Four dead children and a dead teacher thank liberals everywhere for this injustice

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Jonesboro (AP) - Seven years after taking part in an Arkansas schoolyard ambush that killed four students and a teacher,Mitchell Johnson will walk out of a federal detention center.

Johnson and Drew Golden -- 13 and eleven at the time of the Westside school shootings in Jonesboro -- went through the juvenile court system -- which could only keep them in custody until they turned 18. After that, federal prosecutors used weapons laws to keep the boys locked up until age 21.

Jonesboro Prepared for Release of Middle School Shooter: Mitchell Johnson

Because of liberals, this guy's record will be wiped clean, he will be allowed to vote, and be allowed to buy a gun. Oh well. It was only four girls (two were 11, two were 12), and a teacher. As the dad of one victim said about our justice system, the value of the victims seems to be based on the age of the murderer who killed them.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[RockRambler]

Its a sorry world!!

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Natalie Brooks
Paige Ann Herring
Stephanie Johnson
Brittheny R. Varner
Shannon Wright (Teacher)

Five people who will never see another birthday, a second chance, or be seen by their loved ones again because of these animals.

The Jonesboro school massacre occurred on Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Four students and a teacher were killed by two armed middle school boys in northeastern Jonesboro, Arkansas.Mitchell Johnson, 13, and Andrew Golden, 11, pulled a school fire alarm and fired into the crowd as people filed out of the Westside Middle School, killing four girls and a teacher, and wounding 11 others.

 

[Johnv]

Is it fair to call this a "liberal" issue? I wasn't aware that the issue of prosecution and incarceration of minors falls upon partisan lines. Perhaps I'm wrong. Dunno.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

I was considering using the word idiots, but I didn't think that would go over too well, so I used the next word that came to mind...

 

[Daisy]

Kneejerk blame assigning. Besides, I thought liberals were in favor of keeping guns, especially loaded guns, out of the hands of children.

In a way, I suppose, there may be some truth to it - liberals are generally opposed to the execution of minors which would have been your solution.

I hope they at least received mental healthcare while in custody. Otherwise, it's nuts to release them into the world.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

1. Too bad they have no problem with murderers under 18 being allowed to buy guns again once they are out of prison a mere 7-8 years later.

2. You're right. My solution would have been to execute them, along with all rapists and murderers. I would, however, compromise to give them life in prison if it will keep them away from me and my kids forever.

3. It is nuts to release them into the world under any circumstances.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[OldRegular]

Originally posted by Johnv:
Is it fair to call this a "liberal" issue? I wasn't aware that the issue of prosecution and incarceration of minors falls upon partisan lines. Perhaps I'm wrong. Dunno.

There is no doubt that the liberal/left has worked for years to weaken the criminal justice system in this country, actually coddling criminals. Surely you don't believe the ACLU is a conservative organization. They are even defendint the Man-Boy Love Association in Massachusetts.

 

[Johnv]

Whoa, OR, slow down there. I didn't even mention the ACLU or NAMBLA, let alone anything about the crikinal justice system overall. I simply stated I wasn't aware that the issue of prosecution and incarceration of minors falls upon partisan lines.

Thou shalt not put words in thy brother's mouth.

 

[Ed Edwards]

Be sure to ignore this topic written just for you:

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/10/5238/6.html?

Strange to beat realatively innocent moderates with
the term 'liberal'

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by Joseph_Botwinick:
I would, however, compromise

Ed,

I offered the moderate position on most issues as a solution. Tell me, do you like the idea of releasing a cold blooded murderer back on the streets, with no record, allowing him every right afforded law abiding citizens, including the right to vote and buy a gun? If you do, then I will happily call you a liberal. Nothing moderate about that position.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[billwald]

Freedom is dangerous. This would not have happened in the old USSR. You pay your money and take your chance.

 

[Petrel]

That's a bit glib. Freedom does not require releasing murderers into the general population with no record of their crime.

