NationStates Jolt Archive

JONESBORO, Ark. It's Mitchell Johnson's 21st birthday, and it's the day the convicted Arkansas school shooter goes free.

Federal officials aren't saying whether the Jonesboro shool shooter has already been released today.

Johnson and Andrew Golden pulled a fire alarm at Westside Middle School and then killed four students and a teacher in March 1998. They injured ten others.

Under state law at the time, Arkansas could only hold them until they turned 18. Federal officials used weapons laws to lock them up until age 21.

---

This is just fucked up beyon belief. Johnson and Golden killed five people, and he gets set free... and guess what? I heard on the news it doesn't get marked on his criminal record. WTF?

This is just messed up. I'm not happy about the state of the US justice system at all.

i sure hope they did more than just warehouse him

Well I hope they have learned a valuable lesson on responsible weapon ownership.

Not that they will ever be allowed to legally own a firearm...one assumes.

But he was only a child. He could not have known what he did was wrong. It was probably his parents fault for not paying enough attention to him. Now the state has probably turned the poor boy into something awful and we will all have to pay the price for their insensitivity, the capitalist bastards.

blame the "politically correct" groups. You know, the same type of groups who oppose the war on terror because it offends some people or those whitewashing history books to avoid offending people. If a guy's too old for juvy, send him to prison to finish his term. I don't care if the ACLU hates my ideas. Screw them. They oppose the boarder patrol because it offends Mexicans. Couldn't the terrorists get in through the Mexican-US border? Wouldn't it be great if we could catch them somehow before they blow themselves up? You can't let politically correctness cloud your judgement. What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, no matter how many people get offended.

Well I hope they have learned a valuable lesson on responsible weapon ownership.

Not that they will ever be allowed to legally own a firearm...one assumes.

I think it depends on if they were tried as adults or minors. If minors, their files get sealed.

If adults, they are felons and most likely can't own.


Not sure on ownership laws there specifically on that.

Oh, I remember now, it was those guys that played tons of arcade games.

Close arcades now! They are unChristian!

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

But seriously, that's the letter of the law, it may suck sometimes, but the moment you start allowing flexibility and making exceptions, 'special cases' and so on, you approach tyranny.

What are you gonna do?

He was a juvenile. They can only hold him till he's 21, and that's now apparently. You can't to killing or giving life sentances to juveniles, it's just not right.

The guy should of got a real life sentence (or a needle in the arm). I don't care if he was a minor.

Oh, and they changed the loophole in the state, after he was sentenced. So when he turnd 18, he would of been transfered to an adult facility now.

Liverbreath']But he was only a child. He could not have known what he did was wrong. It was probably his parents fault for not paying enough attention to him. Now the state has probably turned the poor boy into something awful and we will all have to pay the price for their insensitivity, the capitalist bastards.

I blame the video games. That, and the mind control rays directed at him through secret chips in the grip of the gun.

You can't to killing or giving life sentances to juveniles, it's just not right.

Even if they execute 4 people... please give me a break.. it is more then appropriate. This story makes me so fucking angry. I would of been for the death penalty in his case.

What are you gonna do?

He was a juvenile. They can only hold him till he's 21, and that's now apparently. You can't to killing or giving life sentances to juveniles, it's just not right.

Why not? This shit blatantly planned and executed multiple murders. Do you think he didn't know right from wrong?

The guy should of got a real life sentence (or a needle in the arm). I don't care if he was a minor.
That sort of neo-conservative inflexibility is not particularly helpful in any judicial system.

That sort of neo-conservative inflexibility is not particularly helpful in any judicial system.

Neo-conservative inflexibility? How am I a neo-conservative? I'm not. I simply want someone sentenced for committing five murders (not four, correction: five). At least I don't go soft on justice.. oh just let him free... he's a fucking minor who killed five people.. oh that shouldn't matter.. :headbang:

I blame the idea that it's cool to kill people. It's not video games' faults for that, it's the American culture behind it. I blame society.

Why not? This shit blatantly planned and executed multiple murders. Do you think he didn't know right from wrong?

