From: Jean
Date: 5/18/01
Time: 10:34:19 AM
When I worked with kids, we proved the point. Our objective was to keep them out of an institution until they grew up. The largest Percentage of them went on to be OK once we got them past the teen years. Now these were pretty rotton kids. The rotton ones usuallly turned out OK.
Without what we did many of them would have been in jail right now instead of working and raising families. I don't know why people who should know better think that for some reason that kids that get in trouble are able to make the judgements neccessary to stay out of it. If they truly did have that ability, why not let them drive, drink, sign contracts, get married etc.
If that kid had had a bit more trouble getting a gun, it would never have happened. You don't see to many kids killing who can't find a gun.
Teens have to have a certain measure of protection just like a 2 year old. We stopped doing that and blame them when we should be blaming the adults around them. Not just parents, but all the adults, who do not recognize that they need some help and protection.