The Consequences of Bad Parenting

I read a news report recently about a local 17 year-old boy who was caught repeatedly breaking into some local businesses with his friends. Literally days after his arrest he was out running around, causing trouble - and destroyed a young girl's life in the process.

It seems this time he was out driving (speeding and smoking pot) at night with his two 14 year-old friends (again - just DAYS after his burglary arrest) when he lost control of his car resulting in a horrific crash which sent the 14 year-old female passenger to the hospital with irreversible spinal cord injuries - she is paralyzed and will likely never walk again. HE, of course, walked away - as did his very fortunate 14 year-old male passenger. It turns out he was traveling twice the speed limit (posted at 30 m.p.h.) on an unpaved part of a road that was under construction - the same road he had been warned repeatedly by construction workers not to speed down.

He was brought up on charges of "vehicular assault", "possession of marijuana" and "transporting a controlled drug" - all three of which are misdemeanors. MISDEMEANORS! This 17 year-old juvenile delinquent just ruined a 14 year-old's life and he charged with misdemeanors. Where's the justice? Or a better question, where's the parents?

I have a 17 year-old boy - and a 14 year-old. Firstly, neither child would be allowed the freedom to get into a position where they are robbing businesses at night (where's the parents?). Secondly, if one were to sneak past my defenses and get arrested for burglary, he most certainly would not be out at night a few days later joyriding in his car with his friends! Where are the Goddammned parents, people? Does this kid live alone or something? Where is the discipline, the responsibility, THE PARENTS? If his parents had done their job, even after the burglaries, this 14 year-old girl would be walking today. We need a justice system that not only punishes the crime, but punishes ALL responsible for it.

So fine, the kid snuck out, broke into some buildings and wound up in police custody. As his parent, I would make certain that boy would lose his keys and be locked down tight in his room except for school, chores and work - and I would drive his sorry ass to work and back just to keep him under my thumb. There would be random nightly bed-checks, there would be additional chores piled upon him so he wouldn't even have TIME to think about getting into trouble. There would also be restitution beyond what the law calls for - my dumbass son inflicts his idiocy on the public, and I WILL make him pay for it.

But evidently this kid's parents chose not to. I'm sure they thought he was innocent of the crimes. I wonder if they still think that. I doubt the parents of the paralyzed girl think he's innocent. Were I the father of this girl, I would render this useless punk limb from limb and display his carcass for all the other punks to learn from. "Actions Have Consequence." would be spray-painted across his lifeless chest. I would then seek out his parents, and sever THEIR spinal cords in order that they truly understand what their inaction caused. I'd spend my life incarcerated, knowing that those responsible for my daughter's misery (including myself) were also miserable for the remainder of their days. "Myself" because, after all, why was this 14 year-old girl out riding around with drug carrying burglar on a Thursday night?

Naturally I would prefer not to spend my life imprisoned, but our justice system fails us repeatedly, and far too many of the parents in this country are just as useless as the world depicts them to be. Sometimes it seems like there's little you can do but take the law into your own hands. I've heard tell of a Florida man whose son was raped and murdered by another man. The man was caught and while being transported to trial, the father laid in wait at a payphone and when the police walked past with the rapist/killer, the father drew a gun and shot the him point-blank in the temple - he was dead before he hit the floor. The father was arrested but eventually acquitted of the crime. I don't know if it's right or wrong, but I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing. An eye for an eye, right? Too often when you turn the other cheek, you are smitten a second time. People end up paralyzed that way.

So what happens to our intrepid 17 year-old punk? Probably very little. With any luck he'll turn his life around and become a respectable, responsible citizen. But with the parents he must have, don't be surprised if you hear about him regularly on the six o'clock news.