I don't care if he knew right from wrong. In any civilized nation there is a clear boundary between juvenile and adult. That applies to voting, to substance consumption, and to criminal responsibility. He is not considered to have the same responsibility at 13 as someone at 35.

Changing that is going down a slippery slope where 12 year olds will get 10 years for shoplifting, and will serve it with that 35 year old named Bubba. There must be a divide, and that divide is at 18, or 18-ish if the crime is truly horrific.

Neo-conservative inflexibility? How am I a neo-conservative? I'm not. I simply want someone sentenced for committing five murders (not four, correction: five). At least I don't go soft on justice.. oh just let him free... he's a fucking minor who killed five people.. oh that shouldn't matter.. :headbang:


Our justice system is constructed the way it is so that we don't have old-fashioned witch burnings. Yes, they deserve death, but justice is a higher law, and consistently applying American law in all circumstances is the only way to prevent tyranny. Though I mourn for the parents and the husband of the victims.

Our justice system is constructed the way it is so that we don't have old-fashioned witch burnings. Yes, they deserve death, but justice is a higher law, and consistently applying American law in all circumstances is the only way to prevent tyranny. Though I mourn for the parents and the husband of the victims.

Witch burnings? I don't want witch burnings. He killed five people. He was convicted on that. my beliefs are not going to cause tyranny. He should of at least got a real life sentence.

I'll shed tears for those who were killed and the fact that the murderer has been set free.

Thank goodness they sealed up this lope-hole so it can never happen again!

Even if they execute 4 people... please give me a break.. it is more then appropriate. This story makes me so fucking angry. I would of been for the death penalty in his case.

Except for a very few people who are completely removed from reality, everyone agrees with you. For the present however, let it sufice that people who want to set vermin like this free, are also stupid enough to place themselves in a position to be on the recieving end of one of them. They always come around one way or another.
REMEMBER! The Supreme Court has ruled....for now!

This has been a life altering experience for him (duh), but in a positive way. He now wants to dedicate his life to God by becoming a minister. I dont think we have anything to fear from him. In fact, holding him any longer would deprive the world of all the good he can do as a free man.

This has been a life altering experience for him (duh), but in a positive way. He now wants to dedicate his life to God by becoming a minister. I dont think we have anything to fear from him. In fact, holding him any longer would deprive the world of all the good he can do as a free man.

Yep. Except for the fact he killed five people. I could care less if he is dedicating life to some god.. if there is a hell, he's going straight to hell.

You know, the law was probably written sometime before this happened and the legislature and Congress probably didn't even conceive of something like this. So it made sense to release and seal at 18.

The system is set up so that you cannot just change things remember?

Yep. Except for the fact he killed five people. I could care less if he is dedicating life to some god.. if there is a hell, he's going straight to hell.

Not according to the beliefs of any major Christian or Muslim religion. All of them view God as someone willing to forgive you for anything.

Not according to the beliefs of any major Christian or Muslim religion. All of them view God as someone willing to forgive you for anything.

Well since i'm not either, I don't care. He still killed five people and deserves no forgiveness.

Well since i'm not either, I don't care. He still killed five people and deserves no forgiveness.

Well, logically speaking, in this case you have two alternatives. Either you release him and allow him to pursue his career as a minister, teaching others about his experiences and helping to prevent more tragedies like this one from happening. Or you keep him and all of his potential to do good locked up.

What is more important, the concept justice or the end result? There is no right answer of course, its a matter of personal opinion. To some people abstract concepts like justice are more important, to others practical concepts like the real world impact of a decision are more important. I choose the latter.

Liverbreath']But he was only a child. He could not have known what he did was wrong. It was probably his parents fault for not paying enough attention to him. Now the state has probably turned the poor boy into something awful and we will all have to pay the price for their insensitivity, the capitalist bastards.

:headbang:


R.I.P : Personal responsibility.

Look, it's obvious that he should have gotten a longer sentence. But for life? How old was he, 13? So, he had eight years, a long time for somebody that age. He should have been locked up until he was 35. Seriously, what the fuck is he going to do now? He has no money and no education. He will be hard pressed to find a job that can support him. Anyways, he knows that if he commits another murder, his life is done for.

