Potentially Threatening

You can care for the kid. But you should also care for the people who he has threatened to murder and their families. You seem to show no concern at all for them. If you have information about a threat like this, and you don't turn it in to the police, and he carries through with the threat, then you have covered up the crime and are an accomplice to murder and should be put to death right alongside the one who actually pulled the trigger because you allowed him to pull the trigger.

* Prisons are also full of people who were just bad, evil people. They had every opportunity that this country could afford them (which, IMO, is greater than most countries on the face of the earth) and they turned it down. Micah 6:8 speaks of Justice, Mercy, and Humility. Staying quiet while this kid goes and murders is immoral and not just. I am quite sure that mercy has been administered already spiritually in that I am quite sure Dr. Bob has presented the Gospel to him already because he is just that kind of guy. He is a true minister. You are not administering mercy by allowing this kid to murder, destroying not only the lives of his victims, but also those of their families, the community, and his own life as well. There is no humility in that. That is just arrogance. Also read Romans 13:1-5 to understand why we have laws, government, and punishment.

Joseph Botwinick

 

No one is saying protect the rebellious kid. Read more closely and try to understand what is actually being said. And no, I am not espousing anything like what a Catholic would do. I am not even sure what that means.

The kid has said he has thought about doing something. Whether or not he would actually do it is a whole different story. He obviously talked about it publicly to someone in a position of authority. That indicates to me that he is not seriously planning to do it at this time. It tells me he wanted to talk about it. I am not into the psychobabble junk. We don't need that. Making this statement will not get him sent to Juvi hall or anything.

There is some merit to telling someone. There is also merit to not telling. Not knowing all the facts such as teh boy's demeanor, amount of contact the counselor has with him, etc, makes it very hard to give an answer. I am giving an opinion based on the best information we have. This is what I would do. If you would do something else, then fine. I really don't think anyone is in serious danger at this point based on teh fact that he actually told someone about it.

 

Pastor Larry,

Are you willing to gamble the lives of those people on that opinion? When I talk about it being the same as the Catholic Church, I am referring to the pedophile priests cover up. You will remember that many of the priests confessed to committing crimes in confession and were not turned in. They continued committing the crimes. Also, at the very least, making a threat on someone's life will get you in trouble legally. But, it may also get them some counseling. If you stay silent and that kid kills those people, you are just as guilty of murder (IMO) as the kid is as you could have stopped it and didn't. I know if I were on the jury, I would convict you of the following:

1. Aiding and abetting Murder
2. Covering up of terroristic threats
3. Accomplice to Murder

Joseph Botwinick

 

Larry,

I did read closely and I do understand what is being said. You're wrong. The boy has a list of people he wants to KILL (RED FLAG!) and you want to take him to the ball game and hiking. It needs to be reported to the proper authorities. If you think it's "tattle-tailing," then so be it.

 

I believe this was the first talk with the boy. Read it again.
*His mom went BALLISTIC and NOTHING more accomplished.*

*Will have ANOTHER opportunity to talk more to him (and mom)*
"I am quite sure Dr. Bob has presented the Gospel to him"
It doesn't sound like it to me.
Today, things can be quite dangerous. You also have kids crying out in every way they can. I've talked to kids that spend 30hrs straight on the internet, just trying to find someone who cares.
Where are the parents? They work! They're divorced! Or they just bought the kid a pc to keep him occupied.
IDFM is my handle and in case you didn't catch it..
(I t D oes F inally M atter)
Saving children is my business. I wrote that poem which is titled "Silent Screams". It is about the molesting of children. Men that haven't a clue as to what's going on , making quick decisions.

Peace out my friends,
Wayward Son
Because..It Does Finally Matter

 

For general information: Here is a state by state listing of mandatory reporting laws. Note that in some states, you can be in trouble for not reporting any suspected potentially life threatening or in some cases "Harm to others and/or to themselves," while in a few states you can get in trouble for breaking a confidence.

http://www.smith-lawfirm.com/mandatory_reporting.htm

Here is a partial list of Christian Therapists. This list is only those who belong to a professional organization.

http://www.christiantherapist.com/index.html

 

I still believe you should alert the school system and the local authorities, Dr. Bob. Let them decide if this is a true threat or a cry for help.

