Cruel Intentions

Three teenagers (two age 18, one age 17) were arraigned for assault and murder in South Florida this week for cruelly beating three homeless people with baseball bats, so mercilessly that one 45-year-old man was killed. The entire incident was captured on film by a security camera.

After the arraignment, Micheal Gottlieb, the 17-year-old defendant's attorney, had this to say:

"It's gut-wrenching. He's a baby."
"He's being judged for one day in his life. It's really a tragedy for one day and one decision in your life to affect the rest of your life."

Did this attorney grow up in some different world than I did? A 17-year-old is not a baby, especially under these circumstances. He's dangerous. He certainly understands that beating a man to death for sport is wrong, both legally and morally.

And this 17-year-old gave no thought as to how this "one day and one decision" affected the rest of Mr. Norris Gaynor's life. It ended it.

Yes, it is a tragedy. But that tragedy was caused by this teenager, and he should be judged and held responsible for it.