If anyone is a lawer or have a well understanding of american law. I see in the news about some kid shooting a school for instance and then he's say 14 or so and is going to be charged as an adult, life in jail etc. Yet if that same kid had sex with someone age 21; that person is subject to rape charges because he's a minor. i'm just curious, it seems the legal system gets it both ways? i'm all for the justice system cracking down on law breakers and i'm not saying it should or should not be ok but i'm just wondering because it seems a little strange.
2006-09-29 12:47:56 · 11 answers · asked by wightbringer 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I am only somewhat savvy on the law...and am not a lawyer. What I see in the criminal justice system now is this. If you let a 14 yr old kid get off as a minor and only do a few yrs for killing someone...then it will happen more. That person being only 14 or 140 has to be held responsible for thier actions. I worked in juvenile corrections...and we had kids there that had committed murder...they had no remorse for what they did. It was like...oh well...get my gist? Ok they have to stay in the system until they are 21 (or 23 in some states). That's a short time for intentionally taking another human life...intentionally. If you or I did it as an adult we'd be sent to jail for life...if we was lucky and the state didn't impose the death penalty.
Your other question about someone sleeping with a minor...there is a double standard there but....and yes there is a but...as a father I don't approve of it either way...boy or girl. However...and this may sound one sided in a big way....but as a male...I had some hot teachers...and yes I would have...if they had of offered...that don't make it right but it does make it consentual. that's just a guys point of view. if it happened to my son or daughter...yeah I'd be mad....and if it's my daugher..(again one sided here) then hell yeah I'm mad...if it's my son..I'd be mad...but he don't risk the chance of getting pregnant. I still wouldn't approve and would persue it to the fullest...but I wouldn't be as mad I think...(again one sided). But the law is the law on that...under age is under age rather it be male or female.
Yes...in both cases you address punishment is neccessary...but for one to take another's life..at age 14 they should know better and depending on the circumstances of course...some should be put out as adult crimes.
To tell the truth (depending on the circumstances again) the parents should be held accountable also.
Let me give you a for instance. If Dad and or Mom had the weapons used accessible to the child...that deffinately contributes to the crime....thus making the parents equally responsible.
I have guns...I keep them locked up and trigger guards and the keys hidden in different places for each gun.
That don't mean a kid can't get ahold of a gun...but if it's not my gun then at least I did that part.
Now...with that said...what drives a child to do these things? That again is a parental issue. I teach my son and daughter that life is valuable...and that guns do kill...if pointed at someone by another person.
I'll stop there...I think you get my gist by now
2006-09-29 13:14:30 · answer #1 · answered by Kenneth S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that if a teenager(especially 16+) murder someone or rape/molest another human being, they should be charged as adults simply because they are old enough to know better, and these are the worst crimes that can be committed against another human being.
As far as not being able to make adult decisions-I know 25 year olds that I consider unable to make an adult decision, so allowing it to the population as a whole at 18 is even being a bit lenient. The only reasoning for this from my perspective is that once we are out of high school we should be allowed to make "adult" decisions because we are now just as well educated as the majority of those who are 30+ years old, when most people actually start thinking more as an adult than as a child.
Even so, don't you think the decision to kill/rape someone is an adult one, considering children who do commit these acts are about 1/10000th of overall cases of these two events.
2006-09-29 13:01:05 · answer #2 · answered by rhambass 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the law feels that if you do adult crime like
1 murder
2 rape
3 kidnapping
you should be tried as an adult what that means you are in juvenile system until age 21
but certain decisions you can't make
1 you can't vote
2 you can't drink
3 you can't get to movies without your parents if its PG Rated
4 you have to go school
5 you told where
6 you told what curfew to have
7 you told where to go that you can't look at magazines and what you can do
it is not fair but that is the way it is
2006-09-29 13:05:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, psychologically at the age of 7 children can establish the difference from right and wrong. Secondly, if a child commits such a harsh crime and can even think of how to commit a crime that is so heinous, then they should be charged like and adult. I know adults that don't think the way some disturbed young kids do!!!!!
2006-09-29 12:58:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are at an age and in a time where they are doing adult things and should be punished as one. At the same time they are not always mentally developed and able to make and adult decision so the goverment fels it is thier job to protect the child. It does seem like a conflict but lots of things are this way.
2006-09-29 12:58:29 · answer #5 · answered by ronnny 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the person over 21 is the one who raped because the underage perrson can not give consent. there are exceptions though,
for example,
you can be as young as 14 and get married in places in the states, and have sex as often as you want.
too, children have been given the adult rights after prooving they can handle them in court. ( I forget whats its called, but the slang is "divorceing your parrents" )
not every case is automaticly tried as an adult, either....
so the point is,
Its a matter of wheither the child has the matureity to act as an adult ( choosing for themself, or understanding the crime)
2006-09-29 12:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by papeche 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because there is no law that say we have to be consistent.
People under 18 can't write wills either. But on the upside, they can void any contract they've signed.
2006-09-29 12:55:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The trouble with you, wightbringer, is that you're thinking logically instead of making judgements based on emotion. And THAT is punishable by 20 years in the electric chair... we'll rid you of that nasty logic yet!
2006-09-29 12:57:11 · answer #8 · answered by Maggie_21 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They only do that in the cases where the child performed a horrific crime.
2006-09-29 12:56:16 · answer #9 · answered by dreamer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It may not be right, but that's the way it is.
2006-09-29 12:50:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