05-21-2015, 07:17 PM
I hear ya Mags and agree with some of your points.
But, I don't think (potential) guilt is punishment enough for a 17-year-old who took a loaded gun, fired it at a presumably unknown target outside of the house, and blew a 15-year-old's brains out.
Letting him skate legally because the dead victim was his friend is wrong and sends a dangerous message to other gun owners, IMO.
Why did his parents allow him to have a loaded gun in his room in the first place when he clearly wasn't qualified to practice responsible gun ownership 101? I don't think they should skate either if they were aware that he had it.
And, if the boy felt life-threatened by pebbles hitting his window, why didn't he beckon his parents? Why didn't he call 911? Why on earth would he pick up a gun and shoot to kill as a first course of action? And, what if he skates and ends up doing it again?
Strong difference of opinions. Mine is that if the teen shooter demonstrates true remorse, he should be eligible for a light sentence, but he should absolutely be held legally accountable for his actions.
I feel the same when little children shoot/kill themselves or others because idiot adults left loaded guns lying around -- those adults should be held legally accountable too.
HOTD edit: corrected shooter's age from 15 to 17
But, I don't think (potential) guilt is punishment enough for a 17-year-old who took a loaded gun, fired it at a presumably unknown target outside of the house, and blew a 15-year-old's brains out.
Letting him skate legally because the dead victim was his friend is wrong and sends a dangerous message to other gun owners, IMO.
Why did his parents allow him to have a loaded gun in his room in the first place when he clearly wasn't qualified to practice responsible gun ownership 101? I don't think they should skate either if they were aware that he had it.
And, if the boy felt life-threatened by pebbles hitting his window, why didn't he beckon his parents? Why didn't he call 911? Why on earth would he pick up a gun and shoot to kill as a first course of action? And, what if he skates and ends up doing it again?
Strong difference of opinions. Mine is that if the teen shooter demonstrates true remorse, he should be eligible for a light sentence, but he should absolutely be held legally accountable for his actions.
I feel the same when little children shoot/kill themselves or others because idiot adults left loaded guns lying around -- those adults should be held legally accountable too.
HOTD edit: corrected shooter's age from 15 to 17