If your kids are busy after school at dance class, soccer practice, rock collecting or any other hobby or interest they find engaging, they won't have time to hang with kids who have nothing better to do than experiment with drugs, gangs, alcohol or whatever else could get them into serious trouble. My friend wrote that if kids are intense about collecting paper clips, toe nail clippings or in love with little league, then encourage them ... help them develop their passion for a positive accomplishment. Teach them how great it can be to involve themselves in something that gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride.

I cannot seem to overcome my strong feelings about this topic. I cannot tolerate fact that a 6 year-old child was beaten to death yet I cannot accept a 14 year-old boy being sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Where in world did this sentence come from? This is a child we are talking about and a crime he committed when he was 12 years old!

The crime that brought this case to trial is appalling, yet sentencing a 14-year-old boy life in prison without possibility of parole is ludicrous. This is not justice, this is cruel and unusual punishment handed down to a child. This is cowardice in its highest form and jurors who convicted him should be ashamed. How could state of Florida try this boy as an adult in first place? He is not an adult nor should he be expected to assume consciousness of an adult.