Yep. Except for the fact he killed five people. I could care less if he is dedicating life to some god.. if there is a hell, he's going straight to hell.


Come on, are five dead people that big of a tragedy? I could kill 20 people right now, and none of them would mean anything in the grand scheme of things. I wouldn't, because that's mean and insane, but the value of those 5 kids isn't nearly enough, and it's probably a good thing that he helped to keep the population in check.

Come on, are five dead people that big of a tragedy? I could kill 20 people right now, and none of them would mean anything in the grand scheme of things. I wouldn't, because that's mean and insane, but the value of those 5 kids isn't nearly enough, and it's probably a good thing that he helped to keep the population in check.

That's a sick, very sick line of thinking. You should be ashamed of yourself. Help keep the population in check? That's just disgusting. Those kids did not deserve to be killed.

LazyHippies, No. I don't care. He was involved in the murders of five people. He doesn't deserve to be set free.

Yep. Except for the fact he killed five people. I could care less if he is dedicating life to some god.. if there is a hell, he's going straight to hell.
you dont believe people can repent?

What are you gonna do?

He was a juvenile. They can only hold him till he's 21, and that's now apparently. You can't to killing or giving life sentances to juveniles, it's just not right.


Why not? He wasn't 2 he knew damn well what he was doing and probably knew since he was a minor he'd do the least amount of time. He took a life we should ammend our laws to give life or even death penalty for minors who commit murder.

While we're at it we should ammend the laws for sex crimes as well. I'm tired of hearing about rapist and pedophiles who get out and do it again. Make it life or the death penalty for murder and sex crimes. We'd all be better off.

He still killed five people and deserves no forgiveness.

As you judge, so will you be judged. As you forgive, so shall you be forgiven.

He took a life we should ammend our laws to give life or even death penalty for minors who commit murder.

The Supreme Court of the United States already addressed this issue. No State in the United States can give the death penalty to a minor. Period.

Deal with it or, as the neo-con nationalists say, leave.

Oh oh oh ... or get rid of that awful embarrasment in the Constitution that dissallows cruel and unusual punishment.

Cruel would be torturing him to death. I'm saying we should keep murders out of the public for good.

The Supreme Court may have made thier ruling and I may not be able to effect any kind of change with my voice but I'll speak anyway.

From what I hear, there have been some crazy new ideas spreading over the last couple of hundred years about the way the judiciary system should work. Some ivory tower intellectuals have even gone as far as to say that punishment for crimes (or 'sanctions' as they insist on calling them,) should never be about revenge, but only about disencouraging from committing crime and protecting society from dangerous criminals. Good to see that such frilly-willy sentiments haven't taken root in the minds of the average Joe Forumgoer, though.

From what I hear, there have been some crazy new ideas spreading over the last couple of hundred years about the way the judiciary system should work. Some ivory tower intellectuals have even gone as far as to say that punishment for crimes (or 'sanctions' as they insist on calling them,) should never be about revenge, but only about disencouraging from committing crime and protecting society from dangerous criminals. Good to see that such frilly-willy sentiments haven't taken root in the minds of the average Joe Forumgoer, though.

I guess I'm supposed to feel ashamed of just being a Joe, I'm not. I didn't go to college so what I'm too stupid to have an opinion. Bite me, Dr Uppity.

As for the rest of your post we agree. Punishments are about justice and keeping the public safe from criminals. Justice isn't having 5 dead and doing a year or so for each. And you can't protect the public when you release a murder who's crimes aren't on record.

JONESBORO, Ark. It's Mitchell Johnson's 21st birthday, and it's the day the convicted Arkansas school shooter goes free.

Federal officials aren't saying whether the Jonesboro shool shooter has already been released today.

Johnson and Andrew Golden pulled a fire alarm at Westside Middle School and then killed four students and a teacher in March 1998. They injured ten others.

Under state law at the time, Arkansas could only hold them until they turned 18. Federal officials used weapons laws to lock them up until age 21.

