'Columbine Copycat' Remains in Juvenile Court
Posted on Sun Dec 14, 2003 at 07:54:32 AM EST
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By T. Chris
A teenager in North Carolina, accused of planning to explode homemade napalm bombs at his high school and keeping a "corpse list" of 20 names (including his own), will be prosecuted in juvenile court.
"Every one of us who is a parent has to have nightmares about what might have happened ... but nevertheless it is essential that we keep focused on what did happen and what needs to happen now," Chief District Court Judge William Hamby said. "It is not appropriate at this point to punish based on what might have been."
It is refreshing and encouraging to see a judge base a decision on what happened, not on what might have happened. The boy obviously needs help, and Judge Hamby deserves praise for having the courage to recognize that juvenile court is best situated to provide that help.
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