In all fairness I have to point out that Arizona makes Texas look like a reasonable and progressive state. In Texas, "under state law, children younger than 10 are barred from arrest or prosecution for any offense." Bravo Texas.Marble Falls Police Department officials say they have referred a Colt Elementary School student who brought a gun to campus today to Child Protective Services and mental health professionals.
No shots were fired, and no one was injured, police said.
Officials didn’t name the student because of the student’s age and because the student wasn’t charged. Officials said that under state law, children younger than 10 are barred from arrest or prosecution for any offense.
The student showed the gun to a group of students outside the school, Superintendent Ryder Warren said in a statement. Those students immediately reported the gun to teachers, who then took possession of the weapon and escorted the student to the principal’s office, he said.
Police department officials did not say how or where the student got the gun. Officials said the incident remains under investigation.
But it brings up some difficult questions which the folks in Arizona don't have to look at when they charge an 8-year-old with whatever crime there is. In this Texas case you have to ask who is responsible and who is to blame. If it's not the kid, then who?
I say the parents, of course, maybe some other relatives. In a secondary sense, not legally but morally, the generally attitude towards guns is to blame. All the gun owners who push for lenient gun laws and encourage others to arm themselves are to blame. The only people free from the taint of this blame are the gun control advocates, those intrepid warriors in the battle for common sense over paranoid and self-serving gun laws.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"All the gun owners who push for lenient gun laws and encourage others to arm themselves are to blame. The only people free from the taint of this blame are the gun control advocates, those intrepid warriors in the battle for common sense over paranoid and self-serving gun laws."
ReplyDeleteThat would be funny if it weren't indicative of the attitude of most gun controllers.
To answer the question, the kid is responsible. At 10 years old, unless you are developmentally challenged, you can read, write, and understand spoken word. So you should know what can and can't be brought to school. He broke the rules, so he should be punished.
ecRed, my law-and-order friend, this boy was 8.
ReplyDelete"The only people free from the taint of this blame are the gun control advocates, those intrepid warriors in the battle for common sense over paranoid and self-serving gun laws."
ReplyDeleteI threw up a little in my mouth.
MikeB: “The only people free from the taint of this blame are the gun control advocates, those intrepid warriors in the battle for common sense over paranoid and self-serving gun laws."
ReplyDeleteFine, but then gun control advocates are to blame for every unarmed person harmed or murdered. Do you really want all that blood on your hands?
"ecRed, my law-and-order friend, this boy was 8."
ReplyDeleteThat changes little to nothing.
Allowing him to "pass the buck" at such a young age sets a bad precedent and is part of the reason we have so much crime in this country. Your mentality is the reason why not a single criminal thinks they are responsible for their crime. From a young age we allow too many of them to blame society, circumstances, upbringing, etc for their actions.
If we hold this kid responsible for his actions today, when he becomes older, he won't end up like the AA robber.
"The only people free from the taint of this blame are the gun control advocates, those intrepid warriors in the battle for common sense over paranoid and self-serving gun laws."
ReplyDeleteIf any such gun control advocates existed, I'd agree. However, pretty much all of them advocate stuff like the AWB, the Chicago handgun ban, and demand it as a "compromise" without any intention of a true compromise.
The only accurate title for such laws is irresponsible, as it unjustifiably penalises the innocent gun owner for incidents that no rational person would blame them for.
MikeB: "ecRed, my law-and-order friend, this boy was 8."
ReplyDeleteAt the least he should be grounded for six months. Even 2 year olds can be punished for bad behavior.