---

This is just fucked up beyon belief. Johnson and Golden killed five people, and he gets set free... and guess what? I heard on the news it doesn't get marked on his criminal record. WTF?

This is just messed up. I'm not happy about the state of the US justice system at all.

Loophole in Arkansas law. When you're 18, you're allowed to leave jail if you committed a crime as a minor, and it is generally considered that what happens when you're a minor dies when you become an adult, all records are generally either sealed or expunged. They held him until he was 21, when the federal law they had them under finally gave out. Gun laws, funny enough.

Now closed, but you can't retroactively impose penalties upon someone (that one's in the constitution), so he walks. I'd tend to let him go though, I mean, how young was he when he did this? He needed a psychiatrist, badly, and the school system let him down. If he's stable enough now, well, then he is.

Yep. Except for the fact he killed five people. I could care less if he is dedicating life to some god.. if there is a hell, he's going straight to hell.
Actually, under most major religions the only crime for which you go to hell for is refusing to acknowledge god. Fun, no?

After all this, owning guns is still okay in the United States. :rolleyes:

What the FCUK is wrong with our government?!

This is why we need vigilantes again...

Btw it's not a federal law, it's Arkansas law, which isn't exactly the most articulate state in the union.

What the FCUK is wrong with our government?!
Nothing. It worked just like it was supposed to. The properly elected legislature enacted laws that allowed a minor's records to be sealed or expunged upon them coming of age, and it allowed them to leave jail at 18 for crimes committed as a minor. Following this tragedy, they changed it so that a minor can be held in prison past their 18th birthday. A quick look at the constitution shows us that that bill would only apply to future crimes. Blame the citizens of the great state that elected legislatures that created a law that allowed minors to leave prison upon turning 18, if you must, but don't critize the government when it did nothing wrong.

This is why we need vigilantes again...

Btw it's not a federal law, it's Arkansas law, which isn't exactly the most articulate state in the union.
Actually, the boys were held for three more years after they should have left jail because of a federal gun-control law that they violated.

What the FCUK is wrong with our government?!

Infectuous Liberallis in epidemic proportions!

After all this, owning guns is still okay in the United States. :rolleyes:

Yep. We have this crazy idea that people are free to do what they want, so long as it doesn't interfere with another. Once that happens, you pay the price.

Let me know when the Chinese government stops repressing religion and censoring the Internet, eh?

Liverbreath']Infectuous Liberallis in epidemic proportions!
Oh yes, those famous liberals down in the democratic stronghold of arkansas have struck again :rolleyes:. Please. Try harder when you troll.

Yep. We have this crazy idea that people are free to do what they want, so long as it doesn't interfere with another. Once that happens, you pay the price.

Let me know when the Chinese government stops repressing religion and censoring the Internet, eh?

The Chinese government has stopped 100% repressing religion years ago. It's better than letting a number of foul-mouthed, rubbish "religions" run wild in other "freer" places - although they still do. Falun Gong, by the way, is not a religion.

The Internet is growing too fast for the Chinese government to censor it all, if it pleases you. :rolleyes:

The Chinese government has stopped 100% repressing religion years ago. It's better than letting a number of foul-mouthed, rubbish "religions" run wild in other "freer" places - although they still do. Falun Gong, by the way, is not a religion.

The Internet is growing too fast for the Chinese government to censor it all, if it pleases you. :rolleyes:

Ah. Like the that crazy, fringe Catholic Church? Or Muslims? :rolleyes:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7693590/site/newsweek/

Which is why they just cut huge deals with Yahoo & Google to do it for them? Crazy words like "Democracy" and "Freedom"?!?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8662273/site/newsweek/

Which is why they just cut huge deals with Yahoo & Google to do it for them? Crazy words like "Democracy" and "Freedom"?!?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8662273/site/newsweek/

Its a shame that those companies would team up with China to repress peoples freedom. Yahoo and Google have made thier fortunes because of our freedom of speech.

Still it won't work for long. The free loving people of China will adapt.

Oh yes, those famous liberals down in the democratic stronghold of arkansas have struck again :rolleyes:. Please. Try harder when you troll.

