When the wealth of a nation is concentrated to a tiny few, via supply side, trickle down economic policy, there is nothing left for those who need it the most.

rmc, I blame the thief; just because he's 14 doesn't mean he isn't a sociopath. He knows the difference between right and wrong; he knows breaking into homes and stealing is wrong; now, he gets to know - firsthand - how wrong it is, courtesy of the TN taxpayers. It's a safe bet he's only sorry for getting caught and will hone his criminal skills in juvie lockup. Taxpayers will be supporting this guy for the rest of his life, one way or another. Given the enormous number of criminal males in the U.S., each state ought just go ahead and take DNA then microchip 'em after the first offense - certainly after the first felony. At least they'll be somewhat tracked. Nothing works to protect society; California, the most liberal state in the nation, has gone broke with its 3-strikes law. Prisons spill over with too many thugs, so states have to let 'em go regardless of their sentence. The inmates are in charge ... and guys like this learn early on how to exploit the civilized law abiding.

WTF one law would fit the bill "if your kid does the crime you do the time...until 18 when he takes over"

I have heard the fruit does not fall far from the tree. I always liked this expression until one day I learned I was also a tree.

Kamanda do you suggest they go dig up his DEAD PARENTS (DID YOU MISS THAT PART) and have them do his time until he turns 18? Going to stink up the joint (yes pun intended) something fierce.

Agreed. When you have THAT many thefts, you should be tried as an adult even if you're 14. A number that high isn't just a bored teenager. You sure can't make him pay back with any restitution because he'd just steal stuff to get the cash.

If you stay home with your kids people say you're a welfare leach. If you go to work and your kids run wild those same people say where are the parents. And if you die and your kids have to steal to survive its still your fault you should have taught them better while you were alive.

Was he actually stealing to survive? There's not enough information here. It's likely he was in somebody's custody - foster care, a relative, etc. I'm suspecting that he had a home to go to, especially if he owned a go kart. Although, that was probably stolen too.

Also, one doesn't vandalize to survive. It sounds more like a destructive teen with some issues and little to no supervision.

In a way, officers said they feel bad for the child. He lost both parents and needed someone to look up to

What a bunch of BS this statement is! The system will give this jerk someone to look up to. Perhaps 6'5".

Interesting that the police said they felt bad for the child and listed mitigating factors. Usually police don't sympathize with lawbreakers who are minorities.

The kid probably learned from his "betters" in Society -- i.e., the super-rich 1% of Americans who "just happen" to control not only the money, but also the POLITICAL power -- that you are not guilty until/unless you are caught.

Hey, he was just doin' what he saw all them high-powered politicians doin': Stealin' from the People while the Peoples' backs were turned.

Was he actually stealing to survive? There's not enough information here

I was wondering that too. It would have been good info to have. Not all kids who have lost parents are in a foster home ... some are loose on the streets. Not that I'm condoning his actions, but if he needed to steal to get food and pay for a place to live, it's somewhat more understandable.

I've known cases of street kids, even ones with younger sibs, able to fool authorities for a long time into thinking they are living with adults. They attend school, do well and even participate in extra curricular activities.

Was it 50 or a 100 break-ins? I love the conviction of the PD.

They need a Stand Your Ground law in Nashville. I'll bet he was wearing a hoodie while committing the burglaries too.

In all of this back and forth flaming, I think we're forgetting something: young uns nowadays are slackers, so it's kind of refreshing to see a young man show such commitment to a budding career. I mean, 100+ burglaries and he's just 14 surely shows dedication.

"WTF one law would fit the bill "if your kid does the crime you do the time...until 18 when he takes over""

Another crirical reader.

Try him as an adult.
Lock him up.
Throw away the key.

onemanvolt

using your logic a bullet to the head solves a lot of problems

trust 2112

seeing he has had other problems with the law, maybe you might think of warehousing as best for society.

tired voter 951582

it might be of interest to find out why his parents are not around.

Onemanvolt-Your comment deserved to be collapsed. Quit blaming people that are better off than you for the burglaries. These people did not get it handed to them. They most likely worked hard for it. They have had no more opportunities than you have, they just decided to take advantage of what this country offers and worked for it. Just because you have not does not give you the right to blame their success as the reason they were being victimized. You are a typical liberal that has nothing but what the government can give to you. However, you are probably too lazy to even go and sign up for the benefits that Obama is handing out.

