News, Teen robbery suspect killed in SC police shooting.

[sanrene]

But it could've been addressed earlier, if anyone had been paying attention.

Like her parents?

This child had no criminal record, no record of delinquency.

said the 15-year-old was not a gang member and did not have a criminal record — but police had no comment on those matters, citing her age.

According to her attentive and responsible parents. I'll wait to see what the police say.

I imagine you would feel differently if your child had been the one she pointed the gun at.

[Jane72]

Originally Posted by sanrene

Like her parents?

Like anyone.
Infants are more or less at the mercy of their parents.
Once a child is this old, there are numerous adults charged with having a supervisory capacity over her.
The burden of the blame does not rest on the shoulders of her parents alone (indeed, they might have been the problem!)

This type of event does not occur in isolation. Someone should have noticed that something was amiss with this child.
School is still in session (or was, until a few days ago).
Educators act in loco parentis for the majority of each day.
If the child wasn't in school, there are civil authorities who should've had a vested interest in determining why not. She wasn't legally old enough to be out of school.

15-year-olds should never, never be permitted fall through the cracks.
And of course we as a society can't just trust that if there's a problem, the child's parents will solve it. Some parents are criminal monsters.

We are all responsible, to some extent, for ensuring the safety of all children.

[Jane72]

According to her attentive and responsible parents. I'll wait to see what the police say.

I imagine you would feel differently if your child had been the one she pointed the gun at.

I probably sympathize with the child more because my child has engaged in similar criminal activity. And served time for it. But not been killed for it.

For all his problems, I'm glad he's alive. There are always more chances.
But for this girl, there aren't.

[sanrene]

15-year-olds should never, never be permitted fall through the cracks.

Where have you been the last 30-40 years? At least 2 generations in the black community have "fallen through the cracks". This is not a rare incident.

I have also had a family member in trouble with the law. He was into car-jacking. Shot dead by the police. I blame his mother, totally and completely.

[Jane72]

Originally Posted by sanrene

Where have you been the last 30-40 years? At least 2 generations in the black community have "fallen through the cracks". This is not a rare incident.

See my above post.

It is wrong. Its rarity or lack thereof doesn't make it any more palatable.
Screw "black" or "white".
This is a child we're talking about.

[thefinalsay]

don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

[Jane72]

Originally Posted by thefinalsay

don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Wow. That pithy little platitude adds a whole new depth of dimension to the discussion.

The "time"- in this case- being eternity, I suppose?