It sucks to be this kid!

[ATI_7500]

If we took every terrorists family, ground them up and fed them to swine, how many terrorists do you think would be left?

Even more than before.

[beefhole]

Even more than before.

Nope.  Especially not suicide bombers.  

I'm not going to start a discussion here, just let it be known that it would be an effective tactic.

[jordonj]

Nope.  Especially not suicide bombers.  

I'm not going to start a discussion here, just let it be known that it would be an effective tactic.

Sorry, but I disagree with you on this one...

When people see others treated unjustly, they become angry and fight any way they can.  

The other thing to remember is that if we are the "good guys" we have to be the good guys!

And Locke, it took a lot of guts to tell your story.  I salute you!

[Katahu]

You all have a good point. But keep in mind, if this kid had ever done the crime in Texas, he would probably be dead LOOOOONG before this thread was posted.

"In Texas, they kill everybody."

[beefhole]

Sorry, but I disagree with you on this one...

When people see others treated unjustly, they become angry and fight any way they can.  

The other thing to remember is that if we are the "good guys" we have to be the good guys!

I'm not really making this a public debate, this is info from military intel, from the guys who know the middle east the best. Passed down to me by a guy I know in-crap I forget the acronym.  Believe its something along the lines of MCI (Marine Corps Intelligence) although I think that is wrong, but you get the point.

He was offered a position on the guantanamo bay tribunal, and the information I mentioned before was passed down to him then.  It's just been mentioned that it would be an effective tactic (by the experts), it's not like they're planning on actually doing it.

Besides, I don't believe in good guys or bad guys.  I believe in survival.  (I'm more of a philosopher than a politician-I believe "good" and "bad" are relative, established institutions of society, not independent, innate universal moralities-do I need to repeat that )

"In Texas, they kill everybody."

Sometimes even with good reason!

(jk)

[MattNW]

School shootings happened before columbine. I can't think of a specific example, but they did happen. That one happened to claim the most lives and therefore got a lot of attention. After that, the media payed more attention to that kind of thing and we heard about it more. What should be done with this kid? the same thing they do with all other murderers. Why did he do it? I haven't a clue, but someone should find out, and not just for a 20/20 (popular news show in the US) sound bite, but to actually try to stop it from happeningn in the future.

School shootings happened as far back as the 30's. My father told me once about a kid he went to school with who was PO'ed at a teacher. The kid went home and stole his dad's 45 and went back to school to shoot the teacher. He ended up shooting his own finger off when he tried to cock the pistol (old Colt Peacemaker with no safety).

It isn't what's happening it's what happens after the event that is different today. The neighbors and school officials decided that that kid learned his lesson after he had his hand fixed at the hospital and his dad warmed his britches for stealing his pistol and that was that. He wasn't put into the justice system three years after the event. Punishment was immediate and he was given the chance to redeem himself.

Our society has gotten so big and Bureaucratic that punishment and correction are delayed by years. Same with help kids like the one referred to in this thread needs. Did you know it takes from six months to two years for someone on public assistance to get placed  in counseling? Problems like this kid has are ignored until he does something like killing someone then the public cry is to hang'im.

Make an example of him? Good theory but people have been executed for years and years for things like this and is the crime rate dropping? Not from what I see. It's going up and up and up. Prison sentences are increasing every year. What used to get you a fine and a scolding from a judge now gets you five to ten years behind bars. The old "Get Tough" in action. How well is that working?

I've worked with kids before. I haven't seen one yet that can't be reached if it's done in time. Granted some kids take heroic efforts to be reached but it can be done. Why was this kid a loner? Why didn't he have friends? Nobody is telling that. Maybe it's just because nobody tried.

[jordonj]

Another thing...I wonder how big this would have been if it had not been a TV lawyer...?

[Mobius]

Another thing...I wonder how big this would have been if it had not been a TV lawyer...?

Exactly...

[jordonj]

Also, how would this had panned out if the kid had had rich and well-connected parents.

My profile of the boy's family (a little more than a W.A.G. true) :

Single mother, stressed out, holding more than one job.  Almost never there because she's working all the time.  Father absent.

Anyone know if I'm near the mark?

[BFMF]

[quote]My profile of the boy's family (a little more than a W.A.G. true) :

Single mother, stressed out, holding more than one job.