stupid isn't - ignorant, addicted, and lost.

So you are telling me we should feel sorry for him? What if he had a real gun...would you still feel the same way? What if some senior citizen was waiting for his prescription and had a heart attack over this?
Do you know this 'child'? I would be shocked if this is a first crime. Lack of personal responsibility is rampant in our schools so let's make sure it isn;t missing from the legal system. He presented a 'gun' and a note. They should have charged him with armed robbery- BB or not. Send him ti jail and let him do his time. And IF he wants to get off drugs, give him help. If the addict doesn't want to be cured no amount of money or sympathy is going to make it so.

it is more than a narcotic addition and he has been in trouble with the law since he was an adolescent. Yes, he needs help as does his entire family - it is yet another tragedy brought on upon doing what is known to be wrong instead of working to do what is right. Prayers for the whole family and the law to finally do what they should have done many times over.

generalization? not sure whose post you are referring to. Yes, he does need help as does his whole family. It is more than a narcotic addition. Unlikely to be valedictorian I believe he no longer attends school.

Most of them are getting it from their parents medicine cabinets, at first anyway.

Perhaps both. Years of living in a negative environment, lack of direction or positive encouragement. Excuses and second chances. Perhaps dealing?

Is - addictions once established are for always. Re-hap though promising will most often times not work on heroin due to the characteristics of the drug these days. Kid is troubled and riddled with problems - he and his entire family need counseling. Prayers to all that they get the help and support and once and for suffer the consequences of their actions.

Very true, people do not need to make a judgement, just because he did what he did, doesn't give you the right to make a judgement on someone you don't even know, but now a days people like to complain more then they like to give a compliment!!

As do I. All people are good, it is how they choose to live their lives that are bad. Decisions cause a person to go in a direction they could easily prevent or avoid by choosing to do what they know is right. Yes, he has been fighting for quite sometime, however, the addiction to anything is a secondary action. That is why it is difficult to overcome them. In order to be free and live freely and in freedom one must be able to live in absolute truth within themselves and others in addition to being able to forgive themselves and others around them. Hate and anger cause destruction. All textbook actions resulting in a dysfunctional family. Which most families have their fair share of dysfunction. Some put the FUN in it and others take it out. Most don't know how to forgive. As for hurting a fly - well - just lets say more like ducks. He did save a life from drowning this past summer which I prayed would be a turning point for him, for him to realize the value of life and that euphoric feeling you get from doing good and how good it makes you feel that it would have stayed with him to put the shovel down and start rising above the whole he has dug for himself.

How does your "friend" feel about the person the held up! Does he care about what he did to ME!

Nameless, I understand what you are saying that he would not harm a fly if he was sober but under the infulance of drugs and needing a fix he is capable of doing anything, as clearly seen in his behavior. Who know what he would have done if the pharmacy refused to give him the drugs, just because it was a BB does not mean he was incapable of hurting someone seriously. He needs help yes that is ture but he also need to pay for his crime, the easier the courts go on him the more likely he will do it agian, next tiem it might be a real gun.