-=> Quoting Steve Fragner to Tom Enright <=-
 -> What was done in Jonesborough is done also.  Do you advocate that
 -> those two kids escape any judgement for their actions?  Or do you
 -> propose punishing the "evil firearms" that obviously controlled
 -> the actions of those two "innocent darlings" against their will?
 SF> Unfortunately, the law is the law.....they will be free when
 SF> they turn 18.....a damn shame. I can not begin to know what those
 SF> families are going through. I have a 9 year old boy!......... 
As you say, the law is the law.  Our system doesn't provide
for making laws retroactive, nor should it.  (Well, there
_was_ the 1993 tax legislation...but it should have never
been allowed to happen.)  These two kids will stay in custody
until they turn 18, or 21 if they are convicted on federal
charges instead; after that, they will go free courtesy of
the lawmakers who passed the existing legislation and the
governor who signed it.  And please note, by "governor" I do
not necessarily mean "Bill Clinton", since I don't know when
this particular law was passed.
We learn from our mistakes.  I hope the various state
legislatures (and the voters who write and call their elected
reps) will be so shaken by what happened in Jonesboro that
they will review their own laws and make amendments where
advisable.  We are going through a period where children are
committing violent felonies for the very reason that they
know they will not be subjected to "adult" penalties -- in
fact, their juvenile convictions are sealed when they reach
majority, letting them start a new crime-career with a
clean slate in the eyes of the law.
Walter, wluffman@usit.net    CompuServe: 74721,3464
... The national shrub of Congress is the hedge.
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