Cheetah.......Excellent plan except for the fact that the article points out that this minor had lost his parents. Who is going to pull the time for this kid? I am really tired of people that ask "where were the parents" after a story like this. There are parents that go out of their way to try and raise decent children. Good parenting works most of the time however, once in a while a psychopath or sociopath is born and no amount of discipline or good parenting are going to change these people.

It really wears me out when everyone just wants to figure out what this delinquent is thinking or feeling, give him a pass, and try to "fix" what made him do it. You know what made him do it? He knew that he would get a slap on the wrist if/when he got caught. Let this guy off and it will encourage dozens more to do the same thing. Make an example of him. There is nothing left in this human to rehabilitate. You know what a 14 year old with over 100 B&Es is in 4 years? About 200 more break ins from being an inmate. Stop the cycle now and let the people in Tennessee feel a little safer about break ins and home invasions...

Prez-0 heard about this & immediate held a press conference, stating, "This could be my son, but his criminal activities are the fault of the previous administration."

That is PURE BS. the poor are not the only ones that commit crimes. Even some rich people try to steal even more money. Locking up people stops them from committing more crimes while they are locked up, some people will committ crimes no matter what, not all can be rehabilitated. So his parents died, many people have lost one or both parents and did not turn to committing burglary. So no getting rid of "te weath gap" will not stop crime .

Getting rid of the wealth gap has nothing to do with this. Work for what you need, if you steal - do the time!

The "give me" attitude has got to go - life is not a free ticket.

Considering that many, many wealthy people obtained their wealth by effectively stealing, and getting all reward and no punishment, how does that prove your logic? Small time crooks have the same mentality, but not the same imagination as the big time crooks, of which one of the very few actually caught and punished was Bernie Madoff. Enormous wealth. Stolen money.

I agree with the Pesimist at 3.2. My feeling is that sometimes it is just a rush of sorts for youngsters to carry on this way. Or even a snub at society.

mymom do you have any proof of what your saying with many many weathy people stealing you can come up with more than Madoff right

Dexhunter Z,

The redistribution of wealth is not the answer. The biggest mistake in your argument is not that those who have more would somehow be content with less. It is that, once the wealth was redistributed, that everyone would be content with what they have and not want more. Nice theory, but the facts do not support it.

So your idea is to have 1/2 the population work and give 1/2 their earnings to the other 1/2 that don't work so everyone is equal? Well I think you will have a hard time finding 50% of the population willing to work under these conditions or at the very least try to do any more than the person who is doing the least.

But hey I strive to make everyone happy so I will be happy to work 1 hour a week while you work 80 hours a week and give me 1/2 your pay so there is no wealth gap there. I am more than willing to do this just to help you be happy.

Dex it seems like you have a solution that, I'll bet, you pull out for most any problem.

Cancer, stop the wealth gap

Rape, stop the wealth gap

Child abuse, stop the wealth gap

Let me guess, you are a liberal Democrat. Pie is the sky. The government should take care of us, right?

Let's give everybody everything they need. You need to sit in a dark room and think hard about giving people everything they need. Although I expect the truth will never dawn on your twisted mind.

Can you give me a new car I really need one oh and a gas card too

Just sit at home Sharon...Dex is going to work hard to buy everything everyone needs.I need a new boat which dex is going to get for me...it's not a want...I really do need it since my neighbor just got a new one...now we are not equal so as you can see I really do need a new one.

Dex - I'd like to have my car paid off - you're going to take care of that, right? Also, I'd prefer to live in a stick built home as opposed to a manufactured home. Oh, and while you're at it, my property is somewhat small. I do need a bigger yard, in a better neighborhood than where I live now.

There is no way to stop crime. There will always be people with no morals, no empathy, no conscience, etc. Until you can eliminate that element of humankind, there will always be people out there willing to inflict some type of suffering on others - be it material or physical harm.

You want to know how I closed the wealth gap (I grew up in poverty)?

I went to work at age 11. I worked and studied my azz off. I went into the Army. I was honorably discharged. I learned a trade and worked my azz off. I am 60 now, and still work my azz off. Never had a handout (not even the GI bill... too busy working my azz off to go to school), welfare, food stamps, nothing. I put my children through college (without loans) and went back to college at age 57 (again, without loans).