A more reasonable suggestion is that the boys serve time in juvenile confinement until they are 18 and then serve the remainder of their sentences in a regular prison.

 

[guitarpreacher]

The planning that went into this attack was incredible, especially considered these boys were 12 at the time. cold blooded doesn't even begin to describe what they did.

FWIW, our legislature did change the law, and now the state can hold a juvenile indefinately after they turn 18. They have to show that they have been rehabilitated before they can be released. A little too late. His partner in crime will be released in 2006, if my memory is correct.

 

[billwald]

OK, how about "An armed society is a polite society?"

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Joseph_Botwinick:
Too bad they have no problem with murderers under 18 being allowed to buy guns again once they are out of prison a mere 7-8 years later.

To be completely fair and accurate, the loopholes in the law that allowed Johnson and Golden to be freed have been closed via new legislation because of this very case. Convicted persons are constitutionally protected from the imposition of sentences and laws after sentencing.

Again, to make this a partisan issue where no partisanship seems to exist is probably a bit harsh.

 

[patrick]

This is where the system needs to be careful. A thirteen and a elven year old are not adults. If they have have had the right counseling, and have been found allright then this a mute point.

You look at a young teens mental development, they are not mature. They don't make choices like an adult does. Many well adjusted teens in church makes unwise moves everyday.

Are these kids a future threat to society? I can't answer that. With proper evaluation, experts can know. If they do have syptoms of being mental then we need to keep them in custody.

I know many people who do stupid stuff as teens who go on to be great people in society. I can think of many of I have had personal contact with. One criminal act does not make a criminal for life.

We do not remeber Mose's, king David, or Paul as murders. They were!!! They went on to do great things for the Lord.

Joseph, we don't see eye to eye on this issue. So please read before posting. We need to see if teen offenders can be rehabed. Some cannot and won't. From personal experiance, you know the one's who can and can't be. I am not saying these boys are rehabed. What I am saying is don't lump them all together.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Patrick,

Do you have no problem with this thug walking with no record after seven years, and being allowed every right you and I have, including the right to buy another gun?

Joseph Botwinick

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by patrick:
This is where the system needs to be careful. A thirteen and a elven year old are not adults. If they have have had the right counseling, and have been found allright then this a mute point.

You look at a young teens mental development, they are not mature. They don't make choices like an adult does. Many well adjusted teens in church makes unwise moves everyday.

Are these kids a future threat to society? I can't answer that. With proper evaluation, experts can know. If they do have syptoms of being mental then we need to keep them in custody.

I can see a slight difference in a high school prank and murdering 4 kids and a teacher who will never get a second chance, see another birthday, or be seen by their loved ones again. The comparison you make is goofy, and there is no moral equivalence and you know it (at least I hope you do).

I know many people who do stupid stuff as teens who go on to be great people in society. I can think of many of I have had personal contact with. One criminal act does not make a criminal for life.

We do not remeber Mose's, king David, or Paul as murders. They were!!! They went on to do great things for the Lord.

Joseph, we don't see eye to eye on this issue. So please read before posting. We need to see if teen offenders can be rehabed. Some cannot and won't. From personal experiance, you know the one's who can and can't be. I am not saying these boys are rehabed. What I am saying is don't lump them all together. [/QUOTE]

1. This one criminal act ended the lives of five people leaving them in a permanently dead state forever. I guess seven years is good enough for you, but not for me.

2. You also do not remember those who were stoned in the OT for lesser offenses, and a certain couple in the early Church who were struck dead for their dishonesty.

3. I, personally, don't want them rehabilitated. I want them dead and away from me and my children. But, I will settle for life in prison as a punishment.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

BTW Patrick,

He is out of prison today, free and clear and perfectly able to buy a gun. Maybe you would like to give him your address and he could go and move into your neighborhood? You don't have kids, do you? Sure hope not.

Joseph Botwinick