Newton's Third Law
Teenagers. Hormonally rampant kids, some in adult-ish bodies, all with a kid's head. Question: at what point and time do kids get treated like adults. In most municipalities, that is age 18; at that point, the parents are no longer held legally responsible for whatever is done. However, there are situations where someone under that age is held responsible for their adult-like actions (and consequences), such as what is occuring here in Atlanta.
Now, do not get me wrong. I honestly do feel bad for all families involved in this horrible event; one family lost a wife, mother; the other might as well have lost their child for the remainder of their lives.
What sets me off are the people now writing in to the AJC:
A 16-year-old girl accused of killing a mother of three in a Roswell Road crash two weeks ago was using her family's 2003 Mercedes as an instrument of suicide, never letting off the accelerator as she slammed into the oncoming car, authorities said Thursday.Now, if things were left simply at that, someone with a half an ounce more compASSion than I have might think, "Oh, the poor girl; she just didn't know what she was doing." However, as the details of the story start coming out, things change:
The teen, Louise Egan Brunstad, survived the crash with minor injuries but on Thursday was charged with felony murder. Prosecutors intend to try her as an adult, and she faces an automatic life sentence if convicted.
The student at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Sandy Springs had been moved to despair after a fellow student rejected her romantic advances, prosecutors said. She was driving the Mercedes north on Roswell Road when she crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a car driven by Nancy Salado-Mayo.Painting a little clearer picture, now?
Before hitting the gas, Brunstad had sent a text message to the student she had a crush on, said Paul Howard, the Fulton County district attorney. "She was actually counting down her imminent threat: 'Nine, eight, seven, six ... I'm going to do it.' "
Now, do not get me wrong. I honestly do feel bad for all families involved in this horrible event; one family lost a wife, mother; the other might as well have lost their child for the remainder of their lives.
What sets me off are the people now writing in to the AJC:
I can only imagine the loss felt by the family of the woman killed because of the teen's lack of judgment. But I can also imagine a wonderful young girl, confused and unable to cope, thinking that taking her life was her best option. How easy it is for us to harden our hearts and seek revenge. I can think of no other term to describe the DA's action.Driving is an adult privilege; things that happen when you take part in adult activity bear adult consequences. This isn't about vengeance - it's about removing somebody from society who valued her own life more than anyone else's to the point of taking another life in that process. Not to mention that the family of the deceased deserve some manner of justice.
Should this teen be punished? Of course. Her actions caused one family's life to be tragically changed forever. But, treating her as an adult is not justice. It's vengeance.
posted by misawa at 8:24 AM
4 Comments:
As you well know, I have less compassion than you. That said, I am sick and tired of parents NOT teaching their 'lovely' children how to be responsible and accountable. Every action has a consequence; positive or negative.
This case ought to serve as a reminder, to teenagers everywhere, that you will go to prison for foolish behavior.
Lastly, here's some food for thought: Should the parents of this "suicidal" young lady be held responsible as well?
In my opinion, if she is tried as an adult, then I think she should bear the brunt of the punishment and the parents should just have to deal with all the other baggage. However, if this "high-powered" attorney the parents have hired gets her charged as a child, then I'd go after the parents.
They can have it one way or the other.
The suicide seemed to be planned and that's really the only reason the DA is going after her. She stupidly announced what she was going to do then did it, causing others to die. She was only thinking of herself and that's the problem with a lot of teens out there today. I know my parents taught me and Misawa that there were others people out there, especially when it came to driving which is something that I believe people don't take seriously.
I've been to too many fatal crashes as a reporter and they usually involve two things: speed (not the drug) and stupidity (not paying attnetion, yaping on the cell phone, etc.).
This is a sad case. But if the teen wanted to take her life (which I don't agree with) she should have found a way where she wouldn't have hurt or killed others.
San Antonio
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