We have a member who has an organization that might help!

http://www.pgmradio.org/hike4kids/

 

Since I was not there I have no way of knowing all the ins and outs of the conversation. I can't read the body language etc. I am not suggesting we cover anything up.

A while back and I had a teenager accuse her mom's live in boyfriend of hitting her. I sought advice on the matter. I was wisely (and rightly in the end) cautioned that with a lack of information you can create more trouble than it is worth. It is always, IMO, wiser to be cautious.

It is in no way similar to pedophilia among the priests.

None of them would stick because you would have too big of a burden of proof. In the state of MIchigan, reporting laws do not require this, to my knowledge. Even at that, there is a large amount of discretion. Without being there, I have no idea. But anytime you get the government involved, there is a huge possibility of a negative outcome. I believe that Scripture and involvement is what is necessary at this point. I would spend time with the kid to try to figure out what is going on with him and what has driven him to this point. As I have pointed out, in many cases, people who are serious do not talk about it. The mom going ballistic didn't help either. Now he has more reason to shut up and say nothing.

That is what I would do at this point. If I knew he had access to guns in the house, it would be different. But I do not know whether that is the case. If it were me counseling, I would certainly find out. If the mother was not serious about solving this ... i.e., not letting him out of her sight, checking his room and house, dropping him off at school and picking him up, etc, I would handle it differently. There are a lot of variables we simply do not know about. And I cannot answer for all those variables at the point. I made a general statement.

 

That sounds like a good idea. Let us know how it works out for this family, we'll be praying for the situation and all involved.
Gina

 

A boy in Atlanta struck back with a pencil and faces 5 years in prison.

Diane

 

That is one angry boy! Yes, this needs to be reported to the authorities and yes he needs some serious counseling. Of course, what he really needs is 2 parents who love one another but it sounds like it's a little too late for that. So sad.

 

I do not know the boy so I cannot judge the matter of seriousness he posesses in his threats but usually those who openly remark about such threats are looking for attention. It sounds like he lacks a solid caring disciplinarian (if I spelled that right). One who holds authoirty over him and at the same time has the ability to back that authority up yet shows that his discipline is given from caring and concern for the lad.

 

In other words, he needs someone bigger than him to um how do you say, put the fear of God back in him!!! If you know what I mean!

 

I'm not privy to any "facts" here other than what I've read and read and read on the subject. Just continual whine about this problem. Not even any cheese!

You have a problem brother, deal with it. But not HERE. Take it to the school and let them handle it!!

I've been ordained 20+ years and that is what I would do if confronted with a situation like this.

 

I'm no genius, but it appears there's something personal going on here between Pastor Sam and Dr B, who is normally very objective in his critique.

 

No problem with me I guess he holds bitterness for some reason. He can dish out rebuke but can't take it.

 

Dr. Bob,

One thing that strikes me about this story is that this kid actually verbalized to you that he had a list of people to kill. Normally when someone is serious about murder they aren't likely to spill the beans on themself because obviously they know it would be reported and investigated.

This kid is having difficulties in school which I'm guessing is one of the reasons his teachers are on that list. Have you or anyone since spoken to him and asked him about the individuals he has listed and why he has them listed? Calling the police at this point is very premature, talk to him more, get deeper into his head and heart and see what's making this kid tick.

Honestly, even as scary as it is, it's a good thing he said this because I see it as him crying out for help and very possibly using what he said to you for shock value only.

As precaution of course the mother should definitely make sure guns are out of his reach and I would highly suggest talking to the school principle about this, perhaps this kid is experiencing serious bullying or other problems at school and he doesn't know how to cope.

SHILOH...ahhh yeah okay, let's make conditions for this kid far worse by flailing the tar out of him, why, so he can feel that he has to bottle up what he's feeling and never tell anyone about his anger or pain? I'm 100% for spanking a kid, but there's a discernment to know when to do that. The idea is to let this kid know he's cared about, not back him into a corner with anger, hurt and more frustration.