Cant find many more famous liberals than Jim Guy Tucker - covicted felon in Whitewater and good ole Slick willie himself another convicted felon govoner and ex president.
You see, I dont have to try harder when dealing with the unarmed liberal temper tantrum. Now, back to my ignore list from where you so deservingly reside!

Its a shame that those companies would team up with China to repress peoples freedom. Yahoo and Google have made thier fortunes because of our freedom of speech.

Still it won't work for long. The free loving people of China will adapt.

I find it ironic that Capitalist success stories are selling services to a Communist country... and that the reason why China can afford it in the first place is because they've somewhat Capitalized!

I agree though. I'm appalled.

Liverbreath']Cant find many more famous liberals than Jim Guy Tucker - covicted felon in Whitewater and good ole Slick willie himself another convicted felon govoner and ex president.
You see, I dont have to try harder when dealing with the unarmed liberal temper tantrum. Now, back to my ignore list from where you so deservingly reside!
Oh dear. That's a classic.

Ah. Like the that crazy, fringe Catholic Church? Or Muslims? :rolleyes:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7693590/site/newsweek/

Which is why they just cut huge deals with Yahoo & Google to do it for them? Crazy words like "Democracy" and "Freedom"?!?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8662273/site/newsweek/

They're learning and changing. Regulation on religion is better than no regulation on anything, like guns and crazy whacko religions.

America could do some censoring, especially bomb making websites and such.


At least you can go to school without fear of being shot in the head (although the Mainlanders are capable of commiting far more henious crimes. :) )

At least you can go to school without fear of being shot in the head (although the Mainlanders are capable of commiting far more henious crimes. :) )

Umm..

I have never been scared of being shot in the head. Typical foreign sensationalist.

China is cool though, having bible studies in secret has a spy novel allure to it ;)

They're learning and changing. Regulation on religion is better than no regulation on anything, like guns and crazy whacko religions.

America could do some censoring, especially bomb making websites and such.


You have to be careful what you regulate. Once the goverment gets its foot in the door there's no telling where it will stop.

Take 9/11 for example: You can't regulate what Islam clerics can say because a fanatic somewhere used it to incite violence.

Or what about a Christian who bombs an abortion clinic. Should Uncle Sam regulate what churches can say about abortion?

Its only a small step from that before a goverment could control religon or free speech in gerneral. Then label anyone who opposed them a Fanatic inciting violence.

They're learning and changing. Regulation on religion is better than no regulation on anything, like guns and crazy whacko religions.

America could do some censoring, especially bomb making websites and such.

At least you can go to school without fear of being shot in the head (although the Mainlanders are capable of commiting far more henious crimes. :) )

So... that's different from the current American gun control, how?
For that matter, why are you guys following a government that is counter-revolutionary?

Censorship is always bad. So is gun control, the war on drugs, prohibition on alcohol, or enslavement.

In 13 years of going to school, I never feared that at all (granted, I entered university in 1991). Given the number of schoolyard shootings in the US, I'd not worry today, either. One has a much better chance of being hit by lightning.

Remember when this thread was about a school shooter going free?

So... that's different from the current American gun control, how?
For that matter, why are you guys following a government that is counter-revolutionary?

Censorship is always bad. So is gun control, the war on drugs, prohibition on alcohol, or enslavement.

In 13 years of going to school, I never feared that at all (granted, I entered university in 1991). Given the number of schoolyard shootings in the US, I'd not worry today, either. One has a much better chance of being hit by lightning.

To quote the Party, Freedom is Slavery. Complete freedom, ironically, equals complete slavery. Responsible freedom is what counts. Censorship is not always bad. Gun control is especially good, so is the war on drugs, and limits on alcohol consumption is brilliant. Enslavement? Duh. -_-''

To quote the Party, Freedom is Slavery. Complete freedom, ironically, equals complete slavery. Responsible freedom is what counts.

What a load of crap.

For starters criminals in China have guns just not the people. (In no small part due to fear that the people would use them against your 'Party' I'm sure) Here criminals also have guns but the people have the right to own them and when needed protect ourselves with them.

