[Raven6]

Not knowing what the family relationship was like in the father's/son's home, I will not personally pass judgement on son or father. The son paid with his life for his chosen path, and now his father with have to live with the situation for the rest of his days. I don't know what drove the kid to crime, but I do know he surely new right from wrong. Sad situation...

I once heard it said the "the failure of the son to act responsibly is the failure of the father to teach responsibility." At one point in my life I totally agreed with that... I'm not too sure that I do so as much as I used to. I have an 8 year old that I am doing everything in my power to raise as a good Christian boy... I have him in a Christian school and am very involved in his life (without smothering him.) I face a battle with some outside influence every day, and am thankful that he will talk to me and ask me questions so that I can explain the "rights and wrongs" involved with whatever the situation might be. But what if I wasn't able to be there enough? In today's world, a parent that is trying to do everything right in raising his child is outnumbered by liberal enablers of all types at every turn and has an uphill battle.

[Jim Noble]

“At one point in my life I totally agreed with that”

Me too - and then I had kids.

[Smokin' Joe]

You do your best to give them the tools to live a good life and show them how to use them.

From there it is up to them. They become skilled artisans, lose the tools, break them, hock them...that part is up to them.

And no amount of ragging on them about it will change them if they are determined to make a mess of things.

Placing the 'guilt' on parents for a child screwing up later on is a Liberal head game, and I refuse to play.

That isn't saying parents can't mess a kid up, but I don't see that likely coming out of a good God-fearing household.