People like you and the damned OWS idiots that think everyone "deserves" a piece of the pie without working for it simply piss me off beyond description. I worked (here's a new word for you) and EARNED everything I have.

I had one thing to credit for my work ethic (another new term for you). Even with no electricity and hand pumping water as a kid, I had loving and discipline oriented PARENTS.

Amen Maingear! I started working at 12 and am only 40 but same story here - I am one of the "HAVES" of society - and I have because I've EARNED it, not stolen it or gotten it as a handout. Am I prideful of that fact; damn straight. Do I resent those lazy slobs who sit back and let the gov't take care of them with MY money; yup!

(PS I am referring to the the LAZY leeches of society, not those with genuine need and no other recourse - so don't even start to get your panties in a bunch!)

Pesimist said

The "give me" attitude has got to go - life is not a free ticket.

Really? Someone best explain that to all them rich fat-cat sports teams owners who are always demanding that GOVERNMENT give them new stadiums. Those sports teams owners -- and ZYGI WILF, owner of the Minnesota Vikings, is only one of them -- are always hollering "GIVE ME"!

JESUS said that y'all are to pay a day's wages for any work done during any part of a day -- and that means that even if someone shows up with only one hour left in the work day, if they do the work -- they get paid a full day's wages. Matthew Chapter 20.

Y'all should read Matthew Chapters 5-7.

Who the hell are y'all to go against the Words of Jesus?

We have food stamp cards being given to people we see at the store buying food with it, yet some are wearing gold jewelry, have their hair dyed and permed, they are wearing fake nails with designs airbrushed on them, they go out to their car and many times they have newer better cars then some of us can afford. Why if we hav e food stamps should we also need free school lunches aand especially free breakfasts and dinners??? there are programs for assistance with your electric, water and gas bills if you are low income, any of those companies will tell you who and where to go to get the help! There are Earned income credits for those who make less money, why because they had a kid??? 50% of all people pay NO TAXES. Why with welfare is there WIC ( FREE FOOD FOR WOMEN INFANTS AND CHILDREN) .

. We are tired of paying double taxes, hidden taxes and increases fee's for everything. The thousands and thousands we pay in taxes could go TO PROVIDING A BETTER AND EASIER LIFE FOR OUR FAMILIES.MANY many of us are getting tired of paying more and more to support those that do, produce, contribute NOTHING

Yeah, Maingear, you worked your "azz" off all your life, but that was your choice, really. hell, y'all coulda been like Donald Trump, Zygi Wilf, and George W. Bush -- they got freakin' rich by spending OTHER PEOPLES' MONEY.

There no self-made millionaires at all. ALL millionaires got rich because other people helped them get rich.

bluthunder;

That thing about "50% don't pay taxes" is pure bull@!$%#e. Those "50%" may get their taxes back every April, but they still pay taxes on whatever their income happens to be -- and that yearly refund don't do squat to help pay bills that have to be paid every freakin' month.

I happen to be one of those "50%" you are lying about. My income last year was a whopping $12,000, so huge I still don't know what I'm going to spend it all on. (yes, that was sarcasm) My refund, all $583 of it, went to help pay for things for the car, and what little was left helped pay off a past-due medical bill. NONE OF IT helped to pay the electric, phone, or any other monthly bill!

mymom do you have any proof of what your saying with many many weathy people stealing you can come up with more than Madoff right

Not too difficult. Ever heard of the "robber barons"? They were called that for a reason.

Or we can look at more modern examples -- Ivan Boesky, John Rigas, Benard Ebbers, Michael Milken, Kenneth Lay ... to name but a few of the more famous ones.

Not too difficult. Ever heard of the "robber barons"? They were called that for a reason.

Or we can look at more modern examples -- Ivan Boesky, John Rigas, Benard Ebbers, Michael Milken, Kenneth Lay ... to name but a few of the more famous ones.

