Should boy be tried with arson?

==The boy and/or his parents should not be charged with the accidental fire. The child is not a criminal and he should not pay for a tragic childish mistake for the rest of his life. Our society is too quick to rain condemnation down on these poor folks. People would be better off if they put themselves in his parent's shoes and their children in this child's shoes.

 

I am with Martin. In California, at one time, you needed be 12 years old to be incarcerated (Juvenile Hall) so his age may determine the outcome. I hope his parents disciplined him good for this one, or he could become a serial arsonist

 

No, he shouldn't be charged. He's paying a big price already, and I bet he'll never repeat that mistake.

 

Good points, Scarlett O. Good points.

I don't know what the legal ramifications are in California for committing the act that the youngster did so I can't comment on that part.

 

No matter what happens, he will be scarred the rest of his life...

Maybe Good can come of this... With God all things are possible

 

Serving the community he affected may go far in his own emotional healing...
Retribution will help him get through this....

Maybe I am naive, but I just can't imagine a little child meaning to cause this much pain... and if it was an accident, it was an accident...

But him giving back to the community will be the best peacemaking effort his family could do...

For the community, and for him.

This is all I have to say about that.

 

Maybe then we could water-board the boy. After all, it isn't torture!

 

I think there are things that could be done, like this, that would warrant getting his attention.

 

never mind

 

The boy may not be criminally liable, but he is liable nonetheless. Unless the victims forgive the debt some kind of recompence needs to be extracted from him and his parents. I don't know what can be done, but I think it would be fair to sell the ranch and auction off all their personal property and distribute the money to the victims, and garnish 20% of their future wages (after taxes) until the debt is paid or they die. Whichever comes first.

 

I think he ought to be doused with gas and allowed to burn just long enough to feel the pain... and then put out. then horse whipped till he's got blood running down his socks... worked for my daddy when he was a kid!

I bet he don't play with no more matches after this...

 

I think his community service should be at the burn ward. Excellent posting, S.O. !!!!

 

I can't believe folks are going for this. This is something you'd do to a lout who thinks it's funny to burn people. This is not something you'd do to someone who had an accident.

Kipling was right. The Female of the species is more deadly than the male.

 

Mike McK was right. You are a moron.

 

==I am going to be honest here. I don't believe in anyone owing a debt to society. People who commit crimes are sent to jail (etc) as a punishment and not as a payment to society. Punishment is a good thing. Nobody in prison owes me a debt and if they did they could not pay it by sitting behind bars.

This boy did not commit a crime, he is not a criminal, he should not be punished.

==This boy is not going to "make things right" by picking up trash on the side of the road or doing mandated service in a charity. There is no way this boy can make things right or undo what was done. He made a tragic, stupid, and yes childish mistake. He is not a criminal and though his mistake had horrible and tragic results it is not something he should be punished (by society) for. Sure, his parents should deal with him but not society.

==People are required to forgive him, freely. That is God's Word (Matt 6:15, 10:18). Freely you have been given, freely give.

 

==If the family does this on their own, that would be fine. However since I don't believe the boy is a criminal, and his family (brothers, sisters, etc) certainly are not criminals, I do not believe the government should do any such thing. All this power some conservatives, and most liberals, are willing to give the federal government frightens me. If Robin Hood was real he would not be a hero, he would be a theif.

 

Just consider the source. :type: