‘Ding Dong Ditch’ Death

[Knight]

I don't think any post has questioned.

Is answering a wrung door bell with a gun in hand or within reach to be able to open the door & shoot at a running target reasonable? To me this sounds premeditated.

 

[Fritz]

Unfortunately, kids don't (and can't) yet have the long view. That's why societies have greater tolerance for "childish acts," including in the legal systems. The amygdala, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, doesn't fully mature until we reach about age 25.

Heck, the child who was killed was still two years off from being a teenager, never mind in his twenties. His murderer was 42.

How many times were we asked as children (or asked our children), "Why did you do that?" or "What were you thinking?" only to get the shrug and very honest answers, "I don't know why I did it." or "I wasn't thinking."

If a child can get shot for playing ding-dong-ditch, what should be the consequence for the almighty sins of cutting across a neighbor's lawn, playing in the street, being noisy, splashing in public pools, and so forth?

How extraordinarily intolerant we've become.

We didn't do that when we were kids. We were taught it was disrespectful behavior. The only time we ever rang a door bell and ran was with school mates on May Day. So maybe the parents need to be a little more vigilant with the children. I'm not saying what the shooter did was ok, I'm just saying people are no longer the same. Why? I don't know. I think it started to get bad with the lockdowns and it's just been nose diving ever since.

 

[Della]

Does this face look familiar at all?

This is John L Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers while I was growing up. His brother, who looked just like him, lived in between our house and our best friend's house. We all had about five acres so going down to the highway, then over and back-up his long drive, would have been a trip. It was much easier to cut across Mr. Lewis's lawn.

He yelled at us a few times and then one day stood on his front porch holding his rifle. We ran home terrified, told out mother, who then lectured us never to do it again. Then she called Mr. Lewis. I felt sorry for him.

 

[CaliS]

It's Texas. That governor lets people have as many guns as they want. I'm not surprised. Down in Florida, some of us boys did the same thing. We were 10 or 11. We never got shot, just yelled at.

Times have certainly changed .....