Apparently this is a thing...

[Knotical]

What am I talking about? "Affluenza"

If you have never heard the term before, which hadn't until this news story: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justic...r-drunk-driving-deaths.-His-defense-Affluenza.

It is a defense where an underage person is not responsible for their actions because their parents never set any boundaries.

Are you kidding me!?!?!?

This kid killed 4 people while driving drunk.

Let that sink in a bit. He was drinking (under age), and was driving (illegal in every state), and they would not give him anything more than probation because of this "affluenza" crap!

To add to this little circus the judge is not going to seek re-election after the end of her current term.

She has really dropped the ball on this one, not to mention the parents.

The judge should have taken this opportunity to send a strong message to parents. If you are unwilling to take care of things at home then we will take care of things in the legal system when your child gets out of line.

Quite honestly any parent that is so apathetic about the raising of their own children should be looked at with as much scrutiny as any poor person who is accused of child abuse/neglect.

Something else to consider is, if the courts are unwilling to hold the child responsible for their actions, then maybe the parents should do some jail time.

Thoughts?

 

[Deborah13]

What am I talking about? "Affluenza"

If you have never heard the term before, which hadn't until this news story: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justic...r-drunk-driving-deaths.-His-defense-Affluenza.

It is a defense where an underage person is not responsible for their actions because their parents never set any boundaries.

Are you kidding me!?!?!?

This kid killed 4 people while driving drunk.

Let that sink in a bit. He was drinking (under age), and was driving (illegal in every state), and they would not give him anything more than probation because of this "affluenza" crap!

To add to this little circus the judge is not going to seek re-election after the end of her current term.

She has really dropped the ball on this one, not to mention the parents.

The judge should have taken this opportunity to send a strong message to parents. If you are unwilling to take care of things at home then we will take care of things in the legal system when your child gets out of line.

Quite honestly any parent that is so apathetic about the raising of their own children should be looked at with as much scrutiny as any poor person who is accused of child abuse/neglect.

Something else to consider is, if the courts are unwilling to hold the child responsible for their actions, then maybe the parents should do some jail time.

Thoughts?

I think there are times when the parents should serve time for neglecting their responsibility in raising their child. Especially when a child uses a gun to hurt someone, even if it is accidental. Children should not have access to guns or being using them without an adult.
It wouldn't take too many times of this happening and parents would wake up.

In this case, that teen knew it was illegal for him to drink and to drink and drive. He didn't need his parents to tell him that.

 

[Knotical]

Hmmm...I just had an interesting thought. There are counties in Colorado and California that have expressed desires to break off and make their own state. I wonder if those new states would have the wherewithal to pass a law like this, where if a child is convicted of a crime of a serious nature, and it was clear there was an apparent lack of discipline in the home, then the parents would either do jail time alone, or with the child.

 

[Matthew G]

I'm sorry, but this is the kind of story that makes me want to slap people. There is NO common sense going around anywhere.

So let me get this straight.....we have kids building BOMBS in the garage of their parents' house or even in their own bedroom that the parents somehow NEVER know about...but it gets blamed on music, video games, and movies instead of the parents.

A kid drinks and drives (both illegal and stupid - not to mention common freakin' knowledge), but that kid can't - not won't, but can't - be held responsible because his parents "never set boundaries" - as in the boundaries that the federal government set and advertises EVERYWHERE through tv, radio, posters, billboards, etc. ad nauseam.

Am I the only one who thinks this makes as much sense as a woodpecker on an aluminum telephone pole?

I have spent years listening very closely to this country, waiting to hear the "pop". There's a very distinctive "pop" sound that occurs when someone dislodges their head from their backside...and I still haven't heard it. At the rate they're going, I'm starting to think I never will.

 

[Knotical]

I'm sorry, but this is the kind of story that makes me want to slap people. There is NO common sense going around anywhere.

So let me get this straight.....we have kids building BOMBS in the garage of their parents' house or even in their own bedroom that the parents somehow NEVER know about...but it gets blamed on music, video games, and movies instead of the parents.

A kid drinks and drives (both illegal and stupid - not to mention common freakin' knowledge), but that kid can't - not won't, but can't - be held responsible because his parents "never set boundaries" - as in the boundaries that the federal government set and advertises EVERYWHERE through tv, radio, posters, billboards, etc. ad nauseam.

Am I the only one who thinks this makes as much sense as a woodpecker on an aluminum telephone pole?

I have spent years listening very closely to this country, waiting to hear the "pop". There's a very distinctive "pop" sound that occurs when someone dislodges their head from their backside...and I still haven't heard it. At the rate they're going, I'm starting to think I never will.

I have a feeling things are progressing in the other direction and they will begin seeing daylight soon.

 

[Matthew G]

I have a feeling things are progressing in the other direction and they will begin seeing daylight soon.

I sincerely hope you're right.

 

[Knotical]

I sincerely hope you're right.

I don't think you understood what I was suggesting. The "daylight" mentioned would be viewed through unconventional means.

 

[Matthew G]

I don't think you understood what I was suggesting. The "daylight" mentioned would be viewed through unconventional means.

Apologies. Are you referring to things getting so bad they have no choice but look and say, "Yeah, we should've done that differently."?

 

[Knotical]

Apologies. Are you referring to things getting so bad they have no choice but look and say, "Yeah, we should've done that differently."?

I guess, but I was more referring to your comment about waiting for popping noises.

 

[jasoncran]

I got one ; a man was charged with loitering and prowling in my county. he was arrested and the jury didn't convict him. somehow his lawyer got the jury to buy that the cops despite following him and having a flashlight in his face to be able to see him ere he fled wasn't enough. he attempted to steal a bike, a car. and we wonder why crime has gone up and why murder at times is rampant

 

[AirDancer]

Too many judges overlook the laws of their individual states and localities.