And the majority of them also claimed to be "Christians", as well as "Law-and-Order" CONservatives.

the quaked one if you only make 12k a year, YOU need to do something to change that, find a better job, get more training, or get a second job. As i stated there are progams to help with medical, electric and i am sure you are probably on food stamps unless you are a single male at 12k you would qualify for them so as far as feeling srry for you, I DONT! All the taxes i pay every year could be better served helping make things better and easier for me and mine. I went and got extra training to get a better job years ago and now do decent. Before the training at one poiint i was working 3 jobs for 3 years to be able to afford better things. And with a smaller government that would leave charity to the charities and churches and decrese spending ALL of us would be able to provide better lives for our families instead of paying so much to support so many others!

hey "quacked azzzzz" i was a "christian" by religion when young - i grew up in the worst of poverty.

and like a few other people here - i worked my ***f'n*** azzzzzz off to make it a bit better - not only for me - but for people "around me"

not to be "rich" - but to see things in a better way - to choose how i live. made some mistakes, and worked to correct them as well.

but tell me - oh quacked idiot" - who the hell are you to be spewing the bs from any religious text on how people can choose their own life, rich or "poor"

"poor" by the way - relates almost exclusively to each and every persons state of mind. it is all too often tha tthe very rich are in fact veryy poor in mind, and that the "very poor" and far more rich in mind than many. and alsas, oh quack-o, it is those who are "rich in mind" who receive the "fruits" of life

now please stop preaching such stupidity

Get rid of the wealth gap, huh? The Soviet Union tried that; it didn't work.

rmc357

mymom do you have any proof of what your saying with many many weathy people stealing you can come up with more than Madoff right

Can you say Wall St? Or perhaps Enron?

Providing a specific list is difficult because the system of enforcement of financial law (SEC) is part of the problem and protects the shady players either from public exposure or from prosecution.

An except from an excellent article on the topic :

Is the SEC Covering Up Wall Street Crime

Matt Taibbi: A whistle blower says the agency has illegally destroyed thousands of documents, letting financial crooks off the hook.

MUI #OPENED/CLOSED ISSUE

Goldman Sachs MLA-01909 6/99 - 4/00 Market Manipulation
Deutsche Bank MHO-09356 11/01 - 7/02 Insider Trading
Deutsche Bank MHO-09432 2/02 - 8/02 Market Manipulation
Lehman Brothers MNY-07013 3/02 - 7/02 Financial Fraud
Goldman Sachs MNY-08198 11/09 - 12/09 Insider Trading

The financial sector is rife with thieves who do damage to people's lives far in excess anything this kid might have done and yet everyone seems to want to see a 14 year old kid given the max punishment possible. I'd say our focus and priorities are completely out of whack.

Providing a specific list is difficult because the system of enforcement of financial law (SEC) is part of the problem and protects the shady players either from public exposure or from prosecution.

LOL no it wasn't! Check out my post ... and I did that off the top of my head. No research needed. Although you do have a point, the SEC makes it difficult to find out the not so high profile ones.

I know.

The ones you listed were the obvious ones, the multitudes of them which do serious social damage far in excess of what this juvenile petty criminal has done, are hidden however and usually let off the hook by their cronies. People need to switch their focus from petty to serious crimes. This kid needs serious counseling and remedial mentoring but people will clamor for harsh punishment and let it go at that.

Killing them seems to work pretty well. They don't commit any more crimes.

OMG!! Dexhunter - Another typical liberal touting weath re-distribution as the cure for everything. Are you kidding Dex? Even if you had your way and everyone had the same amount of money and possesions, some people are never satisfied with what they have or they may be drug addicts so they are going to steal from others. As mentioned in other comments even rich people steal. They will never have enough. Your visions of a utopian society will never happen. It has been attempted and failed everywhere it has been tried. The USSR comes to mind as a good example.

Sounds like your family has done a wonderful job with your grandson, would you be willing to share that love with this boy, it sounds like he could really use it.

If I had a way to reach out to him, I would. Due to his age and the nature of his crimes, I doubt that the 'powers that be' would release any info about him.

My daughter and son-in-law have done a wonderful job with all three of my grandchildren. It's called 'tough love'. It doesn't always work for everyone. Of course they are still reasonably young (14, 11, & 8). The two boys want to go to the Naval Academy. They have fantastic grades. They know how important it is to get into a school like that, they need excellent grades. The youngest hasn't decided yet. It's too soon for her to make that decision. Time will tell. I'm a very blessed grandma.

I would take him to the park and drop him in the polar bear pool.

Fine, you take him in.

