SEVEN TEENAGERS KILLED IN N. C.

[boothead]

Seven teenagers ranging from 13 to 18 were killed this A.M. about 12:30 after being chased by the Troutman Police. The driver was seen driving in an erratic way and a chase was started. The car ran off the roadway to the left and went into a slid ending up in a small stream-bed on it's top. All seven, 5 boys and 2 girls were killed instantly. The auto was stolen earlier in the night. Some of the victims have not been identified. The teenagers were all from the Statesville, N. C. area. Sorry but this is all I have.

[SkyPilot]

I'll pile on as well--you are wrong.

[DCBryan1]

LOL, yeah, it was a 240 post thread to one arrogant, assinine, ignorant post by TheCrusader.

He/she deserved to get smoked on this thread.

[DCBryan1]

I'll pile on as well--you are wrong.

Yeah, TheCrusader never came back on to neither defend the stupid beliefs/arguements, nor to apologize after more facts were confirmed.

Paging TheCrusader for an apology, or a different argument from you this afternoon. You have had enough time to read the facts and input from other, more realistic and logical Freepers.

[BJungNan]

The father of the driver says on local T.V. "this could have been avoided.".

Do I need to say it (someone probably already has). I feel for the father and the families. But, how this could have been avoided would have been for (1) the teenagers not to have stolen the vehicle in the first place or (2) the teenagers should have pulled over when the police came upon them.

Should they have been chased. If the answer is no, then the police should have just ignored it and waited for the teens to roll over in some other ditch or killed innocent people on down the road.

[FormerRep]

You are entirely WRONG. To forbid pursuit is to encourage criminal activities. They died for stupidity sake - and not the police officers correct decision to pursue.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Criminals with safety on their minds do not lead police on a high speed chase ,through areas where innocent children and law abiding citizens live and drive.

I am sorry for the deaths of these kids, but it is nothing they did not bring upon themselves.

[BJungNan]

If you think this car chase was worth it, then you go take a flying #$%&^% for yourself.

If the police had not chased them, they would have likely killed themselves anyway or someone else. That is reality. You are being one dimensional when you ignore that reality.

The ones that are dead are the ones that committed the act. Not an innocent bystander. It is sad, tragic. But as a result of this accident many other children will be saved as their parents take note and closer watch over their children.

By your reasoning that the cops are to blame, you might just as well be saying the person whose car was stolen was to blame for not making sure it could not be stolen.

[Sloth]

If caring more about the lives of seven teenagers than rcovering a piece of tin makes me a Libertarian, then I guess I'm a libertarian.

Don't worry, you are not a libertarian. Libertarians value private property rights and believe in personal responsibility. So you have nothing to worry about.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

"We just saw them yesterday," she said. "They were happy and laughing. ... It looks like they were out having fun last night, just doing their Christmas holiday break."

I don't know about Statesville, but around here, but 13 year olds stealing cars and driving around like maniacs after midnight isn't 'having fun on a Christmas break'.

[TEXASPROUD]

According to the original post,the car was moving in an erratic way. That might have implied to the officer in question that the individual driving the vehicle might be impaired. Are you saying that impaired drivers should not be stopped? The officer can only go by what he observes.

[Stonewall Jackson]

If a LEO spots a car zipping down the highway at 80-100 mph and weaving erratically at 12:30 at night during the holiday season, is it not reasonable for said LEO to logically conclude that the person behind the wheel might have been hitting the bottle a little too hard?

I wish a LEO had spotted a certain Chevy S-10 pickup truck travelling at a high speed and weaving erratically on a May evening in 1988, before Larry Mahoney slammed his truck into a church bus full of kids and killed 27 and injured 30 others. When a LEO goes on a high-speed chase like this, usually they are not doing it for kicks or for any other reason than to try and prevent another Carrolton Bus Crash.

[singlemomofone]

Actually, I read an article today which included an interview of a parent whose child hung around these teens. His child was 14, and he refused to let his child go out with this group that night...and was darned glad he put his foot down.

A parent needs to remember one thing: They are the parent...the kid is the kid. 'nuff said.

[Age of Reason]

Still something wrong.

I mean, a judge wouldn't offer a criminal the choice of going to jail or going to Harvard.

[Age of Reason]

A parent needs to remember one thing: They are the parent...the kid is the kid. 'nuff said.

It is no longer that simple.

Society and our laws need to remember the parents are the parents and the kid is the kid.

These days, society too often undermines a parent's authority rather than supports it.

Parents are fighting a losing battle.

There are even some states that will take someone's underage daughter for an abortion without the parents' knowing about it.

What is that, if not an undermining of parental authority?

Discipline your kid, and you may be sent to jail for child abuse.

No--the fault is not entirely the parents'.

And this is all the more reason Americans are having fewer kids.

[CyberCowboy777]

I think going to Harvard (paid or not) is a lot different that becoming property of the U.S. Navy for 4 years.

You go where they send you, you eat when they let you, you sleep when they give you a bunk. Hair cut, facial hair regulated, cloths assigned, drug tests and responsibility that left un attended can put you in the Brig for a long time.

You cannot walk away from the Navy in 6 months if you don't like it or want to pursue other interests.

Big difference in my book.

[philetus]

You can bet there is a reason his kid minded him.
Lots of 14 yr olds out there tell their parents they are going to do what they want to do and there is not much now that a parent can do then.

[CyberCowboy777]

I should point out that we are talking about minor offense by minors. I do not think any felony qualifies.

These are just trouble kids who can sit in juvy or jail for 6 months to a year or join up for 4 years.

[Age of Reason]

Big difference in my book.

You miss my point: Why must service in the armed forces be seen as less rewarding than attending Harvard?

The very fact that the military has room for judges to send them criminals means there's something wrong.

Men should be lined-up to join their countries military--and Harvard should get those that the military rejects or Harvard should get them after their service is over.

[CyberCowboy777]

I did miss your point, I thought you felt it was a bad program.

I agree with you on your point. One reason must be the commitment level - most Americans hate commitment. Then the pay.... my dad got out after 12 years because of pay and affirmative action. We where pretty damn poor while he was serving.

The training is actually very good - my cousin is in the Navy and is training for things that will make him a valuable asset to the civilian world - my dad trained in electronics and computers, has made a good living in that field ever since.

I would say that those who cannot afford Harvard see the value in Military service. Many of my "poor white" buddies have or are serving.

[Age of Reason]

I remember hearing one sailor on a carrier being interviewed: he was given the choice of service or jail, and he chose service.

I was a-m-a-z-e-d to hear him say that he was miserable--that being on the carrier was almost as bad as being in jail.

With all the interesting machinery and spectacle all around him--what a hopelessly dull mind the fellow must have to perfer being back in the 'hood.