And as for the Bubble theory your goverment feeds you, I'd rather live free exposed to dangers then oppressed but 'safe' in my bubble.

Umm..

I have never been scared of being shot in the head. Typical foreign sensationalist.

China is cool though, having bible studies in secret has a spy novel allure to it ;)

Lol. I'm just paranoid.

What novel is that?

What a load of crap.

For starters criminals in China have guns just not the people. (In no small part due to fear that the people would use them against your 'Party' I'm sure) Here criminals also have guns but the people have the right to own them and when needed protect ourselves with them.
The problem is that some people don't want guns to protect themselves, but what to harm others. The more guns there are on the street, the easier somebody gets hurt by guns.

And as for the Bubble theory your goverment feeds you, I'd rather live free exposed to dangers then oppressed but 'safe' in my bubble.

Depends how you balance "danger" and "safety".

Either way, I wouldn't want to live in either countries. Hong Kong is the best. :D

In my opinion the justice system in relation to it's punishments are pretty foolish in severe cases such as murder, rape, etc. Get sent to jail, fined, etc. BIG WHOOP! In my opinion torture would be a very effective punishment for their stay, in my opinion people in jail have it way too easy as it is these days.

All of my freedoms are sacred. It would never be acceptable to me for my goverment to take them away under the guise of protecting me.

You can't stop a criminal from getting a gun so why stop a law abiding citizen from being able to own a gun?

I blame the idea that it's cool to kill people. It's not video games' faults for that, it's the American culture behind it. I blame society.
Whatever reasoning or influences may have been behind the incident, those kids made a choice. That choice was to take six lives. I don't know about anyone else, but there's never been a time in my life where I deemed it permissible to end another life, moreover saw that it was my place to decide who should live and who should die. I believe one who decides to take such matters into their own hands without just cause (i.e. self defense or defense of another) should be put to death.
Neo-con crap is generally unfounded and largely unthought. Strong but educated decisions regarding how our society is run is simply confidence in one's beliefs. Further, they are not laws, but beliefs and opinions.

blame the "politically correct" groups. You know, the same type of groups who oppose the war on terror because it offends some people or those whitewashing history books to avoid offending people. If a guy's too old for juvy, send him to prison to finish his term. I don't care if the ACLU hates my ideas. Screw them. They oppose the boarder patrol because it offends Mexicans. Couldn't the terrorists get in through the Mexican-US border? Wouldn't it be great if we could catch them somehow before they blow themselves up? You can't let politically correctness cloud your judgement. What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, no matter how many people get offended.


The only comment you deserve is "Grow up"

That sort of neo-conservative inflexibility is not particularly helpful in any judicial system.


Mesa? A neocon? It's common sense, not neoconservativism.

The only comment you deserve is "Grow up"



I quite agree with him, to be honest. How about we stop risking the lives of society by letting scum like this off easy.

I quite agree with him, to be honest. How about we stop risking the lives of society by letting scum like this off easy.


Then I must say the same thing to you.

Then I must say the same thing to you.


I'm going to assume you haven't experienced crime like I have, and give you the benefit of the doubt. There's no way you would be lenient on those animals if you had.

I'm going to assume you haven't experienced crime like I have, and give you the benefit of the doubt. There's no way you would be lenient on those animals if you had.


I've grown up in violent poor neighborhoods with all the violence I could handle. I've probably seen much more than you have, but I care not to make this a contest. Maybe you have seen violence far beyond anything I can imagine, but I seriously doubt it.

Anyway I never said anyone should be lenient on anyone. If you can't see how that guy needs to grown up now, then perhaps when you gain a few years you will. Ah shoot, I'll just point out a couple things to give you a headstart. No one is against the war on terror. I won't say what I think of that statement but :rolleyes: - And who is against secure borders. again I must :rolleyes:

To me these statements come from a very immature mind and if you agree with them I can only hope that you open your eyes or put a little more thought into them and perhaps look at alternative ways of seeing things.

