Tried as a adult?

[LauraLeigh]

I have been married 19 years to the same man, raised 2 kids who never got in any trouble..

We have a solid stable marriage, I know many, many couple who were "adults" that cannot claim the same....

This is a very touchy subject for me, for reasons I will NOT get into on here... But if they are capable of that kind of behavior, that kind of CRUELTY... I have no sympathy for them..

 

[Kat09Tails]

I'm against minors being charged as adults when they are minors. Yes, it's possible that they knew right from wrong, it's even possible that they understood that what they are doing was wrong. It doesn't mean however that they understood the scope of information that becomes available to you as an adult along with understanding the scope of consequences that come with those actions. Lock em up has served our society so well compared to early childhood interventions, education that isn't just babysitting, and social out reach to troubled youth.

 

[Dakotah]

tried and if convicted hung.
i would vote for a candidate that makes rape a capital offense.

:hail: I agree 200%.

:yikes:

They drugged a girl, gang raped her, and posted pictures of it on the internet. If they didn't know that was wrong then they need to be in a mental institution. I knew better than to do crap like that when I was 10!

Agreed.

I must be a cruel person... Honestly, I could care less what it does to their lives.. All I can think about is what it has done to their victims life.....

Throw me on the "I must be a cruel person" bandwagon as well.

 

[Pam111]

It's not that they don't understand right from wrong, as mm has said. It's that the brains haven't developed to the point of making them fully capable of controlling impulses and making good decisions. This doesn't excuse the behavior or make it ok

 

[JennSLK]

Druging, gang raping, and videoing is NOT a impulse. They had the BRING the drugs to the party. That is pre meditated. Its not like we are talking about Weed here.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I already stated that cases where impulse control may have played an issue in a poor decision should be handled accordingly....

The choice to drug, gang rape, and then post/brag about it is NOT one of those.....

 

[JennSLK]

I already stated that cases where impulse control may have played an issue in a poor decision should be handled accordingly....

The choice to drug, gang rape, and then post/brag about it is NOT one of those.....

Not directing that you you LL.

 

[LauraLeigh]

Not directing that you you LL.

I was not sure, but wanted to clarify in case

 

[Picklepaige]

Tried as adult, absolutely.

I'm 18. The majority of my friends are around 16. They are ABSOLUTELY aware of the consequences of their actions. We think on the same level, actually. I've had some of my deepest conversations with them

 

[Bailey08]

It's not that they don't understand right from wrong, as mm has said. It's that the brains haven't developed to the point of making them fully capable of controlling impulses and making good decisions. This doesn't excuse the behavior or make it ok

Agreed. I have a real problem with trying children and teenagers as adults. Committing a horrible crime does not make one an adult. I almost feel like our society doesn't want to accept that younger people are capable of committing these atrocities, or that "we" are uncomfortable meting out an adult-sized punishment on a child, so "we" create this fallacy that a child is "really" an adult.

And, to be clear, I totally agree that what they did was not acceptable. They may all be young sociopaths who would turn into adult sociopaths and are beyond help now. I just think that the judge or jury should make an honest evaluation of the actual facts and circumstances of the case.

 

[JennSLK]

i was not sure, but wanted to clarify in case

 

[KenyiGirl]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pops2

tried and if convicted hung.
i would vote for a candidate that makes rape a capital offense

I agree 200%.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LilahRoot

They drugged a girl, gang raped her, and posted pictures of it on the internet. If they didn't know that was wrong then they need to be in a mental institution. I knew better than to do crap like that when I was 10!

Agreed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LauraLeigh

I must be a cruel person... Honestly, I could care less what it does to their lives.. All I can think about is what it has done to their victims life.....

Throw me on the "I must be a cruel person" bandwagon as well.

I can't say it any better than that, I agree with all of you.

 

[Fran101]

throw me on the "I'm a cruel person" bandwagon as well because I hope they are tried as adults and pay for their actions totally and completely

They aren't 6 year olds. They knew what they were doing, nor was it an impulse.

if you are old enough to sit around and plan something like that, then I think you are old enough to know better.

