posted
Our judicial system continues to prove just how screwed up it is. The case of Lionel Tate, the Florida 12-year-old who killed a 6-year-old playmate, is another example of how ludicrous the system is. This kid was tried as an adult and has been sentenced to life in prison. Granted, some form of punishment was called for in this case, but come one! The kid was 12 years old!!!! We have hardened multi-murderers who have been sentenced to less time than this. Here's the link to the latest CNN article:
And what about the kids mom? She turned down a deal where he would be in juvenile detention for three years, then under house arrest and probation. What a moron!!! And, since the prosecutors were willing to offer a deal like that, then doesn't that make a life sentence sound completely outrageous? And what about international laws and standards concerning children? We support these laws and standards in other countries, but then violate them in ours? Here's another article addressing this issue:
posted
What a biased article. It took 14 paragraphs to tell us what he did and then gives the explaination one sentence. His attorney's said he was performing "wrestling moves" on his victim. Prosecutors maintained, and obviously jurors beleved, that the boy savagely beat the girl to death.
My question would be, what are the parent's role in all of this?
Posts: 87 | From: Ft Worth, Texas | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
I don't know what this has to do with SSOA ... and I would be the first to agree that our legal system is all screwed up ... but it's awfully hard for me to feel ANY sympathy for ANYONE who savagely beat a 6-year-old GIRL to death! Wrestling moves, my ass. (To illustrate what a politically-correct media we have, MSNBC cut away from "Imus" for the last half hour to bring us this kid's sentencing." Who gives a rat's ass. You make your bed, you lie in it.
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Posts: 31 | From: Washington, DC USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I believe I can see Jims point about this punishment being to harsh for a "kid".
What I question is this though...Why were people not as upset when the kid was scheduled to be tried as an adult as they are now that he has been sentenced as an adult?
Seems to me the system broke down much earlier than this.
------------------ 2000 SS #1645, Sebring Silver Metallic, M6, T-Tops, Mods on the way...
[This message has been edited by Bill F00-1645 (edited 14 March 2001).]
Posts: 57 | From: Chico, CA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Sorry, I can't feel any sympathy for a convicted murderer regardless of their age. Also, the idea that because some murderers have wrongfully gotten off cheap we should do the same for this one is so illogical it's not even worth discussing.
P.S.- As far as other countries and "international" law is concerned, we as the United States of America, a sovereign nation, shouldn't give a rat's ass what other coutries think about our laws, how we enforce them, or how we see fit to sentence offenders. It, and everything else dealing with our domestic policies, is none of their damn business.
------------------ Steve SSOA M99-3864 NJ State Trooper #3936 (retired) Life Member of: Veterans of Foreign Wars & Vietnam Veterans of America 1999 Sebring Silver Camaro SS #3864, gray leather, A4, Pioneer CD player/receiver, T-Top, ASR SLP Engineering options: Dual-Dual exhaust with DynoMax Ultra Flo muffler and SLP y-pipe, Bilstein suspension with SLP subframe connectors and Hotchkis shock tower brace, Auburn rear Other major modifications: Yank Torque Thruster 2800 converter and Moroso tranny cooler, Comp Cams custom cam (212/214 .521/.523 115), Michelin Pilot Sport tires (front)/Nitto NT-555R Drag Radials (rear), American Racing 200S wheels Best ET: 13.155 Best MPH: 106.57 (before drag radials & cam), Best 60': 1.993 For a complete list of mods go to: http://www.intergrafix.net/~sps3936
[This message has been edited by XTrooper (edited 14 March 2001).]
Posts: 517 | From: Hazle Township, PA | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Without in any way trying to get on a soapbox, it seems to me that many parents these days are doing a pretty lousy job of instilling morals, values, and respect for others into their children. This is certainly not a condemnation of all parents, but when you stop to think about all the guns in schools and rise in juvenile crime, you have to wonder where the heck these kids' parents are. We have parents relying on television or the schools to provide after hours day care to their kids and even breakfast in the morning, parents assaulting teachers because their kid was disciplined for being unruly in class, parents who cuss out car dealers for selling a sports car to their kid when the unappreciative brat totals it and the parents were the ones who bought the damn thing in the first place. Too many parents live in a state of denial. They work two or more jobs to subsidize a lifestyle that many of them can't afford and then they blame the system because their kids get into trouble rather than take some responsibility for the life they brought into the world and take the time to actually be parents. When children learn to de-value others , what happens to their chances later on in life?
I heard of this particular case in the news but am not up on the facts. It seems to me that a 12 year old is a little young to appreciate the magnitude of what he did. You see people on the WWF and WCW get pile-drived, body slammed, and beat up every week and come back for more...The youngsters don't necessarily realize it's all acting, they just see that brutally assaulting someone is a viable way to settle their differences. It's no wonder that poorly parented kids just act out whenever they want.
