Quality articles is the important to attract the people to pay a visit the website, that�s what this web site is providing.
http://www.christmasresortpackages.com

That's messed up. This is partially why my kid will be enrolling in martial arts next year (at 6).

First of all, let me say that I am sorry that your son had to go through that. Unfortunately, your information is not correct. Bullying is not a crime on the books in Maryland or federally. What your son went through is Assault, which is a matter for the police to resolve.

That's all fine and dandy, Maryjane but has nothing to do with this case. An innocent boy was shot, period. The shooter needs to be held accountable for his actions. His parents too, in my opinion.

It is troublesome that there is so much cruelty today ,especially among kids toward their peers. Years ago (fifties and sixties), kids didn't abuse each other to the degree that I see today. Even in the seventies, when I taught school, I never saw this type of thing going on. Parents need to teach their kids kindness at an early age. Maybe that's what's lacking today. Obviously, this kid was hurting very badly with personal issues, and the bullying may have caused him to snap.

This is why God and daily prayers should be brought back into public schools. Kids need to learn to respect one another and pray. But the praying only happens when someone dies as you can see. Instead of handing out free condoms and teaching sex ed we can hand out bibles and have lessons on why Jesus is good for you. It will never get done because America does not want to offend anyone else. So there will be more and more shootings in this country. Looks like they are just getting started.

In response to Gabe's suggestion, it's not because America doesn't want to offend anyone. It's because this country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and institutionalized religion in public schools is the opposite of freedom. Taking away religious freedom will most certainly not change the amount of violence in schools. Comments like yours are why non-Christians think ALL of us are closed-minded people who want to force our beliefs on everyone around us.

You can be a good person and not be religious. You can learn morals without church. And you don't have to believe in Yahweh or Jesus to know that killing or hurting another person is wrong. The problem in our country is not a lack of church, but a lack of personal accountability for our own actions and what we can do together as a community, regardless of our individual beliefs.

I agree with the overcrowding of the school. It is definitely an major issue and has been for a VERY long time. But I disagree with the bullying and racial issues comment. I graduated from PHHS 9 years ago and it most definitely was NOT like that at all. I had some of the best times of my life at that school. I'm sure I had come across a "bully" or two in my 4 years there, but really, what school doesnt have bullies? I'm not saying that bullying is right (because it is not), I'm just saying that it was a lot different at Perry Hall when I went there. And if you want blame anyone, blame the parents of the bullies. Teach your children...no wait, SHOW your children how to be kind and respectful and they will grow up to BE kind and respectful.

You can thank poor zoning, families that sold off family farms to developers and lack of foresight for the overcrowding at the school. At the same time, disproportionate funding has been sent to low achieving minority schools filling them with technology, extra staff and new facilities while trailers were parked at Perry Hall.

I have been a volunteer for what will be my 6th year this year and the teachers and staff are wonderful. I have seen a few times were students behavior was awful and many bars of soap could not clean the language they were using. When their parents picked them up I learned were their behavior came from, their parents. Yes the school is overcrowded. As far as the racial & bullying issues I have seen staff separate students and talk to them and volunteer parents have as well. ALL schools have these issues, it's how they are handled that counts. I am proud to say my child graduated from Perry Hall High School, he got an excellant education. Stop blaming the school, point the finger were it belongs=that parents.
Was very happy to hear Daniel is doing better, he has a long road ahead of him but as long as he is doing better each day things are going well. I hope Bobby pays for what he did to Daniel, his family, all the students, staff, parents, and friends of P.H.H.S.

ITS THE PARENTS FAULT. You want to fix your kids, take them to church EVERY Sunday. Let them learn about there lord in Sunday School. Have them read a bible daily. If all the kids did this then they would respect each other like the kids in my daughters Christian school. I took her out after Pre-k because i dont want her to have any part of this violence. America does not want to offend anyone else's religion so no religion is allowed. Well happy for the government because now more situations like this will arise. A real parent would spend money to give there kids the best education but most think they care but they don't so they buy them nice shoes, clothes so they can look sexy and have babies at 16 etc. They rather drive a nice car then give there child an education so dont say i dont have money too do this. Sell one of your 3 cars and you can. This is for all the parents and this probably applies to 90 percent of them.

To JD1 - What does 'families selling off the family farm' have to do with the fact that an innocent boy was shot by the hand of a troubled youth? Someday I will beselling off the family farm in Perry Hall and although it may create more homes in the area it certainly won't be the cause of such tragedies.

Follow the thread Joyce - i replied to a comment about overcrowding. PHHS has unsafe conditions because it is horribly overcrowded. This has occurred because areas that were once sparsely populated agricultural areas have become overdeveloped. Glad you were lucky enough to inherit property - do the responsible thing and don't destroy more agricultural land. Hopefully BCPS will build a new HS to ease the unsafe and crowded conditions at the school.

So right on, Mike. Managing a high school population like this obviously requires strong violence prevention efforts -- none of which have ongoingly been implemented. Packing 'em in and then having no student support programs is dangerous.

You used a word we seldom hear any longer. One I heard lots as a kid. SHAME!
Remember the phrase "Shame on you!" Shame seems to be a forgotten term and some say it has been removed so as to not hurt children's self esteem. Self esteem is earned and gained by success in something, it is not something you are born with.

Agreed Joe. Shame is something that doesn't exist. One reason is that respect doesn't exist either. When a child doesn't respect his parents, respect his teachers, respect his friends and elders, there is no way for him to have shame. By the way I see some kids dress and act, they don't even respect themselves.

Schools USED to have shooting clubs in different states in the 60's and 70's. Kids would bring their 22 LR rifles to school. Never had these problems then.

Joe, your right! When I was at Loch Raven High in the early 80's we had a shooting club. Consisting of target shooting and clay pidgeon shooting.

Leslie, I too was sent to an overcrowded black school during desegregation in the 70's, on just my second day of school I had a gun put to my forehead by another student. I guess it all comes down to just how bad the school is, this was just 9th grade. A" bad seed" is just A" bad seed" !

Noelle it wasn't about bullying, "Bullying not a factor" Bobby planned this, he took the gun to school went to his first two classes and then hid the bag in the bathroom that he had the gun and vodka in, left the cafeteria assembled the gun and shot off the gun shotting and innocent boy. Bullying is the excuse not the reason.

Very true, Noelle. Schools have now began to be held accountable for incidence rates on bullying and school violence. Other counties in Maryland have implemented programs like "Building Bridges" to prevent and reduce the prevalence of this problem.

While the Office of Special Education has not responded to the very real problem that inclusion of special education students is not happening appropriately in our Bmore County schools -- without planning and school wide awareness programs such as Building Bridges or even appropriate training of staff on special needs -- the county does not standardize any approach to promoting positive relationships between students at all. So, no, they aren't about to admit it was a case of bullying. PHMS could very easy be liable (according to school policy) for failing to respond to any history of bullying of either party involved in this shooting.

It is well documented that most of those in prison were fatherless. We see it in major cities daily. 74% of all black babies born without fathers in their lives. Tens of thousands have been through day care of one kind or another and they never turned to violence like this kid did. There is validity in what you say but not the only reason.

Wait, so because my children go to daycare, that means they're going to bring a gun to school???? Just because parents work, whether by choice or necessity, doesn't mean that someone else is raising their child. Sure, many parents probably rely on daycare to raise their kids. However, others, such as myself. sacrifice and parent and work. My children are more polite and kind than many who have moms/dads who don't work. Don't make blanket statements or place blame on one sector of the population unless you can back it up.

Just where was he? Sleeping? Not paying attention? Impotent to stop the shooting? All of the above?

So you believe that every atheist will become a killer? I don't need threats of a horrific afterlife to keep me from doing terrible things. I am a good, kind, generous, compassionate person and I am an atheist.

I'm sorry but you're wrong. Perry Hall may be a public school, but it contained some of the most religious people I know. The high school is very accommodating of all students and their religions. There's the 180 Club that is a Christian organization that organizes events such as "See You at the Pole" where students pray around the flag pole. The school allows students to wear religious garments and headwear, and also allows students who are fasting to spend their lunch periods in the library. Instead of a lack of religion, there's an abundance. That's the wonderful thing about Perry Hall-- it's so diverse. And yes, there are kids who are atheist, agnostic, and unsure of their beliefs, but that doesn't make them bad people. They coexist peacefully with the religious students in classes, clubs, and sports. As a member of the most recent graduating class at Perry Hall, I personally know that while the National Honor Society collected gently used coats for those in need in the winter time and while the NHS raised money in the Link Sale for Johns Hopkins Children Center, there were students who identified with religion and who did not. For a majority of the students, the morals are very strong at Perry Hall. The students live for good grades, sports, the future, their friends, and their families. Robert Gladden does not reflect the students or community of Perry Hall.

Definitely agree with parenting (lack thereof) being the biggest issue today.
It's hard work to do it right, but the proof is in the end product, your children.

Definitely agree - and when families do get time they cart their kids off to organized sports and other activities instead of spending quality time together talking and forging relationships. Parents need to slow down, listen to their kids and stop thinking that big houses, multiple cars, flat screen TV's and travel teams are the answer.

To JD1 my child was very active in school and had a job and he enjoyed himself. When our schedules worked out, at least once a week, the whold family sat down and had dinner together and talked about anything they wanted. As far as the activities there are a lot of parents who volunteer their time to help, they are at the games or events. We did and still do spend quality time together and a lot of other famlies do too so please don't put them down. Thank you

I looked at the Facebook page and found nothing disgusting about it. His comments and pictures were not something that would have caused me concern if it had been my son who posted them -- it is only now in hindsight, that people will look at his FB page and say, "Oh, his parents should've known he was troubled." COME ON!! Just because someone enjoys a certain type of music or style of dress does not mean that person is heading down a path of destruction. There are people in this world -- like it or not -- who will do horrible, unspeakable things and there is no way any of us can prepare for or prevent such things from happening. Yes, it saddens me deeply, but I am realistic.

So you don't think having the Columbine killers listed as "Inspirational People" is disgusting? Because I certainly do.

Donna please don't think I'm judging you because I am not. I looked at his facebook page and it made me sick. There were a lot of signs before his final post that warned you something was very wrong. I don't know if his parents checked his fb page but they should have although from what I have heard about them they are not good examples. What about his 14 friends he had, as of noon monday he had 14 friends, they could have said something.

Donna, like Ashley said, it wasn't the type of music or the pictures that were the disturbing part. It was the status update and the fact that the Columbine killers were listed as inspirational people. I realize that everyone has different opinions and that we all have different people we look up to but really? I personally look up to my parents, celebrities who make a positive impact, and people that I witness in my life doing good things, not people who murder tons of people for no reason...

Those days ended with corporate greed and "Trickle Down" economics implemented in the 80's. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but it doesn't seem to stop some folks from willfully ignoring these facts.

The only thing that's trickled down is the quality of our society. Yet, so many want to keep it going, in the name of 'liberty'.

Tim, you do not like "liberty"? How much are you willing to give up?

Many mothers worked in the 50's and further back. They had to as well to do what they wanted for their families. I had neighbors who were far form overly comfortable economically who had a older black lady named Mildred who was a charm to be around and she watched not only my neighbor's 3 kids but me and my brother too. She was a dear lady. My neighbors mom was an RN since the war. Kept on working with short stints home with the kids when they were born just as today. More moms worked then than you may think.

Most people put their kids in daycare as a choice, not a necessity. Give up the new car every 3 years, the 5 cell phones, cable tv with movie channels, and eating out 4+ times a week. My wife and I managed on my $38K salary. One landline phone. Antenna on the roof, and lots of home cooking...PLUS one parent home at all times to raise the children.

Raise-Kids: Actually, it's interesting, because I find that more people stay at home (wife or husband) due to their education or lack of ability to make enough money to really reconcile the tradeoff. There's no point fiscally, for example, to put two kids in daycare if the parent's job isn't going to make appreciably more then the expense itself.

The other thing to consider is this: Does the wife (in this case) WANT to stay home and raise children?
I hate to say it, but that's not every woman's only aspiration in life. Maybe it was your wife's, and God bless her if it is!
However, long gone are the days of the woman barefoot, pregnant, in the kitchen doing all the housework. Gender roles are largely gone, and good riddance (as much as I enjoy cranking out the stereotypes on my wife just to get a rise out of her, sometimes :) ).
I try and work with my wife as a TEAM. Some days I'm completely incapable/out of patience and need a couple hour break - and she takes over. On rare occasion the opposite is true. We work together.

I do commend your effort on parenting, and I definitely agree with the general feel of your post.

Raise your kids, you really need to give us a time frame of when you did that. Not recently I'm sure. That is barely enough for one person now.

Tim, continuing to work after a short leave if that's possible, even if the salary is equal to day care costs, could be a better plan since to continue to work the salary is more likely to increase in a shorter time frame and then the trade off is not as bad. Going back to work after a few years off is a hard thing to do. And you are staring from scratch effectively.

@Raise your kids...there is one thing that you are right about, SOME people put their children in daycare as a choice. You are ignorant to assume that 2 income households waste their money on the things you listed. What happens to your family if something happens to you or you lose your job? Is it safe to assume that you will then be relying on us working moms to pay your bills? You are absolutely wrong to pass judgment and ignorant to believe that working parents build problem children. What about single parents who have no choice? I am completely appalled to see people like you using a terrible situation like this to pass judgment against other parents. ALL parents, working or not, need to be involved in their children’s lives and ALL parents need to make sure to teach their children how to be good, productive, members of society. ALL parents need to raise their children to the best of their ability and NO parents get to decide how others do that. Don't forget, this is a High School aged child, in school 7 hours a day. Why are women who CHOOSE to stay home all day while their children are in school and their husband is struggling to pay their bills ANY better than those moms that CHOOSE to work while their children are in school? My heart goes out to everyone involved in this terrible incident and I am so sorry that people like you and Jen are using this tragic incident to pass judgment and voice your ridiculous opinions against other GREAT parents.

@Joe...1995 until now. Actually, I would have preferred to have stayed at home but I earned more money so I had to work. @ Nicolette...wow, you are touchy. Obviously there are cases where both parents have to work, or a single parent. Duh. And you are being ignorant by assuming that I wanted my wife to stay home. I wanted that but my salary was more than hers. Simply economic decision. If she made more I would have GLADLY stayed at home. I'm not using this situation for anything, I was responding to a comment.

Has it occurred to you that perhaps the article would be updated when something was known?

Hi Penny, there is two facebook pages that they post updates as much as they can. (Prayers for Daniel & Laddy Gaga Please Visit Daniel) Daniel is able to move his fingers and toes and even sat up a little bit today. He had another surgery today but no update on that. It is possible he will need another surgery. The fb pages are open for the public to see.

This is highly offensive. Daycare kids are not "one of the reasons for guns being used in school." Give me a break.

I read about that and am so sad to hear. This case reminds me of a recent case in Harford County where the youth shot and killed his father and tried to hide the body. This child was consistently beaten and abused by his father and there were significant warning signs. He came to school in tatters and would run away from home. Neighbors were witness to yelling and gunshots heard. The police were there repeatedly. It's a shame that this youth was failed on so many levels and now sits in a jail charged as an adult with murder. Sounds like with the Perry Hall youth, there were serious issues going on as well. I don't know the details and maybe we'll never fully know what happened in this child's life to lead him to such tragic behavior. I hope that somehow his life can be turned around. My thoughts and prayers are with the child who was shot. By the way, I hope that Lady Gaga comes to see him.

AMEN!

Actually, data shows that children who attend educationally-based daycare and other early childhood situations fare better (than their stay-at-home peers) when they start school. They have learned how to relate to peers, get along and take turns, as well as sit and focus on tasks. I am so glad that your son loves his school. Way to go, Christine!

and my point is, who died and left you in charge?

I already advanced my well wishes for the kid. I even did it on the article that has his face on it.
You know, this one: http://perryhall.patch.com/articles/outpouring-of-support-for-perry-hall-high-shooting-victim

Of course Christine (and Nicolette) feel offended because they feel guilty for having someone else raise their children.

We are not in the 70's, 80's or 90's...this is the 21st century for GOD sake, soo stop with this nonsense about what caused it... It happened and our world is not the same as when many of us grew up. But to blame daycare, working parents..is just bs. This kid had problems obviously and NOBODY around him..friends or family dealt with it. I mean how do you NOT know as a participating parent that your child is this messed up. so stop with the reasons why and pray that he gets the Ttention he so desperately needs and pray that Daniel survives. geez these comments are ridiculous and just bs.

"this is the 21st century for GOD sake"

You got that wrong as rain. "Once again, General Motors is the largest automobile maker in the world. Folks, where’s it written we cannot lead the world in the 20th century in making automobiles? I’ve not seen it written anywhere." Vice President Joe Biden.

You better wake Joe up and discuss the century with him.

A little passive aggressive are we? Don't stoop down to the level of insulting people you are so angry with.

i agree it is a great place to live. i feel that there are bad things happening in our great place to live and as a community we need to come together to fix these things.

You must have low standards. i took my child out after pre-k because they dont learn anything there. She is now in 2nd grade and has a 4th grade lessons. Now that is great. Learning begins with prayers and ends with reading the bible before night. This makes kids respect there fellow students, parents, siblings, etc.

I agree with you that some people are able to deal with bullies. however, there are some kids out there that do not have the capacity to deal. i know from my own issues that my teenage life would have been alot easier if i was not so mad all the time. I did not however take such extreme measures. But i do know what it feels like to think you have no other choice and not knowing how to deal.

Hey Beth. Yea I saw that too. A light skinned black guy, with no shirt and white pants rolled up.
A few students I spoke to last night at their place of employment in White Marsh clarified that to me. I asked them and they said, "Two or three students were arrested out front of the school for being unruly and not listening to the police. All the students had to leave their backpacks behind for searching; however, one student managed to get his smaller backpack (or something like that) out of building and a police officer told him to bring it back and he refused. The police searched his bag and found some pot."
That what these kids said so take it for what it is.

Yeah, Beth. . . I noticed that too. Who was that short haired boy that got cuffed

If he was bullied and it was the first day of school..did he carry this with him through the summer, because he certainly came prepared with a Shotgun...so if it was bullying then it had to have carried on from last year. Either way, again, where was the support and attention he needed.

I talked to some of the students and they told me the shooter didn't want to talk to anybody. If you came up to him and said Hi he would tell you to go away. There are a lot of students in the school and even more people he could have come in contact with through the summer. Former teachers have said he was diffuicult even in grade school. Just what I was told.

Thank you.

I have been reading some of the most bizarre comments about this case, in which the shooter has been romanticized into some poor, quiet, different guy who has been mercilessly abused by his peers (for no reason; he's just different), and whose act of violence was virtually unavoidable. "Those bullies out there" (real or imagined) are the vilified ones, and he is the hapless victim. Even if this were the case, wouldn't the bullies themselves get to use the "I just can't help the way my peers made me" excuse, too? But it's not the case. I find the whole situation sad, and the shooter needs help. But we have no evidence that he's lived life as an angel, simply getting picked on and never having a hand in the fights at school, or legitimately provoking the dislike of his peers. Most of us have done that-- it takes two to tango. This doesn't mean bullying isn't real, but I am surprised at how quickly so many jumped to that conclusion, particularly the romanticized conclusion that the shooter is the one who deserves all the pity and benefit of the doubt (not the kid who was actually shot and in many cases, was falsely accused of bullying).

I agree with you, Carrie. I bet this shooter never felt unconditional love from either parent. If you feel you have no one, can't image what your mind does. For all of you who feel "offended" or "outraged" by this comment. . . get off the blog.

Ha, although I'd never want to do bodily harm to those who bullied me in high school (I was not in middle school - but I lived in New York then, Virginia in high school), I definitely have had nothing to do with them, and when my 20 year reunion rolled around, I could've cared less. Even if I looked better then most of them (I do), I'd be too inclined to rage the minute one of them made a reference to something from that time.

Joanne, some people just need to attack. They think that all the "bad" things happen to the "bad" people. It would never happen to them, because they are "good". It's just a defense mechanism. They can't in a million years imagine that they are vulnerable.

Oops, never mind,I found it. nite all ;-)

Man you sure can twist words. You should be a politician

Thanks for the moment of clarity!

Have you seen this boys facebook page? If you did you would be saying differnt things. After seeing his page the sad part is I would need to hear directly from him he wasn't trying to get his 15 minutes of fame. Yes he needs help but he also needs to be punished for the crimes he committed: Shooting a boy, carrying a canceled weapon onto school property (did he have a permit for the gun-no), premeditated murder/suicide plans, carrying alcohol on school grounds and under age to drink it. I'm sure there are more. I am angry that this boy shot another boy and did emotional damage to soo many people. He knew what he was doing and it wasn't about bullying. Everyone has a right to their opinion but it really upsets me when people get like this about the shooter.

There has always been mentally ill kids. . . my questions is why does this generation have so many shooters in school.

are you kidding me. . . is this really what his attorney said

Of course. This is society to day! Overly entitled youth! The child is never to blame, its always someone or something else. This is the issue in America today; too many BS laws protecting criminals and too many laws to the other side offering PC rights.

Miranda!!!!

U.S. Constitution for him. Civil court for family. Next question?

For those that didn't see the link to the website that's raising money, this is it:

http://perryhallgrads.com/

There are a couple of donations set up for Daniel's medical bills. I would contact the school (410)887-5108 to see if they know anything. One of the banks in the area offered to put the first deposit in of $500, they need to set it up with the parents and they are with their son so I don't know if it is started or not. The school alumni is taking donations by credit card.

We're not bickering. . . we're simply problem solving and picking each others' brains to see if we can make sense of any of this. This blog is not just for praying. It's for bragging, chatting, arguing, etc. Quit acting like a mean mother and chastising us for bickering and not praying

Paula I was going to comment at the end but you just said it all. I hope your child at P.H.H.S. is doing well and you and your family as well.

Single mom lol that is funny that you promote yourself this way. I am assuming your divorce and if i stand correct its not condone by God. So your praying will not do any good. Having both parents there is the most important thing for a child. Look this kid had a step dad. See the picture. You probably don't even go to chruch so why even pray. We really need to bring God back into our schools otherwise there is no hope for any public school. I went to the Philippines and wow its great out there in publlic school. God is there.

VWK. . . I know someone who knows the family very well and will be most grateful for this information. Thanks so much and so sorry for your unfortunate personal experience.

Anita, your comment relates to my original point in question. . . why in the 70s did we manage to be bullied and survive but today kids are using guns in school to kill people.

In 2009, there were approximately 14,000,000 secondary students. By your approximation, there are 12,600,000 students on the road to potential gun violence at a school. I mention this not to be ridiculous, but to point out that your hyperbole of "90 percent" accomplishes nothing other than to inflame parents to the point they are not going to listen to you.

"Gladden's conversations with investigators have not indicated bullying was an issue in this case."
"Johnson told reporters that Gladden was cooperating with investigators."
If Gladden told police bullying was not an issue, I tend to believe the police here.

Regardless of that, it doesn't explain the many witnesses including my neighbor who knew he was being bullied and saw it happening. Gladden could very well be protecting those people because of the shame he feels. I'm glad he's being cooperative, but the "no bullying" seems to go against the common knowledge of people who attend this school.

It is BS Mike, you are right. the schools want to avoid liability. a failure to prevent and intervene on un/documented bullying in middle school is how this happened. yes, the parents are unfortunate. but the school has responsibility to know whats going on with the students.

Mike nobody wants to touch the subject because the governement is already doing so much to butt into your life that when it comes to raising your kids it is a very touchy subject and one politicans stay away from. Please rethink one of the things you said: I was a victim of a terrible crime and it is an issue that I still have trouble with just like a lot of other victoms out there, please don't include us in what you said. The responsibilty comes down to the parents & stepfather. Not only was it the first day of school so no reports for that year but the school system had tried several times to get Bobby help. The help he needed was from his home life, being a bully himself and sometimes being bullied. The school system can only do so much, he is a minor and the parent's responsibility.To a certian degree the parents have control over the school system as well and going by news reports I doubt the parents cared if Bobby got help or not. I have a degree in education and have put in many, many volunteer hours so I know what I am talking about. I wish at some point the system could have taken Bobby from his parents, then he might have had a chance, but this is very easy for the parents to fake like they are doing a great job.

Wel,, Jeanne, I know I have very strong opinions about many things, but I'm not sure what you are asking me to rethink? I'm sorry for whatever crime you were victim to and I certainly did not intend to re-open any wounds.

The government is involved in our lives too much, but they're involved in the wrong ways and I'm not even saying it should be a government agency. Are adoption agencies run by the government? That part I admit I don't know the answer to now that I think of it. I was under the impression that adoption centers were state run.

Here's the thing, why should Bobby have free will to NOT get help? I didn't have a choice when I was a child whether I wanted therapy or not because I was a minor. Is this different now? A minor can refuse psychiatric treatment? The school tries to get Bobby help, though not hard enough apparently, and Bobby's parent's didn't care, so this is what happens. Who steps in and says "Hey! We're not going to allow this, either you allow us to give you psychiatric treatment and you do what we tell you to do or you can go sit in juvy or something. You don't just do nothing, how can he refuse anything as a minor? It sounds to me no one really cared about Bobby, not even his own family, no wonder he was so angry at the world and did what he did!

... and here's all I'm saying. You need to be qualified, tested and trained to do the following things: Drive a car, operate heavy machinery, fly a helicopter, be in the military, be a doctor like a surgeon or psychiatrist.. the list goes on and on. Even at adoption centers, they don't just hand anyone a child. I've never gone through the process, but I imagine you need a lot of background checks, evaluations, tests you have to pass, paperwork to fill out, all proving to this adoption agency that you are capable of raising a child in a healthy environment.
Children put up for adoption have already been abandoned by their parents, abused and taken away from parents or whatever other reasons there may be. Mom was a drug addict and father not around, I'm sure there's many reasons. My question is, what sense does it make to have these strict standards and guidelines that you have to meet, qualify for, and pass to do just about anything in life including have a job or whatever it is you want to do including adopting a child, but you don't need ANY training, any qualifications, anything at all to have children whenever you want with whoever you want. You don't need a license, you don't need training, you don't need to do anything except have unprotected sex and we're just fine with that? This is just completely bizarre to me, Jeanne. I just don't think people really, really understand how widespread child abuse is and how it affects the developing brain of a child, it's PROFOUND.

... and our prisons are full of adults who were abused as children who went on to abuse other people, either children or adults because that is how their brains were programmed due to their abuse. That's what they were taught was ok to do, that's what they grow up learning. The first 10 years especially of a child's life, it is SO important to have a healthy home life, good parents who care about you and teach you the right way to live life. When you don't have that, you get criminals like Robert Gladden, you get adult mothers who drown their own children, you have adult fathers who beat the S out of their wife and child, and yet as a society, we just cling on to this "free will" argument?

When your brain is F'd up in this way from abuse, there is no "free will", it's the cycle of abuse. Let me ask you a question. Do you think parents who were not abused as children would ever even think about hitting or sexually abusing their children? Do you think it would even cross their minds to do that? Do you think, if Robert Gladden had a healthy home life and had parents who were sane and cared about him that this would have ever happened?

I guess I just feel that having children should be a privilege, something you have to prove you can do before you are allowed to do it. This applies to almost everything else in life, but when it comes to raising children, something more important to society than ANY of those other things, we just say "free will!" Do whatever you want. Why?

Why don't people see that this is causing and enabling child abuse? I just don't understand it at all. It makes no sense to me... why people can't see this. There are plenty of things the government should not be involved with that it is involved with, but when it comes down to it, is it not better for society as a whole to take more precautions to make sure that people who choose to bring children into this world are qualified to be parents as opposed to career criminals or child abusers? Why do we just look the other way, but when it comes to adoption, it's a totally different ballgame. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't we do more to ensure kids don't get abused and abandoned in the first place as opposed to waiting for it to happen, waiting for the damage to be done and THEN stepping in and taking it seriously?

It's what happens when America turns into a nanny state and government, which should be small, is now huge government and wants everyone to rely on them. There are so many things wrong and corrupt about this country these days and people are too divided to do anything about it. It just goes to show that they don't really see this as an issue even though it is, quite possibly, the biggest issue facing this country right now. People having kids for all the wrong reasons, then not knowing a damn thing about how to raise them. Things like PHHS, Littleton and all these other mass murders at random locations like movie theaters happen. Kids grow up without the proper direction and instead, they are raised by the TV, inappropriate music for their age and getting involved with the wrong people. This world is so messed up on so many levels, I can't even begin to fathom how it could ever be fixed without a civil war, which I hope never happens. Big changes are needed in so many areas. I do, however, think people are closer now than they've ever been at waking up to the reality of what this country is becoming and WHY it's becoming that way. If nothing else, that is a positive step in the right direction.

I think raising children should be a privilege, not a right. The answer? Hmm, I don't know. You could make birth control mandatory once you reach the age where you are capable of having kids, girls anyway since we don't have BC for men except condoms, but even they can fail. Many BC methods are 99.8% effective when it comes to things like the BC pill.

You have to earn the right to drive a car, but you don't have to earn the right to raise children? This, of course, all assumes that all parents are good parents and would not abuse their kids. This is not reality, though. People just go around having sex and I don't think there's much you can do to stop people from having sex, but you can do things to lower the chances that such sex does not result in a pregnancy. If you do get pregnant, you immediately must start undergoing training, testing, and attempting to meet the same qualifications that any couple aspiring to adopt a child should go through. If you can't do that, then give the child to parents who DO meet those qualifications. I guarantee we'd have a better society, less crime and better people overall. That's really the only thing I can think of at the moment, Tim.