You have the city,state,the areas affected and an officers name...I am sure it would not be to hard for you to get in contact with the officer using this story to try to help the child if you really wanted to.

He'll probably grow up to be a banker for whom stealing is rarely punished.

But, AE, you are right. Sending children to prison does nothing to correct the behavior. There are increasing numbers of kids out on the street with little supervision. That the only response is to round them up and imprison them is so medieval.

It makes me wonder about all these Christian Right people who oppose birth control and abortion to protect life at all costs. But have no problem incarcerating or executing the life after they are born, or even denying human beings health care. I think a person deserves more protection than an embryo.

This kid has felt the thrill and excitement from doing illegal deeds. You really think he is going to sit still and behave in a good home. He will turn that good home into a nightmare for everyone else that lives there.

Give it a try but he will most likely be so rebellious he will go from home to home until he is 18. Put him in prison (boot camp for criminals) he will emerge a better stronger criminal.

Frankly there wasn't enough information to not maeke assumptions.

There is nothing worse than a thief.

Oh, I dunno. "Pedophile" comes to mind.

'Murderer' may be another one.. or 'rapist'.

Politician.

lol good points although a thief I would put equal with a pedophile,rapist and murderer...but the politician now I have to admit just might be worse.

Dammit! denver bill 2 beat me to it.

How about CAREER politician.

Bank of America

Rich Politician

Here's one for you denver bill.

An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men his age, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it.

One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects:

1. A Bible.
2. A silver dollar.
3. A bottle of whiskey.
4. A Playboy magazine.

'I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself. "When he comes home from school today, I'll see which object he picks up."

"If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be!
"If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a business man, and that would be okay, too.
"But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum, and Lord, what a shame that would be.
"And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a skirt-chasing womanizer."

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and heading for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.
Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped
into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink, while he admired the magazine's centerfold.

"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered. "He's gonna be a politician."

stc1993,

Good one.

stc1993.... Thanks!!! You absolutely made my day.

don't forget lawyer!

They're all scum, throw em into a pit and let them feed on each other.

No one actually needs a video game console or flat screen TV. People who think they do have been conditioned to think that way.

This kid needed good parents and a stable home. Now he'll get 4 years in a state institution, before being released probably to move on to bigger and worse things.

Thanks Fl Biker Chick - The logic might make sense if the kid had stolen - 1 video console, 1 TV and a couple of games. But he stole many more than that. So Dexhunter is deluding himself to believe this was anything other than smash and grabs and then selling the stuff.

"Though he has been arrested and released several times before"

Why does it always take so long to put a stop to these types of thieves?

People actually "need" very little - food, shelter, education, love, and etc. However, in our current society people think they deserve tons of other things like iphones, big screen tvs, bling, fancy cars, and etc.

Personally, I think things will only get worse instead of better when people are told the mythical 1% are keeping them from having all they desire (especially without having to work to get it). The government (and yes this means Obama as well as the rest) use this as a smoke screen to keep people from focusing on the real issues - offshoring of jobs, differential treatment of the races and this mean affirmative action, the failure of our education system, and social practices that don't build people up but keep them in a cycle of want and dependence.

Oh and another life lesson against your library of everything.... People do not appreciate, keep up, or maintain things that they have not worked to get. You would have a large group of people fighting over certain cars and accusing others of keeping the "best" cars away from them because of their "insert group here" and within a year the cars would be trashed. People in poverty do not have to live in squalor and desolation. Even the poorist home can be maintained and built on in a community of good neighbors. My grandparents were extremely poor but they kept their house spotless, maintained, and had a garden/small orchard. The house was always happy and full of people. They shared their joy of living with those around them.

In regards to this child it is disgraceful that he slipped through the cracks and had to grow up with no guidance or love. Rather than going to prison he needs to be given a job where he is helping others and getting an education. He also needs to be in a home where people care about him.

The problem doesn't exist because of needs. It exists because of wants.

sorry but all people really NEED is food,a crude shelter,water...the earth supplies the air so lets not go there...you don't need clothes,cars,televisions,cell phones...you don't even need education or love to survive as one said...all that is a luxury but is not needed to survive...just ask a caveman.

So Dex is that medical marijuana you are smoking or did you get it on the street? No matter, just try laying off the stuff and get back on line to comment when you can think a bit more clearly. You are giving pot heads a bad name with such wild comments. Try to have a bit of respect for yourself. You are looking way foolish.

