GUILTY OK - Christopher Lane, 22, Australian, slain in thrill killing, Duncan, 16 Aug 2013

[momrids6]

Kids get involved in gangs for a number of reasons and one of the biggest reasons is they have nothing to do but get into trouble. jmo

RSBM: I think that they choose to have "nothing" to do- and choose the gangs too. The vast majority of gang ridden cities have more resources for kids than us folks in rural areas; Boys/Girls Club, federally funded at risk youth programs, etc.

Homework, library, sports, hobbies, church, martial arts, volunteering - a 5 dollar basketball.

If one lives in the absolutely horrible hood- move.

 

[colette]

I read a theory a while back that seems sound. It has to do with strong male role models for male offspring.

Basics were...if a male child grows up without a male role model they tend to "make up" their ideas of what masculine behavior is. And that can mean going hyper masculine and joining gangs for the sense of family etc....

If a male child grows up with strong male role models (i.e. Dad is a strong calm male) they internalize that, and they want to be like Dad...because Dad/Grandpa etc...is a "man" and the young males see that as what the want to aspire to. If Dad is responsible, non-violent during conflicts, self assured, etc...then that is how "real men" behave.

Now in the case of privileged white youth that act like that, Dad is NOT a strong role model. In the case of inner city youth, often Dad isn't around at all.

Young males need that role model to pattern themselves and learn male behavior.

Edward's dad was involved in his life, so we can't use that excuse here.


Before the hearing, Edwards' father, James Edwards Sr., said he knew where his son was 95 percent of the time. He said his son was involved in wrestling and football, and was trying to forge the same sort of athletic career as Lane, who played baseball at East Central University in Ada, 85 miles east of Duncan.

Also talks about his video here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...eball-player-seen-in-vine-video-pointing-gun/

 

[Brightbird]

Any air time given to this man is a sad day IMO

I don't know where I stand to be honest. He was deputy when Australia reformed gun laws after Port Arthur. In that regard, I think he does have a genuine interest in the issue. He is only advocating the same approach to guns that Australia has already taken. If it contributes to the debate in the US, I don't see the problem. Of course some people won't like it. The timing is off but it wouldn't get any publicity otherwise. Calling for a boycott is nonsense but it's designed to grab attention. I don't want to start a discussion about gun control or get OT, just wanted to say that I think the sentiment is worthy even if the strategy is maybe not.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Note that its 8/22 in Australia but still 8/21 here in the USA, don't let the time throw you off...

http://www.news.com.au/national-new...s-lane8217s-life/story-fnii5sms-1226700172461

AAP, Andy Burns, Carmel Melouney
From:
Herald Sun
August 22, 2013 10:58AM

Snipped:
ONE of the teenagers charged with the murder of Melbourne baseball star Chris Lane posted racist tweets saying he hated white people in the months before the shooting.

James Edwards, 15, posted statements on his Twitter feed including a comment on April 29 where he tweeted "90% of white ppl are nasty. #HATE THEM".

 

[Jersey*Girl]

So now it's a fact that 2 of the perps posted racist hate agenda on their personal social media profiles. This is looking more and more like a racially charged hate crime as others have suggested. I'm sorry for giving you all a hard time, I just didn't want to believe it and needed to see proof for myself.

 

[Sonya610]

Before the hearing, Edwards' father, James Edwards Sr., said he knew where his son was 95 percent of the time. He said his son was involved in wrestling and football, and was trying to forge the same sort of athletic career as Lane, who played baseball at East Central University in Ada, 85 miles east of Duncan.

Well if his dad said that it must be true! And by some freak occurrence Edward happened to be in a car shooting animals and Aussies etc....during that 5%.

Sorry this may be an obvious question but does Edward have an online profile? And if so did his Dad know about that???

(Edit -- just saw JerseyGirls post above...all of the shooting and nasty talk must have been in that 5%).

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Yeah I think you are right. First they killed a helpless animal to "build their courage" and then they shot the random jogger (who didn't look like a Crips member) and then they supposedly started after someone the gang didn't like.

But they want to live, and they are scared, so one is saying it was just for a thrill (nothing gang related!!!!) and the other is dancing and prancing away likely in an effort to act bold.

That Michael kid is going to have an especially rough time on the inside, I suspect that boy won't fit in with any of the prison gangs and if any accept him he will pay a very steep price for that acceptance.

Nailed it!

 

[colette]

Well if his dad said that it must be true! And by some freak occurrence Edward happened to be in a car shooting animals and Aussie's etc....during that 5%.

Sorry this may be an obvious question but does Edward have an online profile? And if so did his Dad know about that???

Yes Edward does and it's bad. The parent's never looked or had no control. The father was in his life is my point. The kid chose the life. At 16 already has big tats and welding a big gun in that video. The things he says in twitter are shameful.

 

[momrids6]

I read a theory a while back that seems sound. It has to do with strong male role models for male offspring.

