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Originally Posted by LARHAGE
There's a big difference between doing somthing ''stupid'' and being a flat out cold-blooded killer. I've done tons of stupid things in my life as a youth, but it didn't involve another living things death for my stupid, youthful pleasure. I hardly think 17 is a child, he was fully able to make the decision between right and wrong, he chose wrong. I can only thank God those weren't my horses, cause than we wouldn't even have to worry about what to do to them, their families would be planning their funerals.
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Believe me, I'd feel the same way...but honestly, when kids do cruel things like this, I think there has to be more of a reason than stupidity. While I agree that they need to "pay" for what they did...our culture's mindless emphasis on punishing behavior rather than addressing the causes of same are counterproductive. They are indeed responsible for what they did...but then what? We need laws protecting the defenseless, be they animal or human but we would be so much better off if such laws were not needed...closing the barn door after the horses run off only gets you an empty barn...the emphasis should be on education and teaching moral principles...the lesson these kids need to learn is not that society will punish them for such an act but that their conscience will!!!