You Be The Judge: Boy Kills Abusive Father

[exploited]

[OGPhilly]

His upbringing has made him violent. I think he knew what he was doing and I think he is a dangerous person. That said, it's pretty f**k up and unfair because given his circumstance he never had a chance, but he gets a bunch of sympathy because no one is very sad to hear about an abusive spouse/father neo-nazi catching one in the dome. My only point would be that if this kid grew up with an abusive drunk dad who didnt dabble in white supremacy, and he shot someone, we wouldn't be looking into his tragic upbringing as much as everyone would just be calling him a violent thug.

So in conclusion, maybe we need to completely rethink how we treat violent behavior by younger people, but I don't see this individual circumstance warranting special treatment.

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[HeatherG]

I agree with a lot of what you said, Philly. But i dont think the fact that his father was a neo-nazi had anything to do with it. If he was just a drunk, abusive father we would be looking into his abusive upbringing in the same way because it is the abuse that has led this child to be the person he is now, not the nazi influence.

i know 10 year olds and they are perfectly aware of what guns do. This child obviously knew he was going to kill his father by shooting him in the head. if we are going to sympathize with him, it should be about the crappy circumstances he was raised in to lead him to do this, and not just his abusive father. A lot went in to this kid killing his father, and all aspects need to be taken into account. I think the child needs seriously counseling and needs to be in a safe and encouraging environment. He may be past the point of being saved, but he should be on some kind of lockdown, because these are the kids who grow up to shoot up schools and movie theaters.

[exploited]

He needs to be sent to a private institution that can provide schooling and therapy. If trained medical professionals decide that he is unable or unwilling to reform, he can serve out the rest of his sentence in a juvenile detention centre.

That is my revised opinion.

[WizardfromOz]

I must admit I am struggling to have much sympathy for this kid. Pre plans a murder because his father was planning to separate from his step mother. Just a little too self centered a motive for mine. Sorry guys

[Medius]

He had entirely wrong motives. If he had shot his dad protecting himself, his step mother, or his sister from violence, I'd call him a hero and be on board for the counseling only route. Unfortunately he did his killing for selfish and stupid reasons. I certainly don't think he is fully responsible for his actions, however, jail isn't about vengeance. It is about removing dangerous elements from society. This kid is a dangerous element.

That said, I'd be all for any other option they have than prison for this kid. Not because his circumstances are special, but because the way we run prisons in this country turn many criminals worse than they were before they entered the system. If this kid goes into the correctional system, he's probably going to be in an out for the rest of his life and probably kill more people.

[HeatherG]

[PoS]

Need to know more of the background and circumstances before I can judge further but from what the article said the kid was damaged goods when he was born- he already was violent.

[HeatherG]

yes he knew what he was doing, and yes it was for stupid reasons BUT his mental state and the choices he is making is all because of the environment in which he was raised, which is not his fault. a prison sentence would be punishing the child for the mistakes his parents made and not his. He needs help. Yes he is a danger to society so i say lock him up in a mental institution where he can get counseling and then maybe a safe house after that. If he has had every advantage to change and is still insane THAN i would agree with locking him up.

I think every person has a right to change, but some cases are already lost, and this poor child might be one of those cases.