Basics were...if a male child grows up without a male role model they tend to "make up" their ideas of what masculine behavior is. And that can mean going hyper masculine and joining gangs for the sense of family etc....

If a male child grows up with strong male role models (i.e. Dad is a strong calm male) they internalize that, and they want to be like Dad...because Dad/Grandpa etc...is a "man" and the young males see that as what the want to aspire to. If Dad is responsible, non-violent during conflicts, self assured, etc...then that is how "real men" behave.

Now in the case of privileged white youth that act like that, Dad is NOT a strong role model. In the case of inner city youth, often Dad isn't around at all.

Young males need that role model to pattern themselves and learn male behavior.

And plenty of single moms have found ways to have strong male role models in their son's lives; there is a will, there is a way.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Edward's dad was involved in his life, so we can't use that excuse here.


Before the hearing, Edwards' father, James Edwards Sr., said he knew where his son was 95 percent of the time. He said his son was involved in wrestling and football, and was trying to forge the same sort of athletic career as Lane, who played baseball at East Central University in Ada, 85 miles east of Duncan.

Also talks about his video here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...eball-player-seen-in-vine-video-pointing-gun/

I'm gonna have to pull out all the programs I saved for my boys major' wrestling tournaments. My sons wrestled their whole lives up until 2 years ago. They've traveled the country. Good wrestlers, won a lot and almost always placed - which means it was a looooong day lol. I wonder if he's in any of the pamphlets, if he's any good. Has he wrestled for many years? Played football for a long time? How long has he been playing basketball?

As far as wrestling is concerned, maybe I can find some old brackets online. The reason I want to find out is bc Mr Edwards said his son was "trying to forge the same sort of athletic career as Lane", so the proof is in the pudding bc you don't get that kind of career (including college especially) unless hard work is put into it.

 

[popsicle]

https://twitter.com/JAMESAKABUG

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

I was just thinking tonight that with so many underage thugs committing serious offenses, perhaps the parents should get some type of legal complaint, fine/sentence too? We can create a new one: something like "failure to be a responsible parent and preventing their child from criminal engagement".

Perhaps that would make parents pay more attention to the actions of their kids, and deter the deadly games while decreasing taxpayer burden? Someone has to be responsible for the devastation these minors are committing, right?

Just a thought...

 

[popsicle]

jamesakabug ‏@JAMESAKABUG 13 Aug
With my when it's time to start taken life's

 

[Sonya610]

And plenty of single moms have found ways to have strong male role models in their son's lives; there is a will, there is a way.

The ones that DO find good, sane, strong male role models to act as mentors are wise mothers.

 

[popsicle]

I was just thinking tonight that with so many underage thugs committing serious offenses, perhaps the parents should get some type of legal complaint, fine/sentence too? We can create a new one: something like "failure to be a responsible parent and preventing their child from criminal engagement".

Perhaps that would make parents pay more attention to the actions of their kids, and deter the deadly games while decreasing taxpayer burden? Someone has to be responsible for the devastation these minors are committing, right?

Just a thought...

What happens to the parents who try to control their children and do the right things and it's not working?

 

[LambChop]

What happens to the parents who try to control their children and do the right things and it's not working?

I'd say if they are posting pictures of guns on FB.....turn them in.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

I am so sad. I have an honest worry that this is going to go global. This is a full blown hate crime where undoubtedly race plays a factor. I really hope people don't judge everyone of a certain race based on just a few bad seeds.

 

[Ausgirl]

I'm betting there's a lot of grieving parents who have watched their kids be sucked into gangs despite their best efforts. From the reading I'm doing, it seem 'recruitment' can involve some heavy threats and violent coersion (like the kind these little monsters were trying to pull on that other boy whose father dobbed them in), drug addiction as well as the chance to make a lot of money very quickly.

Better to hammer down hard on gang activity - which would probably have to involve a lot more than just better policing. Think, military, laws changed, the stamping out of the endemic corruption that permits untold tons of drugs and illegal weapons to be imported and manufactured...

There's no simple answer, I think. Probably the entire nation, leaders and citizens all, would have to be behind the changes necessary to destroy the grip of gangs on American youth. And really, I can see that not happening any time soon. Too many self-interested factions..

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

What happens to the parents who try to control their children and do the right things and it's not working?

Right.....there needs to be a protocol set up first. Set up in stages.
Because we can no longer as a society afford these tragedies, violence, and costs.
It is almost like our criminal justice system and society as a whole is picking up the tab on the parental failure at staggering levels.

True, it is sometimes genetics at play (as opposed to bad parenting) and perhaps a few other causes but much of the problems could be observed and addressed at a much younger age. We need to be more proactive about this looming problem that is affecting all of us here in the States.

There's been way too much violence and murder caused by our youth.

 

[defense101]

What happens to the parents who try to control their children and do the right things and it's not working?

Kick their , they will still screw up but they would never imagine hurting anything or anyone. IMO