an adult and recieve a life sentence. Is this right? To me, murder is murder regardless of age. Unless they are very young, say 1st, grade, they should know the consiquences of their actions. Whether it be the fault of bad parenting or just wrong peer pressure, children know the difference between good and bad, and know murder is wrong. If they go trial for murder, I am all for life sentencing, Jr. High or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shutterspeed Report post Posted November 26, 2004 They kill for dumb reasons and don't seem to have an appreciation or respect for human life. Exactly. But I don't think that they should be tried as an adult until they are. Punished, most definitely, but kids are often stupid, and however heinous their crime, it'd be just as heinous, if not even moreso, to expect them to comprehend something that they just can't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 26, 2004 Put them on trial however you want -- they'll still get out in 5 years... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Metal Maniac 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 This has come up in my area a bit, due to some kid who killed a woman; see, for fun, he liked to steal cars and lead the police on chases, which resulted in her getting run over. I can understand going easy on young kids; but seriously, if you're 15 and you don't know the difference between right and wrong well enough to realize that killing someone is wrong, you're of no worth to society anyway. I think that it should really depend on the crime they commit. Like, if a 16-year old breaks into the local mom-and-pop shop and messed things up, well, maybe go easy on the kid. Don't let him off, but don't lock him up for years either. But once you get into violent crimes, T-fucking-S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 I say no, and I don't know why it's an issue beyond so much as someone disagreeing with my opinion. But why after all this time is the question even asked? Children have been doing wrong things, even violently wrong things, since we arrived on the big blue globe. How is this even remotely new territory? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Metal Maniac 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 Because it's getting steadily worse, as more and more kids are realizing that no matter what they do, all they will get is a slap on the wrist. They're practically told that they can do whatever the fuck they please, so long as they do it while they're underage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 Hundreds of years, numbers of generations, and it's just figured out now? I don't think so. What I do in general is lower the age considered an adult to compensate for how much our children are doing and learning earlier in life. Unfortunately, parents and moralists probably won't agree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted November 27, 2004 I can understand going easy on young kids; but seriously, if you're 15 and you don't know the difference between right and wrong Hell, I'd say a 10 year old has a pretty damned good grasp of right and wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 Yes, they should. You don't magically know what's right and wrong 2 years after the age of 16. You know by than. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 Only for violent crimes, in which case absolutely they should be tried as adults. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin MacPhisto 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 I can understand going easy on young kids; but seriously, if you're 15 and you don't know the difference between right and wrong Hell, I'd say a 10 year old has a pretty damned good grasp of right and wrong. I'm sure your background in cognitive and child development speaks to that. Case-by-case basis for every instance. With kids, you really can't do it any other way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 Only for violent crimes, in which case absolutely they should be tried as adults. I agree. The law does not recognize children as having the capacity of an adult, therefore it would be unjust for a child to be treated as an adult unless under the most heinous of circumstances. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted November 27, 2004 I can understand going easy on young kids; but seriously, if you're 15 and you don't know the difference between right and wrong Hell, I'd say a 10 year old has a pretty damned good grasp of right and wrong. I'm sure your background in cognitive and child development speaks to that. Actually, through this board, I've learned that I lead a fucked up an abnormal life. We've been through this before, but I have nieces, nephews and younger cousins all around the 8-12 age range, and none of them are these wide eyed idiot-children that everyone else seems to know. I seriously think it's the water down here. I'm not being snarky or sarcastic, either. I'm actually kind of alarmed that I am related to these mutantly aware children. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted November 27, 2004 It's definitely case-by-case, but even if a kid can't be tried like that, they can be put in Juvie until they're 18, then moved to real jail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 EDIT: disregard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2004 I'd say no, considering the only time people want to treat them as adults is when they do something wrong. Just because a child commits a crime, doesn't mean you can just magically label them an adult, I am afraid it has just become a ploy by the justice system to ease some emotions, rather then looking deeper into the situation. 16 or 17, I guess there could be a question mark, and it could go case by case, but as far as 11 and 12 year olds, no. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CheesalaIsGood 0 Report post Posted November 29, 2004 I'd say no, considering the only time people want to treat them as adults is when they do something wrong. Just because a child commits a crime, doesn't mean you can just magically label them an adult, I am afraid it has just become a ploy by the justice system to ease some emotions, rather then looking deeper into the situation. 16 or 17, I guess there could be a question mark, and it could go case by case, but as far as 11 and 12 year olds, no. This is the most reasonable thing I've read on this board. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mosaicv2 Report post Posted December 3, 2004 Kids are just stupid! nuff said! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest INXS Report post Posted December 4, 2004 In a nutshell: NO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
