Gotta disagree, man. And look, I will admit right off the bat, I'm coming at this from the perspective of a Christian. I am one. As such, my take on humanity is this: all men are inherently evil, myself included. That one point flavors my perspective on issues more than just about anything. If another person sees man as inherently good, that flavors his view. But it automatically and drastically divides us.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm in no way giving this kid an excuse. There is no way in any context that his actions would be excusable. Period. He deserves the harshest punishment for what he has done. Lock him up. His actions prove he is a menace and a true danger to all of us.

I know that a person is shaped by both nature and nurture. I know that a person is shaped by things that happen to them and things that happen through them. But you will never convince me that the chaotic (and might I add fatherless) upbringing this kid had didn't impact him dramatically. Add to that a mom who didn't seem to give a crap and the fact that no one was preventing him from "kicking it" with all kinds of other misguided kids who led him down this path.

I grew up with a kid whose dad was killed while trying to steal a car. His mom was a drugged out whore. He was living with his grandma, but his grandpa died long before. With no man around to enforce the rules, once he got big enough to dodge grandma's backhand, he was totally out of control. He knocked up two different women, stole several cars, nearly killed his friend in a drunken car wreck, was in prison at least 3 times, and...well I've lost track of where he is now. Maybe dead.

So Madman, I usually agree with you, but this time, you're just wrong. I know this kid's behavior is disgusting. I know it's enraging to know he did this. But it's just not so cut and dry as you make it out to be.