If people had everything they needed, they wouldn't steal??? That's pure bs and you know it.

My neighbors have a more expensive home than me, two cars both more expensive than mine and yet they feel the need to steal from my yard. Lawn furniture, a cat carrier, my lawn mower (even though they pay someone to cut their grass), solar lights, a bench and a bird feeder.

Thieves steal because they enjoy doing it. They get some kind of stupid rush out of it. It's not done out of need. Ask 99% of shoplifters, burglars and car thieves. Most of them will say that they're not doing it to put food on the table or clothes on their kids backs. They do it because their idiot minds process it as something fun to do.

dex,

I seem to remember hearing something about people saying pretty much "That is pure BS" Oh yeah, it was everyone when Galileo suggested that the earth revolved around the sun.

Sorry but it was not everyone - it was the church and religion that couldn't and wouldn't allow a change in thinking.

Richard,

Great logic there. "Because the Catholic church thought wrong in 1633, you're wrong if you disagree with me now." Did you go to public schools?

DexhunterZ;

The majority of those who steal, do so because they WANT TO. "Need" has very little to do with it.

Just remember, "Power (and Money) corrupts; Absolute Power (and Great Wealth) corrupts absolutely" -- paraphrase of a quote from Lord Acton, in a letter to Mandell Creighton, April 5, 1887.

Say, for the sake of argument, we took everything from everyone; put it in a pile and divided it equally between everyone. We would have a momentary equity. From that point people would go back to doing what they've always done. Some would work their azz off, some would go looking for a hand-out, some would play the race card and some would steal. The idea that equity would create a perfect society is the grounding tenet of Communism and we've seen how well that worked.

No matter what their age, people steal for reasons as diverse as they are. No single solution fits the person who steals a loaf of bread to stave off starvation, the kid who spree steals to feed a drug habit and the politician who steals because it's in his nature to do so. Each is an individual with an individual crime and requiring an individual punishment. Let's stop entitling criminals, it doesn't solve anything and only leads to more criminals.

So the congress voted down the Buffet bill because they have everything they could ever want. They want to keep what they have and would love to have everything you have even if they already have several of everything. Don't be niave the rich an powerful love this kind of kid. He is just another distraction to everyone from what they are doing behind our backs.

So? Who does that? The foster care system? People wanting to adopt usually want infants or young children. Unless there is a family who has dealt with children like him, previously, what kind of a chance does he have? You see foster families being interviewed on TV and in magazines, who take in kids like him and have wonderful stories to tell. Unfortunately, those families are few and far between. He has fallen into the cracks of neglect and may never get out. Another wasted life b/c no one cared enough to take him under their wing and love him like he deserved.

Hey Liz:...I agree 100%.....Why don't YOU take him in.....or all the others that feel so bad for this young criminal.

Maybe Sandusky will take him under his wing!

This boy has fallen through the cracks. he has had no one to care for him. I read the posts of those who believe he should be locked up. what good will that do? he is acting out of anger. he needs structure and stability. juvie is not the answer. and while it is true that most foster parents only want infants there is a middle option. group homes. in a group home this child can get the structure he needs and can be rehabilitated. it is sad to see so many on this board who are so easily ready to just lock him up and throw the keys away. we all make mistakes. and we all deserve a chance at redemption. sometimes more than one chance. he deserves a chance.

I'm with you.

He deserves a chance? He's already had 50 to 100 chances and he continues on down the same road. How many more chances do you want to give this kid? One more, fifty more, one hundred more? Or maybe give him more chances until he breaks into your house. Is it fair to him, or you that he doesn't get nipped in the bud now? Fine then you give him a chance and take him into your home and see how long it is until you notice your belongings going missing. Sound fair?

I guess they want him to have enough chances to break into a home with someone there who has a gun and is willing to use it...I'm sure if this story continues that's how it will end.

I guess the "lock him up and throw away the key" and "a tough life is no excuse for stealing" folks just want to toss everyone who commits even the tiniest of crimes into maximum-security prison.....

How many of y'all were told every day of your life that YOU ARE WORTHLESS?