One of my offspring is in law enforcement and has seen firsthand how the judge has ruled with leniency for serious crimes. I realize prisons and jails are overcrowded in my state, but a slap on the wrist just doesn't cut it with repeat offenders... or for those who just won't use the brain they were given. Of course, having a solid State Attorney would definitely help as well.

 

[Barbarian]

and we wonder why crime has gone up and why murder at times is rampant

After World War II, crime rates increased in the United States, peaking from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Violent crime nearly quadrupled between 1960 and its peak in 1991. Property crime more than doubled over the same period. Since the 1990s, however, crime in the United States has declined steeply.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder-rates-nationally-and-state#nat1970

From what I can find, these rates closely track the relative numbers of late-teen to early-twenties males in the population.

 

[Gary]

Something to ponder.

Romans 9
21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Luke 6
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 

[reba]

I'm sorry, but this is the kind of story that makes me want to slap people. There is NO common sense going around anywhere.

So let me get this straight.....we have kids building BOMBS in the garage of their parents' house or even in their own bedroom that the parents somehow NEVER know about...but it gets blamed on music, video games, and movies instead of the parents.

A kid drinks and drives (both illegal and stupid - not to mention common freakin' knowledge), but that kid can't - not won't, but can't - be held responsible because his parents "never set boundaries" - as in the boundaries that the federal government set and advertises EVERYWHERE through tv, radio, posters, billboards, etc. ad nauseam.

Am I the only one who thinks this makes as much sense as a woodpecker on an aluminum telephone pole?

I have spent years listening very closely to this country, waiting to hear the "pop". There's a very distinctive "pop" sound that occurs when someone dislodges their head from their backside...and I still haven't heard it. At the rate they're going, I'm starting to think I never will.

well the village is being blamed

 

[Edward]

I think there are times when the parents should serve time for neglecting their responsibility in raising their child. Especially when a child uses a gun to hurt someone, even if it is accidental. Children should not have access to guns or being using them without an adult.
It wouldn't take too many times of this happening and parents would wake up.

In this case, that teen knew it was illegal for him to drink and to drink and drive. He didn't need his parents to tell him that.

My very first gut reaction to reading this was, balderdash. But as I pondered it a little, I see the wisdom in it. Thinking how I raised my kids, I took a different approach. I did give them access to guns, if they asked first. There is no safety in ignorance. I had them up there shooting about age 5 or 6, with 110% control and supervision. Demonstrating the power by shooting shaken cans of soda and telling them this is real life, not tv. This is what would happen to your mommy or brother if you shot them. By about age 10 I trusted them to have loaded handguns in their bedroom, just in case.

A couple times, I was called to the bedroom door and they handed me the guns. Dad, we have friends over and I'm not sure about that one kid. I do have to use the bathroom sometimes. We can get them back when they leave, I was so proud of them and we never had a tragedy. Never have they grabbed one in anger against each other. With all my troubles with them now that they are grown, they've never threatened me with one either.

Restricting access to guns at home is not enough. You may keep yours locked up, or even not own any to be safe. Is it safe? No. There's no safety in ignorance. What happens when they go to their friends house whose dad keeps his loaded 38 in his sock drawer and isn't home? Will your kids know how to react when their friend pulls it out?

I submit that not teaching your kids about guns and safety when they are young is child neglect in this day and age. The parents should be held responsible if something happens.

 

[jasoncran]

After World War II, crime rates increased in the United States, peaking from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Violent crime nearly quadrupled between 1960 and its peak in 1991. Property crime more than doubled over the same period. Since the 1990s, however, crime in the United States has declined steeply.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder-rates-nationally-and-state#nat1970

From what I can find, these rates closely track the relative numbers of late-teen to early-twenties males in the population.

the fact is that , I have seen and heard from cops that the American justice system is a joke. it is. what I didn't mention is that jury sided with the defense on that fact despite that cops tracked this man for a mile and then verified it was him before he ran and then caught him. they shine a search light and flash light in the mans face. thus positive id was there. and yet despite written statements and testimony from the cops this man walked.

if you remember the smith-hunt case? where the victim was a teen and the perp was a lesbian adult? if it wasn't over national news. she would have gotten a harsher sentence. 4 months in jail but the family agreed to that.

 

[reba]

Where we lived 20 years ago a woman was shot in the head twice listed as suicide ... point: are government reports to be believed?

 

[jasoncran]

Where we lived 20 years ago a woman was shot in the head twice listed as suicide ... point: are government reports to be believed?

true.

 

[Kathi]

Welcome to our world...

 

[Sailingflutist-SF]

I like the "Zero Tolerance" policy some towns have, like Jackson, MI. Some high school boys thought it would be neat to through some firecrackers /M-80's? (they were very loud) at an auxilary cop's front door. He was just stepping out with his infant son in his arms. He gave his infant to his wife as he shouted for them to stop and return. They came back laughing at him and dared him to touch them. He grabbed the one facing him off and took him to the ground and restrained him in a way which "encouraged" compliance while he proceeded to instruct the punk about respecting others, several possible infraction convictions, citizen's arrests and making apologies. I thought he was had, even though I would have loved to do more than that for jeopardizing my child. But nat a thing happened to the aux cop and that is when I learned what being in a Zero Tolerance community meant. There should be more of them around. We have to be able to do what other parents AREN'T. The punk's parents were probably the first to confront the police dept for doing what they themselves should have been doing with their son all along.