 

[drmom777]

I agree with Milosmommy, who articulated her argument very well. For those who say "what about the victim" I don't see how trying children for crimes as adults in any way undoes the harm done to the victim. Other than some sort of revenge thing, no matter what you do to a perpetrator, it doesn't help the victim.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I agree with Milosmommy, who articulated her argument very well. For those who say "what about the victim" I don't see how trying children for crimes as adults in any way undoes the harm done to the victim. Other than some sort of revenge thing, no matter what you do to a perpetrator, it doesn't help the victim.

Not true, a sense of Justice served (not revenge but justice) DOES help the victim move on......

 

[MandyPug]

throw me on the "I'm a cruel person" bandwagon as well because I hope they are tried as adults and pay for their actions totally and completely

They aren't 6 year olds. They knew what they were doing, nor was it an impulse.

if you are old enough to sit around and plan something like that, then I think you are old enough to know better.

Put me on the bandwagon as well.

Rape is a major offence, this is not just stealing a sweater from the department store or defacing public property. This had to have been planned, he is a predator. I've even heard folks out there saying this was the girl's fault and that she was ASKING FOR IT. This SOB needs to be put away, not just a slap on the wrist.

 

[Dakotah]

Put me on the bandwagon as well.

Rape is a major offence, this is not just stealing a sweater from the department store or defacing public property. This had to have been planned, he is a predator. I've even heard folks out there saying this was the girl's fault and that she was ASKING FOR IT. This SOB needs to be put away, not just a slap on the wrist.

In red: This is the most disturbing thing I have heard in this thread (besides what actually happened, of course). Just to know that people would even say that is such a disrespect to not only the victim but her family/friends and every other person that has had this happen to them. It is NEVER EVER EVER EVER the victims fault. People absolutely disgust me.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Thats why alot of kids now are little hellions. The "oh they are jsut kids they dont know any better attitude". You do the crime you get punished for it. End of story.

I also SERIOUSLY doubt that this is the first crime these kids have committed. What were their home lives like? Where have their parents been while they were growing up? What kind of schools did they go to? Surely someone, somewhere saw that these kids were "not right," and likely didn't do anything about it. THOSE are the people the victim's family should blame.

I was young when I started having sex, but I knew and understood the possible consequences and when I became pregnant at 16 my then boyfriend and I discussed options, and made choices.... We married when I was 17 and have raised 2 great kids.... If I was mature enough to deal with that.. I have a hard time understanding why a 16 year Rapist should be any less responsible?

So because you and your boyfriend/husband are exceptional, do you think that EVERY 16 year old is capable of raising kids and getting married? What about the 16 year olds who dump newborns in dumpsters, do you think they should be tried as an adult for murder, just because YOU were mature enough at age 16 to not do that?

I almost feel like our society doesn't want to accept that younger people are capable of committing these atrocities, or that "we" are uncomfortable meting out an adult-sized punishment on a child, so "we" create this fallacy that a child is "really" an adult.

I'd never thought about it this way, interesting point.

 

[LauraLeigh]

Actually, unless they were abused in some way, I do think just that....

We were not as exceptional as one may think, I know of many who have found themselves pregnant young and handled the situation maturely....

I DO not believe that at 16 you have a pass to commit heinous crimes, for which you have no remorse...

Anyhow, I need to back out of this, I am getting upset on a personal level and am about to lose total objectivity

 

[Doberluv]

I don't believe it's simply a matter of an under developed brain due to immaturity. I don't believe that knowing right from wrong has anything to do with it at all...not in this case. The fact that these people even had it in their minds at all to engage in this henious and vicious behavior tells me they're beyond the scope or outside the realm of "right vs. wrong." Who needs to know right from wrong? To have it in their heads....to be able to do this to other people tells me they have utterly no empathy and are sociopaths. There is NO help for sociopaths. They don't change, they aren't cured. It's like saying to you that you can be cured of needing air to breathe.

I think they should be eliminated from society, one way or another. Period. They're still a terrible danger..obviously. So, just because they're some particular age doesn't make them less dangerous. Lock them up or finish them off. I couldn't care any less than I do. It's high time people care about their victims, the families and society. To let these monsters loose on society is as criminal an act as what they did imo.