Now you did it. Now you get to hear the story of my childhood, Quacked One. Adopted by Christian Ministers. At age 12 told them I did not believe their fairy story and that I thought religion was a scam. They mentally and physically tortured me from that day on until I ran away. Gave me over to child services who proceeded to place me in foster homes and group homes with physically, mentally, and sexually abusive caregivers. Needless to say I ran away a lot. At that time running away was punishable by sending you to Juvenile Detention Home. Apparently it's a worse crime to be a runaway than an abusive caregiver. While on the run I would look into homes from the sidewalk and see happy families with nice things around them. I swore that when I came to an age when I could legally work, that I too would be one of those happy people. I never once thought to break in to steal the things that they had worked so hard for. When I was locked up in Juvy, after my nightly beating by the bigger girl I would say to myself, is this want you want your life to be like, do you want to be in prison for the rest of your life? NO was always the resounding answer from my brain. Don't think after years of abuse I came out of this unscathed, I have severe issues. The difference between myself and others in this situation is I stood up and took responsibility for my actions. Today I have a job, I put myself through trade school and I own a home. What I didn't do was whine and cry about how my childhood was so awful. I took responsibility. I will always have issues, but they are my issues. I don't expect anything for free in this life. If I really want it I will work for it.

AE

Both sides of the mouth? Just like yourself A$$HOLE. Reach out, help him. If he is falling through the cracks jump in and do something. Open up your home, your wallet, and provide your guidance. Oh thats right. I understand your 14 year old grandson isn't allowed to come near you. Care to tell the readers why that is so?

Make up your mind.

Better a 'meek' 14 year old boy scout than a thief, or even worse!!!

You're speaking out of both sides of your mouth here. On the one hand you say you 'feel bad' for him and on the other you say 'good for him'. Make up your mind or don't bother giving your idiotic opinion.

Your failure to comprehend is not my fault, and the responsibility of rectifying it doesn't fall on me.

AE I wouldn't try making sense to Baldman. From what I see, that might not be possible. A bit of a loon.

Hey, Baldman, one of my nephews was showered with love, had tons of parental guidance, and got everything he needed to be a happy, well-adjusted kid -- yet he still stole things and ended up in "juvie". He was definitely NOT a "meek 14 yr old boy scout". Your theory is not just full of holes -- it has enough room to hide a few thousand Sherman tanks!

More than likely, the damage is already done. If the boy had been raised with any morals, he wouldn't have been stealing, vandalizing, etc. He would have been out there trying to earn money, if he needed it.

Crying shame;

See my post in response to Baldman above.

Let's do this one more time cork. HIS PARENTS ARE DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did you even read the entire article? Or did you skim it and then say, " Oh yeah, he is a punk, his parents are unfit, they should have been made to take a test before procreating"? All of that drivel and more will be on this thread before nightfall. Do I think he needs to pay for his crimes? HELL YEAH!! But somewhere in that equation has to be some emotional and mental health therapy for this young man also. If we simply lock him away, then he WILL come out worse off than when he went in and we as a society are going to pay an even higher price. We need to find that place where he does some serious time for his crimes (I have not said that they were not crimes, because they are), and the place where he learns that in order to live in society he has to do the RIGHT things and not what seems expedient for his survival. I also wonder how long his parents have been deceased, what was the nature of their deaths, and if there were/are ANY qualified family members to take him in after he is released and help to guide him on a better path.

Yo, cork, do you like being paid to take a vacation every year? How about being paid "time-and-a-half" for every hour you work past that magic 40 hours in one week? How about that minimum wage, and every other work-place related thing that you have courtesy of those 'horrible unions"?

Go ahead and get rid of the unions -- your Tea-Tagger CONservative masters would just love to be able to pay you less than $3 an hour, make you work more than 60 hours a week, and have you lose your job when you take more than two days off every year. That's how things were back in them "good old days" of the pre-labor unions 1800s!

12,000 a year must be an obama job try working more than one hour a week you are worthless you Quack

And when it is one of YOUR relatives who does the stealing......... Oh, right, "they would never do that, they were raised in a loving Christian home where they learned right from wrong". Yeah, same with a lot of the most (in)famous mass-murderers, rapists, thieves, etc.

Same with the two teen-age punks who went around shooting horses and cows in my area only a few years ago. They did it because "they were bored".

