Some of you may remember West Side School near Jonesboro AR from the news eight years ago in which two boys, ages 10 and 13, pulled the fire alarm during school hours and opened fire on the kids filing out of the building during what they thought was a routine fire drill. Four students and a teacher were killed.
Each of the boys was sentenced to juvenile prison and ordered to serve until the age of twenty-one. Tomorrow, the "thirteen-year-old" will be released on his twenty-first birthday. There has not been too much made of it here in central Arkansas aside from a couple of articles in the state newspaper. Needless to say, the husband of the slain teacher harbors more than a little animosity toward the boy who will be released to live the rest of his natural life. I should mention that, according to the juvenile justice system, the young man's record will be completely expunged of the incident. This is apparently how it works in the juvenile system.
The young man's mother has told the newspaper that he will live at least "a day's drive" from Jonesboro, recognizing that there is no way he can return home. The children who were killed were between the ages of 11 and 13. The young man has apparently made the most of his incarceration, now having plans to attend school and maybe even seminary.
It's hard to know how to feel about this. Of course I lack perspective because no member of my family, or even anyone close to me that I can recall, has ever been the victim of a violent crime. The Lord God willing, I hope never to be put to such a test. Still, I can remember it like it was yesterday even though it feels like a THOUSAND years ago, almost surreal, like a bad dream. Much of what I remember were local residents who were, naturally, being chased around by the press and being asked, "How do you feel about this?" Man, what a probing question that must have been at the time.
The state legislature actually entertained some proposals that would have allowed the death penalty for capital offenders as young as 13 or 14 years of age (I forget exactly which), but no measure came through even though at the time, it was to date the worst school shooting (Columbine had not yet occurred) in history. What haunted me most was the number of persons who were quoting to the press, "An eye for an eye ..." believing that each of these boys should have been put to death.
I remember the day the 13-year-old was sentenced and remanded to the custody of the state. There was a very emotionally charged picture of the boy in the newspapers which graphically showed the horror as this boy suddenly realized that he could not go home with mom and dad and was then led away in shackles.
I was heart-broken and torn at the same time, remembering what I might have felt like at such a young age being taken away to prison. At the same time, I remember how betrayed some of the bereaved felt with the boys essentially being sentenced to only 8 - 10 years for the murders of their loved ones.
We mourn such tragedies, recognizing that a severe failure on many levels has occurred. We lament that the criminal justice system failed in allowing these boys to at least with hope even though 8 years in prison to a 13-year-old would certainly have felt like two eternities. We wonder if these boys will ever come to fully comprehend what they've done. We cannot help but to wonder how it could ever occur to such young children to commit such an act.
Is it the result of broken homes? Is it video games or too much TV? It is society's fault, as we've heard so many suggest? Is the juvenile justice system fair in allowing that a child under the age of 17 is not subject to the death penalty? Should someone somewhere have seen it coming?
It is impossible to tell. The only glimmer of hope to come from any of this is that the young man to be released tomorrow (8/12/05) has indicated an interest in seminary. It is encouraging that the Lord has somehow taken hold of this young life so that from the ashes of such a tragedy, some good may possibly come as a result.
For now, however, it is impossible to see how.
I had forgotten about that one. I guess Columbine had pushed it out of my memory. Only thing you can hope is that the years of prison has somehow made him more capable of bieng a productive member of society. I'm not sure what to think of executing one so young. I don't think that children of that age could really comprehend such a crime. As for the victims' families, it is best to forgive. I'm sure its a hard thing to do, but I would think the loved ones that past away would not have wanted them to spend so many years with the thought of revenge. It will ruin thir lives if they do.
Interesting post.
Posted by: el | August 11, 2005 at 07:35 AM
Wow. I saw this on Fox News when I was in California earlier this week, so it made national news anyway. My last post seems appropriate. http://paulythebull.blogspot.com See the one titled "Jimmy the Boss, Guido, and Little Ray."
We want judgment for others and mercy for ourselves. Somehow we think if someone has committed a sin "worse" than we have, that God can't or won't forgive them. No one is too far gone. Remember the thief on the cross.
I live in the area of the Luby's shootings many years ago. I lost 4 of my friends in that massacre, and two others were shot and survived. What a shock to the community that was on that day, and for the months following. I can't imagine what might have happened to George Hennard (the murderer) had he actually survived and went to trial. Someone with a deer rifle no doubt would have picked him off. One of my friends, who was a chiropractor, had her pistol in her car. She didn't want to carry it in her purse because at the time Texas laws did not allow "concealed carry" and being a professional, she didn't want to jeopardize her license. Her parents were shot to death right in front of her, after her father tried to rush Hennard. She has since been elected to our state house of Representatives and successfully gotten a concealed carry law passed in Texas. That's another issue...
I can't speak for her, but I know one pastor who was wounded on that day, and he has had to forgive the events of that day. His life, though, will never be the same. I guess my point in all this, is that life goes on. It must. As Christians, forgiveness is critical to our ability to function as Christ would want us. How can we expect God's mercy if we can't extend mercy to others, no matter how hienous the offense?
Posted by: Pauly | August 12, 2005 at 09:27 AM
I did read your post, Pauly, and it was great. In fact, I think I left a comment on it. Sad thing is, the news media is making much of the fact that the since-closed juvenile law will allow the boy to walk out of jail without a record. They keep harping on the reality that the young man can legally buy a gun. They do give a brief mention of his plans to enter into seminary.
I wonder if it is just a difference between being able to forgive or being able to forget. I think maybe there is a difference, however slight.
Posted by: Michael | August 12, 2005 at 07:41 PM