I was relatively freaked out when I read this story in the Daily News about an 11-year-old who told his friend that he was going to "down" his friend -- for no apparent reason -- and then made good on his threat.
The boy is being held in a shooting that perforated his friend's bowel. Because he's not 14, he can't be charged with murder; but he will go to St. Gabriel's Hall in Audobon and could stay there until he is 21.
And then I read this story out of Camden.
Good Lord.
It its 2007 Report Card, Philadelphia Safe and Sound said it best: "The incidence of youth violence and homicide continues to increase at alarming numbers and there is no escaping the tombstone shadow that guns continue to cast over the young victims and perpetrators of violent crime."
The question is, how do you stop something like that? I won't start in on easy answers, but there has to be a combination of heavy-duty policing and education reform for our toughest neighborhoods that could make a difference. Something that makes crime and guns a more difficult option for young people to choose.
Comments (1)
Now why would the " Family Court " rule guilty on the 11 year old child when today's youth believe everything a gangsta rapper and TV influences insist life and the pursuit of happiness is about such dissonance as low esteem , disrespect , drugs , murder , guns ... should I go on.
Judge Rebstock has my respect. If it were left up to me. You wouldn't want to imagine what I'd recommend.
Posted by Jasper Zeigler Jr | July 11, 2007 12:19 PM