I have known many kids who DID ask for help -- and were ignored. "Go away, you're not my problem, you need to figure this out on your own, stop wasting my time". I am familiar with that bureaucratic bullswoggle. Try again.

Mormon 'thug'? Mitt Romney comes to mind!

ae, not that it really matters but I was agreeing with your post until this one, you just lost that credibility

rmc357: I couldn't resist!

Our society is full of PC, pansies, I feel bad about myself etc. It would be a Utopia if the US had enough resources to not only sit down and counsel everyone about their problems, but half you would have to seek help out for them. The bad ones like this kid are just the ones with more sociopathic tendencies and act out this way. Someone else said it before, we will pay for this kid no matter what, it's just a question of how. He wants to get his rocks off, and I bet have these jobs he did just because. I'll give him credit for actually having some form of passion about something although not the best choice. I compare him to those people who drive around a parking lot for 20 minutes until they can manage the closest possible spot, and they would never be capable of pulling this off because it requires too much effort and risk.

A E you said what I was thinking. And I understand the "couldn't help it " part. On a serious note:

Warren Jeffs anyone?

Well A E I have to say I was able to respect your thoughts all they way up to this post...sorry to say you blew it here bringing your political views into it.

cork, religion has done more to harm kids than anything I can think of. The Catholic Church is an example of "strong religion", as is the "Mormon" church.

The Catholics have those pedophile priests -- and the Mormons have Jeffrey Lundgren, Ervil LeBaron, Warren Jeffs, and Mitt Romney, who has never done a full day's worth of REAL work (the back-breaking, manual-labor, dirty, grungy work that more than 70% of U.S. Citizens do to get by) in his life. Ol' Mitt got his money by raiding other peoples' retirement funds.

Well A E I have to say I was able to respect your thoughts all they way up to this post...sorry to say you blew it here bringing your political views into it.

Like YOU have kept YOUR political views out of it, dslodge?

A E - it's funny you said you "couldn't resist". That is what the 14 year old thief said when he was arrested. Wish you both had the self control to resist.

Okay...so you want the death penalty for a 14 year old throw away child, right?

Brilliant!

I don't think very many posters ever read their posts and mull them over before hitting the post tab.

Tell you what "Taxed", you go first. Let's see if getting rid of you for good stops others from be self-centered, un-empathetic and non-caring.

Yes, he has no rich, high-powered politically connected friends or relatives -- so let's just "do away with him"!

taxed, do you happen to know what it is like to be told that you are worthless and that you will never amount to anything worth bothering about? I bet this kid knew what that was like within a few months of losing his parents -- if not before that.

Actually, I was thinking another Obama.

lol true Summer...maybe obama could make him one of his czars

How about George W. Bush -- who used his daddy's money and connections to get out of going to Vietnam. Oh, he also somehow turned a string of FAILED businesses into more than $300 MILLION....... He did it by SPENDING OTHER PEOPLES' MONEY.

So, dslodge, how that keepin' political views out of it goin' fer ya?

You're right, we should just kill them all because they could be a potential burden on society. Let's kill all the old, poor, and disabled people because we have to pay for them and they probably aren't having great lives. <end sarcasm>

He probably was already looking up to someone -- someone like Bernie Madoff, Dick Cheney, Oliver North or any other many Right-wing CONservatives. Hey, it ain't wrong unless/until ya get caught!

Tony, your doctor called and said to stop breaking the pills in half. Actually, you might want to double up on the pills for a few days.

Tony....take you failed progressive BS somewhere else.

Whenever someone brings a Nazi analogy to the discussion they LOOK SO FOOLISH. Right or Left....it NEVER works.

And yet y'all ARE trying to do what the Nazis did.

Ummm...he wasn't stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He was stealing from everybody that had a home with a door he could kick in. How would you feel if he came and stole all of your stuff? Would you still be giving him 2 thumbs up?

we all need to be robin hoods today. i give the kid 2 thumbs up!!

You read the above comment and you no longer wonder what's wrong with this country. People like dave m, who would have been better off raised by wolves. And he's probably a Dad now, passing on his beliefs. The cycle continues.

Then he hits one too many like the kids in Bonney Lake Washington and is shot to death by a retired police officer who was trying to take a nap.

The officer saved us a trial. Enough is enough. Commit a crime and your life isn't worth a dime when you violate the wrong innocent.

what are you talking about?