Too Young to do Time?

An 11 year old boy from Tennessee is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of his 8 year old neighbor after he asked to see her puppy and she said no. After she said no, the boy then used his father's shotgun which was in an unlocked closet to shoot the little girl. It is now up to the local prosecutor weather or not the boy should be charged as an adult. The prosecutor is also trying to decide whether or not it is okay to put an 11 year old in jail for the rest of his life. Some believe the brain isn't fully developed to it's full maturity until your early to mid 20's. They also believe that children don't understand the consequences of their actions.

Do you think if teachers and parents talked to young children about consequences and choices they make, things like this could be prevented?

Why do you think he should/shouldn't go to jail and serve his time (life sentence)?

I believe that if children in elementary school were taught about consequences of serious actions we can limit the number of child involved shootings. I think that he should serve sometime in jail and maybe go to a correctional facility.

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I would think that an 11 year old would already know the consequences of killing another person, but I do think that parents and teachers need to give more attention to their children to make sure they understand the impact their choices make. Also, it was definitely a horrible decision on the parents part to leave the gun in an easily accessible location in the first place. If it would have been locked away more securely, it could've prevented this from happening. I feel that more likely than not this boy had mental health issues that weren't properly addressed by his parents which put him into a state mind that made him shoot the girl. With possible mental health issues and the fact that the brain isn't full developed at age 11 in mind, I feel that he should go to a mental facility and then serve time in prison as a consequence for what he did. I don't think he should be sentenced for life, but this murder should not go unpunished and he should definitely be kept on parole after his jail time concludes.

Replies

Mr. Bruns October 29, 2015 at 10:10am

Great job once again!
3CaitlinB October 28, 2015 at 10:35pm

I would think that an 11 year old would already know the consequences of killing another person, but I do think that parents and teachers need to give more attention to their children to make sure they understand the impact their choices make. Also, it was definitely a horrible decision on the parents part to leave the gun in an easily accessible location in the first place. If it would have been locked away more securely, it could've prevented this from happening. I feel that more likely than not this boy had mental health issues that weren't properly addressed by his parents which put him into a state mind that made him shoot the girl. With possible mental health issues and the fact that the brain isn't full developed at age 11 in mind, I feel that he should go to a mental facility and then serve time in prison as a consequence for what he did. I don't think he should be sentenced for life, but this murder should not go unpunished and he should definitely be kept on parole after his jail time concludes.
6anthony October 28, 2015 at 1:03pm

I think that if teachers and parents talked to their kids at a young age and keep talking to them about the consequences and choices they make then they would realize that these are the things they should not do. I think that the kid should not go to jail because he is super young but I think that he should do a jail tour like on "Beyond Scared Straight" to teach him what jail would be like if he went.
3Christian October 28, 2015 at 9:34am

The kid is still plenty old enough to know shooting someone is murder and is wrong. Unless he has some sort of mental problems, I think he should be put in a Juvenal delinquent center until 18.
2Quinn October 28, 2015 at 9:23am

I think that He should be sent away for awhile. The choice this 11 year old made could affect him his whole and I think he well learn from his mistakes in prison
1Parker October 28, 2015 at 8:07am

I think that he should definitely serve time but not a life sentence. Like it says, the brain isn't FULLY developed but it is developed enough to see that is wrong. Since it isn't fully developed he shouldn't get a life sentence, but at least a few years.
- 6Makenzie > 1Parker October 28, 2015 at 9:09am
  
  I agree with you Parker, I also believe that the parents of the girl who was shot wouldn't get any closure if he spent a whole life sentence in jail, it's not like he'd do it again if he was given the proper medical attention for his mental illness.. No child in their right mind would pull a gun on someone.
1Haley October 28, 2015 at 8:07am

I think that there may be a potential in this things like this being prevented but at the same night time there is a great possibility that it won't affect the child's actions. I think he definitely should. If you think about it, if an 17 year old boy shot and killed someone he would be charged no doubt, the child knew what he was doing when he pulled that rigger but he still did it.
- 6Makenzie > 1Haley October 28, 2015 at 9:06am
  
  I agree. That child knew what he was doing and obviously knew how to operate a gun, so I think the parents should also have consequences.
2LexieB October 28, 2015 at 8:01am

I think them talking about it more could impact them more but it does not necessarily mean it will be prevented. I think he should be in a metal hospital, or somewhere that would help him. There needs to be consequences for what he did.

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