I'm going to assume you haven't experienced crime like I have, and give you the benefit of the doubt. There's no way you would be lenient on those animals if you had.
His statement was highly immature, and full of a few nonsequitors and other forms of god knows what. The state of arkansas fucked up, won't be the first time it happened, but then again we try to think the best of people and hope this doesn't happen. If it really bothers you, you can take comfort in the knowledge no one else who commits a crime like this will get out when they turn 18 again, unless there are circumstances that lead to a lenient sentance (like being batshit insane).


And before you begin to say I've never experienced crime, I've lived with crime for a good bit of my life, and quite a few of my friends have been raped. I don't enjoy seeing the fuckers get off as much as you do.

After all this, owning guns is still okay in the United States. :rolleyes:
It was never "OK" (i.e. legal) for Johnson to be in possession of a firearm. It is even "less so" now that he is a convicted felon.

How would you make it more illegal?

What was really too bad is that there wasn't any responsible adult at the school to shoot the little git before he killed five people with his illegally obtained firearm.

Why not? He wasn't 2 he knew damn well what he was doing and probably knew since he was a minor he'd do the least amount of time.

Yes, he knew what he was doing, but I doubt that he even considered the potential consequences. People who commit crimes generally believe they're going to get away with them.

Liverbreath']good ole Slick willie himself another convicted felon govoner and ex president

I'm sorry ... but, ummm ... what was Bill Clinton convicted of?

I'm sorry ... but, ummm ... what was Bill Clinton convicted of?
He wasn't.

As you judge, so will you be judged. As you forgive, so shall you be forgiven.

Treat others how you would like to be treated if i commited a crime like that I would deserve no forgiveness, i personally believe that i would deserve to die.


This whole event sickens me when i was 13 I knew the difference between right and wrong, you'd have to be severly mentally impaired not to.

What it all boils down to is that they made a choice, nobody forced them to pull that trigger. Now they have to face the consequences they deserve to die.

In most places they could have tried him as an adult. I can't fathom why a state would still have those old-fashioned juvenile crime laws.

This is just fucked up beyon belief. Johnson and Golden killed five people, and he gets set free... and guess what? I heard on the news it doesn't get marked on his criminal record. WTF?

This is just messed up. I'm not happy about the state of the US justice system at all.What is worse is tht he was in prision, yet the bullies who abused him and led to his horrible crimes were never charged,

He wasn't.
Why was disbarred, then?

What is worse is tht he was in prision, yet the bullies who abused him and led to his horrible crimes were never charged,
Um... I was bullied quite badly from 4th through 11th grades (until I went to Army Boot Camp - then it stopped... gee, I wonder why?) and I never shot anyone... I even had access to rifles in the school (I was on the school rifle team) and all over the school grounds (this was Wyoming. Many kept rifles in a rack in the back window of thir pickup trucks...)

The problem is NOT "bullying". The problem is NOT access to firearms. The problem is piss-poor parenting and a system that stifles normal child interaction (including playground fights and learning/applying appropriate self defense) until the ethically challanged feel they have no recourse but suicidal activity.

When you tell a kid they can't defend themselves, that all they can do is tattle - and get more abuse for it, then you are asking to develop psychosis.

Why was disbarred, then?
Because first off, being disbarred isn't the same as being considered a feleon, the state bars and the supreme court bar (which is far more of an honor type thing then anything that has a basis in reality, as very very few lawyers actually argue cases infront of the supreme court) tend to disbar people for conduct, while not illegal, is questionable, and more to the point, Clinton didn't fight the disbarment, if he did, he most likely would have won. But he didn't bother, becasue he didn't need his ability to practice law anymore.

JONESBORO, Ark. It's Mitchell Johnson's 21st birthday, and it's the day the convicted Arkansas school shooter goes free.

Federal officials aren't saying whether the Jonesboro shool shooter has already been released today.

Johnson and Andrew Golden pulled a fire alarm at Westside Middle School and then killed four students and a teacher in March 1998. They injured ten others.

Under state law at the time, Arkansas could only hold them until they turned 18. Federal officials used weapons laws to lock them up until age 21.

