Baby Bandit!

[Hope12]

Hello Everyone,

More children not yet in their teens are committing adult crimes. Last year a nine-year-old boy robbed a New York City bank and spent the money on hamburgers, French fries, a watch and other items. Under a modified probation plan, he had to report regularly to a probation officer, attend school regularly and “commit no act which would be a crime if he were an adult.” However, he was arrested again on charges of stealing from two little boys at knife point. Police sources said that the boy, now ten, had two accomplices, one aged nine and the other ten.

The Bible mentions another feature of the sign: “Men will be . . . without self-control, fierce,” and “because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.” 2 Timothy 3:2, 3; Matthew 24:12 The Greek word translated “fierce” means, among other things, “lacking human sympathy and feeling.” Today ever younger children are showing themselves to be “fierce” and are committing increasingly violent crimes.

Furthermore, fast-paced technical and economic developments, and the greed these have brought with them, have caused more and more people to throw aside old values. Without regard for others, they use any available means, even dishonest ones, to grab as much as they can to satisfy their selfish desires. The huge increase in gambling is another evidence of selfishness, and the crime statistics of the past few decades speak loudly and clearly about this.

Today’s children are become criminals, not because they are born that way, but they have learned criminal behavior from what they see around them. What can we as responsible adults do to keep our children from being among the throngs of baby bandits?

Take care,
Hope12

 

[athon]

I wish I had my book on me, but...if you want the references, I'll provide them later.

In 17th century London, a substantial percentage of prisoners were under 14. The figures are reflected in the US at the same time as well. This increased percentage wise into the 18th century before declining again due to government enforced education taking a lot of children off the streets and out of poverty.

Government measures in the early 19th century were made to keep offenders separate, as kids as young as 8 were learning the trade from older inmates. Children learned a whole range of breaking and entering skills, often falling in with gangs who were eagre to recruit them.

Today, children are actually quite separate from crime, at least in comparison with the past.

Just thought I'd balance the nonsense rhetoric being blown with some real research.

Athon

 

[Skeptical Greg]

What can we as responsible adults do to keep our children from being among the throngs of baby bandits?

Uhhhhh, maybe by being responsible adults ?

 

[Frinkiak7]

...among the throngs of baby bandits?

Maybe we could resist using hyperbole a little?
There's a simple way to raise good kids. It's called being a parent. Play with your kids. Read to them. Help them when they need it. Teach them right from wrong. Don't put your own passtimes before them. And above all:

TEACH THEM TO THINK.

 

[Tony]

Hello Everyone,

More children not yet in their teens are committing adult crimes. Last year a nine-year-old boy robbed a New York City bank and spent the money on hamburgers, French fries, a watch and other items. Under a modified probation plan, he had to report regularly to a probation officer, attend school regularly and “commit no act which would be a crime if he were an adult.” However, he was arrested again on charges of stealing from two little boys at knife point. Police sources said that the boy, now ten, had two accomplices, one aged nine and the other ten.

The Bible mentions another feature of the sign: “Men will be . . . without self-control, fierce,” and “because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.” 2 Timothy 3:2, 3; Matthew 24:12 The Greek word translated “fierce” means, among other things, “lacking human sympathy and feeling.” Today ever younger children are showing themselves to be “fierce” and are committing increasingly violent crimes.

Furthermore, fast-paced technical and economic developments, and the greed these have brought with them, have caused more and more people to throw aside old values. Without regard for others, they use any available means, even dishonest ones, to grab as much as they can to satisfy their selfish desires. The huge increase in gambling is another evidence of selfishness, and the crime statistics of the past few decades speak loudly and clearly about this.

Today’s children are become criminals, not because they are born that way, but they have learned criminal behavior from what they see around them. What can we as responsible adults do to keep our children from being among the throngs of baby bandits?

Take care,
Hope12

This is what I call "Good Ole Days" syndrome. It's a trait I see a lot, but mostly in christians. It's predicated on the myth that "back then" people/kids/society/whatever was better, more moral and had better values.

Anyone who's studied history will tell you it's bogus. The reasons a lot of christians fall for it is 1) Ignorance 2) An unwillingness to think, and 3) They believe anything that validates their worldview.

 

[Skeptical Greg]

Re: Re: Baby Bandit!

This is what I call "Good Ole Days" syndrome. It's a trait I see a lot, but mostly in christians. It's predicated on the myth that "back then" people/kids/society/whatever was better, more moral and had better values.

Anyone who's studied history will tell you it's bogus. The reasons a lot of christians fall for it is 1) Ignorance 2) An unwillingness to think, and 3) They believe anything that validates their worldview.

Not to mention (oops, I guess will ) that they believe their ' Christian Values ' are what we need to overcome this, while ignoring that they have already had 2,000 years...