Sorry, didn't mean to get on the soapbox. Just my .02c
Posts: 214 | From: Pepperell MA USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
From what I've seen in the media I am confident that I have none of the facts in this case. I would hope that the trial presented them and the jury did what was right.
This verdict could be spot on, this kid could be a future serial killer. Normally they start young and practice on animals as they can usually gain control over them.
I did not hear a bunch of complaints regarding the dead 6 year old girl. She did not get a trial, an appeal, or a jury to hand down a verdict.
Do any of you that think this boy that beat her to death did no know what he was doing did not listen to the little girl screaming in pain and asking him to stop! The parents of both of these children should be locked up as well. The boys parents for not supervising their child properly and the girls parents for allowing her to be placed in a position that resulted in her death.
Remember the story that the media presents is not always accurate or the truth. It is designed to get viewers or readers so they then see the advertisers.
Posts: 80 | From: Cooper,TX USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Originally posted by XTrooper: Boo frigging Hoo
P.S.- As far as other countries and "international" law is concerned, we as the United States of America, a sovereign nation, shouldn't give a rat's ass what other coutries think about our laws, how we enforce them, or how we see fit to sentence offenders. It, and everything else dealing with our domestic policies, is none of their damn business.
Sovereignty was actually the first word that came to my mind, XTrooper. But I thought the concept was all but lost. Thanks for bringing it up.
Posts: 87 | From: Ft Worth, Texas | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Well (turning my collar around), as cold as it sounds, an impartial jury of his peers found him guilty, he should be punished. Perhaps it will send a signal to kids his age.... Let's not be too quick to forget about the recent flurry of school shootings. Are they (the shooters) just as innocent as this 12 year old? NFW! I have absolutely no compassion for people that take another's life, period! One of the biggest instigators is .. well, us, you, me, all of us!! We have gone soft under complacency in society and the auspice of fear of being hauled of to jail for spanking our children. We're deluded! Funny that until the same generation has was "spared the rod", we didn't have the killing sprees. And folks, it's not something that we'll be able to stop either. Just like the 12 year old made his bed and will lay in it, so will we. We have successfully tossed our morals right into the toilet over the past several years. Is it only this 12 year old, or those that killed their own classmates? NO, it starts with the adults showing children by (our)example.... how many of you (adults) blow through stop signs or red lights with your kids in the car, or how many of you speed with your kids in the car? Look, they learn from example, OURS! How many of you have got into your car and drove somewhere ---- after you have had something to drink? Huh? How would you feel if someone had the same cavalier attitude over drinking, got into their car and ran over your wife, husband, son, or daughter? You'd be PO'd, yet we go on doing it (drinking and driving) like it's legal. But you say, "It's only two drinks, I can handle it". But you miss the point, it's illegal! Look, until we change our habits, they (our children) won't. If you, as responsible adults, can't pay attention to some of the simplest of laws, how can you expect your children to obey laws they may consider simple? Face it, we are a pathetic and immoral society and it won't change till we all change. Is there a degree to sin? Only in people's eyes. A sin is a sin is a sin, so the good book says. And I agree. The pooor little boy, we cry! Pishposh! He killed, he deserves to be punished. If it appears as though he's being made an example. GREAT! Perhaps it will serve to discourage and disuade others from following in his footsteps. Another contributor is that we're too soft on criminals these days. There's no fear in the law or being punished any longer. It used to be that they would stone criminals, then that went away and we hung them, oh but wait, that's too cruel, let's electrocute them.. no, don't do that, it's inhumane, I seen smoke when they pulled the switch. Well then, let's put them to sleep and then stop their heart with drugs. GIVE ME A FLIPPING BREAK! They weren't humane to their victims, they don't deserve a humane death. You see, we are a too soft. Dahmer tortured people and them ate them. His punishment, throw him in jail for the rest of his life that'll teach him, and give rest to his victim's family. BULLPUCKY! We're too soft. Prison used to stand as a terrible place where people didn't want to go and probably served to discourage people from engaging in despicable acts. Not anymore. Other than being tossed in a cell at night, we should all be so lucky... you get a roof over your head, free meals, exercise, sex (oops), television, what more could someone ask for, eh? Again, I say, we've brought it on ourselves. Am I any better? Nope, Romans 3:10 & 23, I'm just as bad. Maybe I don't drink and drive, maybe I don't blow through red light/stop signs, and maybe I haven't killed anyone, but I'm still just as guilty..... So, where do we go from here then? Welp, we all need to change, we all need to be an example to our children... a positive example!
SSteve (turning my collar back around while slipping on my kavlar jacket)
-------------------- SSteve _ _ _ _ _ ___________ _ _ _ _ _ Visit SSteve's SLP Garage at: http://www.geocities.com/SSteves30th "Stock is good, heh heh - when you have an SS Camaro!" AOL IM "SSteves30th"
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