Boys drive excavator at Pa. mine, smash bulldozer

[scesnick]

That aint the death penalty.

And how long is a life sentence these day? About 17 years?

Actually, a life sentence is in fact life in the federal system.

 

[SixHoeBob]

thats fine I am not saying kill the little bastards. You hold their hand and tell thems its o'tay. I am just saying that in my experience anyone that has that little respect or sence of right and wrong even at 12 will never amount to a hill of beans. trash is trash. they probably could never repay the damages done in a lifetime of stealing copper wire and water pipes from the shacks that they get evicted from. Maybe "uncle Barry" will let us working people subsidize them and buy them their own toys to play with. Or we will lucky and the next thing they steal will do them in.

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

I agree 100%. I think some people are failing to realize how much they cost the machine owner. Poor parenting led to the kids developing into white trash. Extrapolate the kids lives out 10, 15, 20 years and tell where they are headed. I would hope the kids see the light and become productive members of society, but they sure have dug themselves into a hole. Becoming successful is hard enough starting from zero, let alone 200K in debt plus interest.

 

[KWentling]

What kind of a company puts bulldozers and graders out in unsecured locations without insurance? That doesn't seem very competent to me.

I think most "strip mines" would be large enough to be self insured. I have no idea how big an operation that was, but the open pit coal mines here have millions of dollars invested in equipment and I would bet none of it is insured.

Kim

 

[boggen]

i would say kids being kids. even well thought of kids. i have heard, or seen do some pretty crazy things. ya there are some kids that are completely out of control. but i am sure most kids have done some pretty dumb things. and only differing from what they could easily get there hands on to, and how much damage and $$$ they could of done.

stuff happens. you would think the more expensive a tractor is, the more likely there would be anti theft doings, such as regular car/truck keys that differ per vehicle, instead of a generic all in one key that fits multi units.

should the kids be punished yes. how should the kids be punished and how much. greatly depends on the kid they are all different.

 

[aczlan]

stuff happens. you would think the more expensive a tractor is, the more likely there would be anti theft doings, such as regular car/truck keys that differ per vehicle, instead of a generic all in one key that fits multi units.

When it is so easy to hotwire a tractor, why worry about the keying? A jumper to the fuel solenoid on the injection pump and one to the starter relay and off you go.

Aaron Z

 

[Mace Canute]

should the kids be punished yes. how should the kids be punished and how much. greatly depends on the kid they are all different.

The parents should be punished too...for failing to teach their kids the difference between right and wrong.

Cane em! Cane them all, I say!

 

[Mounted Madness]

Here in Manitoba, the company/individual can sue the parents for the loss.

The Youth Justice system here in Canada leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to resolution of 'persons' crimes. Unlike the US, criminal offences (read felony) are committed when a Federal Statute is violated. Traffic offences and other provincial statutes are summary (read non-felony) non-criminal offences.

Once such FedStat is our Criminal Code. Alongside are drug, youth, customs, etc statutes. The primary purpose is consistency across the country. BUT, each province is responsible the Courts within the province.

Where the problems lie are inconsistencies between provinces, and interpretation of punishment sections. Weak sentences seem to be the too frequent norm when it comes to homocide offences with youth. On the other hand, insurance companies are suing car thieves for major vehicle loss.

Hey, on a scale of being dealt with as a kid, my biggest fear was 1) Dad 2) Mom 3) Mom telling Dad 4) Cops 5) Cops telling Dad. In my life, Dad whacked me twice...and only hard enough to get my attention...plus I deserved it. I knew enough to avoid breaking the law, and avoid my Dads disappointment with me, which was far greater then any physical punishment he could impose.

In my experience, kids who have good homes, caring parents and no mental/drug/alcohol issues that play into the 'offence', those kids are very seldom seen again. Expanding on that, from my experience, schools that have active parental involvement and support, generally produce well educated kids.

Kids who through no fault of their own, come from broken homes, abusive parents (including drugs/alcohol abuse), or are damaged due to the mothers drinking/drug use during pregnancy - these are the ones at high risk, and are frequently the ones that are reported upon as 'having lengthy criminal records'.

My primary point is that the majority of offenders are boys, who sadly are the same ones who that frequently don't have (quality) fathers around that care, teach and otherwise share in the education and growth of the kids.

Society isn't a one size fits all situation. Yeah, you'd like to wring their little necks, but then you'd be in deep S#@%. Anymore then a guy who's trying to stop an assault, unintentionally kills the offender - it's still homocide, but he does not deserve life in the slammer. Tough call on sentencing no matter the case.

Okay, I've rambled on enough - just wanted to broaden the scope and muddy the waters, of the crime and punishment debate...

 

[DANOCHEESE]

THese kids were josting.

http://www.weau.com/news/headlines/Teens_arrested_for_construction_equipment_jousting_120932474.htm

 

[shane]

Parents are 100% at fault on this for trouble these young boys got into. Not only did they do such a lousy job of raising them that they were willing to be so destructive, they didn't have enough control over them to keep them out of a strip mine. Having said that, the parents and the boys should be punished.

 

[Tenn_Blue]

My biggest issue is with the (somewhat common) willingness of today's youth to be destructive, and looking to avoid the blame. And parents not doing the right thing. - not saying that is/is not the case here (I don't know all the details beyond what was posted)...

40+ years ago, when I was this age (yea, I know..... ), I think many of my peers would have probobly joyrode the equipment if we could get it started. But we wouldn't have tried to tear stuff up. Have a little fun, then leave it like you found it...

I always had great respect/fear (good fear...) of my parents - thats how they raised me. Once while camping (we lived in an area and time when kids could do that...) a campfire got away from us and burned a small grassy area before we could put it out. I told my folks about it - never even considered trying to hide it... And they had me go to the lot owner and tell him about it and work to repair the damage. I never forgot that lesson!

Kids will always be kids, and usually do stupid stuff. If we live through it, CHARACTER defines how we respond to adversity/stupidity. And we learn character from our parents.