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This is just fucked up beyon belief. Johnson and Golden killed five people, and he gets set free... and guess what? I heard on the news it doesn't get marked on his criminal record. WTF?

This is just messed up. I'm not happy about the state of the US justice system at all.

Well, don't pin this on the US justice system. Blame this on the Arkansas justice system. In most states, he would have been tried as an adult.

I believe that children who are messed up in the head should be held accountable for what they do but they need to be given another chance. I think it maybe should be kept on their criminal record but I don't think they should be tried as adults nor given the death penalty. Haven't you ever met some teenage kid who is severely screwed up in the head when he/she is a teen but mellows out a lot as an adult? Don't be so judgemental, you* couldda been the shooter too.

*This is not directed toward any single individual... it's just a general statement. :p

I believe that children who are messed up in the head should be held accountable for what they do but they need to be given another chance. I think it maybe should be kept on their criminal record but I don't think they should be tried as adults nor given the death penalty. Haven't you ever met some teenage kid who is severely screwed up in the head when he/she is a teen but mellows out a lot as an adult? Don't be so judgemental, you* couldda been the shooter too.

*This is not directed toward any single individual... it's just a general statement. :p

Generally agreed but there is a difference between being "severely screwed up" and going out and killing innocent people in a planned massacre.

I "couldda" been a shooter, but I wasn't. Having a rough time in adolesence is no excuse to murder people.

What is worse is tht he was in prision, yet the bullies who abused him and led to his horrible crimes were never charged,

I agree with Syniks. I got bullied too but at no point did i let myself become that weak no matter how much bullying you get (believe me i've seen it) you always have a choice to pull the trigger.

That sort of neo-conservative inflexibility is not particularly helpful in any judicial system.
Dude, I'm incredibly liberal and I agree with his assessment. If you're old enough to plan and carry out 5 murders, then you're old enough to realize the concequences of your actions and old enough to face the rest of your (natural) life in jail. (I'm anti-death penalty, however.)

Now they have to face the consequences they deserve to die.

If you say it, it must be true.

Why was disbarred, then?

Ethical misconduct. At least that's the reason given. The real reason is he got caught. Lawyers break the ethical conduct rules all the time. Some get caught, some don't.

Anyway, he was disbarred in Arkansas. If he wanted, he could still take the bar and practice in other states, I believe.

He has not, however, been convicted of any felony in any state in the US. He was never charged with evading the draft and, hence, was also never a fugitive from justice.

The only person with a criminal record to ever serve as President of the United States is George W. Bush. It doesn't matter, though. I don't recall anything in the Constitution that says anything about a Presidential candidate requiring any particular religion, moral compass, or ethics and I also believe the requirements of Presidential candidacy allow for a criminal record, drug abuse, drunkeness ...

Shit, man, a Presidential candidate can hit the crack pipe twice a week, sleep with hookers every night, worship Satan, and have a felony conviction record half a mile long. As long as he or she is 35, a natural born citizen, and have lived in this country for at least 14 years, he or she is eligable.

I agree with Syniks. I got bullied too but at no point did i let myself become that weak no matter how much bullying you get (believe me i've seen it) you always have a choice to pull the trigger.
Agreed, and it really iritates me when people go on a rampage about how "the bullies should be blamed too". I was bullied in some form from around grade 4 until the beginning of grade 10 (I'm starting grade 12 in two weeks, and now my friends consider me one of the happiest people they know. Lots can change in a year or two). That's 5 years. Not once did I hit someone, or plot to hurt someone, or plan to blow up my school and kill people. Yes, bullying victimizes people, but does the fact that you got raped give you the right to go out and kill innocent people? Of course not. Then why should being bullied (which, even in its most serious forms, is not as bad as rape, however more frequent and repeated) be an excuse to kill people? If you choose to pull the trigger, YOU and YOU ALONE are responsible. Not the bullies who picked on you, not your principal, parents (though this is debatable, but not now), friends, priest, video game manufacturers or random people on the street. You. That that's something I think many of these bleeding hearts need to realize. Pin the blame where it belongs.