Irvine fire - Page 33

Morrigoon · 10-31-2007, 12:40 PM

But if the parents have to work extra hours in order to pay damages, doesn't that leave their kid that much less attended to?

Kevy Baby · 10-31-2007, 12:51 PM

The kid should just get a stern talking. That is all he needs.

Seriously, there is only so much one can do to punish the kid. They have not released his age, but since he was playing with matches, I would venture to guess he was under 12. Harsh punishment (such as Juvenile Hall) would only damage the kid and serve no positive function to society as a whole (it would probably only create another lifetime criminal). However, there are things that could be done to punish the boy and teach him the severity of his crime. If it were up to me, taking the kid to some of the homes that were burned up and talking to people who lost all of their possessions would be one thing that comes to mind (pre-screened people who wouldn't yell at the kid - just highlight how this tragedy affected their lives and discuss some of the things they lost).

The parents are, I believe, technically liable, both criminally and civilly for the fire (including the cost to fight it and property loss).

Morrigoon · 10-31-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

The parents are, I believe, technically liable, both criminally and civilly for the fire (including the cost to fight it and property loss).

They are... I'm just pointing out how silly that is, since we all know that the entirety of their families fortunes cannot account for a drop in the bucket of the actual costs incurred, and that financially devastating the family, while it may feel good and just to the fire victims, will serve no useful purpose other than to make it that much harder for the child to receive the supervision he obviously requires.

But I can't suggest we change the system either, because the last thing we need is a world in which parents feel they can let their kids run wild with no consequences.

... oops, too late.

Moonliner · 10-31-2007, 01:13 PM

I suppose a lot would depend on the exact circumstances. Who among us has played with matches at some point? I know I have and I know my kids have. It's fairly normal for a kid to play with matches.

It's just that most kids don't start fires that burn down multiple dwellings. So what really happened? Did the kid see the other fires on TV and say WOW that looks cool, followed by running into the brush and setting a dozen different bushes on fire?

Or did the kid just sneak out behind the house to light a match or two and things got horribly out of hand? It's easy for a kid to think that once they blow out a match, it's out and not to know what can happen if you toss that extinguished match into some dry brush.....

Cadaverous Pallor · 10-31-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Or did the kid just sneak out behind the house to light a match or two and things got horribly out of hand?

In that case I can't even imagine being the kid or the family involved. They must be horribly distraught, and I'd probably handle it much the same way they handled the father who left his baby in the car by mistake (he never usually dropped the kid off at daycare, so he completely forgot the sleeping kid was in there and just drove to work) and the kid died - the guy was so destroyed by what he had done, no punishment from the gov't was needed.

Gemini Cricket · 10-31-2007, 12:52 PM

In the spirit of Halloween, they should remove his fingers so he can never play with matches again.

I'm joking, of course.

BarTopDancer · 10-31-2007, 01:09 PM

The Griffith Park fire was started by teens playing with lighters.

No charges were filed.

lashbear · 11-01-2007, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

The Griffith Park fire was started by teens playing with lighters.

No charges were filed.

Why ??

BarTopDancer · 11-01-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lashbear

Why ??

Stupid, dumb accident. That's not to say that they won't be hit with a clean-up bill. But the kids aren't going to jail.

Disneyphile · 10-31-2007, 02:15 PM

Ok, being less harsh, at a bare minimum, I'd make the kid personally hand all his belongings to the fire victims to replace a bit of what they lost. He needs to experience the loss for himself.

10-31-2007, 12:40 PM	#1
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	But if the parents have to work extra hours in order to pay damages, doesn't that leave their kid that much less attended to? __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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10-31-2007, 12:51 PM	#2
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	The kid should just get a stern talking. That is all he needs. Seriously, there is only so much one can do to punish the kid. They have not released his age, but since he was playing with matches, I would venture to guess he was under 12. Harsh punishment (such as Juvenile Hall) would only damage the kid and serve no positive function to society as a whole (it would probably only create another lifetime criminal). However, there are things that could be done to punish the boy and teach him the severity of his crime. If it were up to me, taking the kid to some of the homes that were burned up and talking to people who lost all of their possessions would be one thing that comes to mind (pre-screened people who wouldn't yell at the kid - just highlight how this tragedy affected their lives and discuss some of the things they lost). The parents are, I believe, technically liable, both criminally and civilly for the fire (including the cost to fight it and property loss). __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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10-31-2007, 01:13 PM	#4
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	I suppose a lot would depend on the exact circumstances. Who among us has played with matches at some point? I know I have and I know my kids have. It's fairly normal for a kid to play with matches. It's just that most kids don't start fires that burn down multiple dwellings. So what really happened? Did the kid see the other fires on TV and say WOW that looks cool, followed by running into the brush and setting a dozen different bushes on fire? Or did the kid just sneak out behind the house to light a match or two and things got horribly out of hand? It's easy for a kid to think that once they blow out a match, it's out and not to know what can happen if you toss that extinguished match into some dry brush..... __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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10-31-2007, 12:52 PM	#6
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	In the spirit of Halloween, they should remove his fingers so he can never play with matches again. I'm joking, of course.
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10-31-2007, 01:09 PM	#7
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	The Griffith Park fire was started by teens playing with lighters. No charges were filed. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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10-31-2007, 02:15 PM	#10
Disneyphile SQUIRREL! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the curbside. Posts: 5,098	Ok, being less harsh, at a bare minimum, I'd make the kid personally hand all his belongings to the fire victims to replace a bit of what they lost. He needs to experience the loss for himself.
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