America Oh America...land of the free...unless you are a child...

America, Oh America...Land of The Free...Unless You Are a Child...

America, along with third world country, Somalia are the only two nations that have refused to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which rules out life sentences with no chance of release for crimes committed before the age of 18.

America, oh America, a country that claims to be a progressive force for human rights...But what do they really mean? The human right to own a gun? Jordan Brown an 11-year-old boy legally owned a children's rifle and it was with this weapon he allegedly shot in the back of the head and killed his father's girlfriend and her unborn child (who died as a consequence of the mother's death).

The evidence to date indicates Jordan Brown is guilty. If so I don't doubt that it was intentional, I don't doubt that he knew by shooting her in the head he would be killing her, and I also don't doubt he knew what the consequences were (whether he understood them fully is another matter). At the time I don’t think he cared, goverened instead by forceful emotions raging in a young mind not equipped to deal with them.

What interests me is what drove this child to do this and what were the failings in the home or society that led to it.

I often wonder that if parents were held responsible for their child’s actions, whether there would be less child crime? Certainly families with problems would be forced to seek help. So I ask shouldn't the responsibility of a child’s crime be shared when a child is the responsibilty of adults and the state at large?

If children were fully responsible than why are they not given the right to drive? Why don't we have mini cars out there for kids? Sound ridiculous right? But driving a car is like riding a bike when you learn how, it becomes easy - second nature. Surely the reason why there are not cars for kids on our busy, dangerous roads is that there is an obvious need to protect children, who are vulnerable and not just because of their smaller size but because they have yet to learn and develop the necessary emotional and mental skills required for the responsiblity of driving.

How about alchohol – isn’ it bad for humans as a whole? If children are deemed responsible enough to own a gun then why not give them a bottle of whisky and advise them when it is appropriate to drink, telling them a glass on special occassions is ok? And sex. Why not make it legal for children have sex with each other. It feels physically good at any age. All the bits work and children experiment with themselves and other children as a normal part of development. So why not encourage it and have pajama parties where adult accessories are provided. Obscene right? As obscene as giving a child an adult accessory like a gun!

There are very strict rules about the need to overtly protect children from sex , so why in Gods name would you legally give a gun to an 11-year-old boy. It just blows me away... What would it take for America to irradicate its gun law...a text from the Bible saying so...in the same way as sex – virginity inparticular - is Godlified perhaps?

Ok, say Jordan is guilty of double murder. Should he go down forever and never have the chance to redeem himself?

Most of you will remember the Bulger case: the horrific, senseless torture and murder of three year old Jamie Bulger by two ten year old boys. It was reported that the accused children came from broken down, dysfunctional homes. Many children do and do not murder. These children were failed. At the time of sentencing there was an uproar and the British nation was divided about the sentence given to these children. Most people reacted from an emotional stance of – Off with their heads - Reactions are frought with ego and do not serve the greater purpose.

Over all these children had a lot to answer for but who else did?

These children served their time and years later upon release one of the boys was accused of another crime...Many people threw their hands up in the air with an “I told you so”, reinforcing the need for harsher sentencing. Should both boys then have spent their lives incarcerated? Is reform really possible?

Personally I believe, absolutely yes! Should the parents share the responsibility for their children’s crimes? Absolutely yes! Should society share the responsibility for a child’s crime? Absolutely yes!

But what then in cases where a child comes from a good home and crime free neighbourhood? Who shares the responsibilty then? Maybe the kid was a bad apple...or maybe he just had a bad day...but in America where the kid is legally given a gun, isn't the state now responsible? Wasn’t it them authorising this child to own and use a weapon before the child had developed enough to find another way to resolve his problems. As we know many adults don't find this way but shouldn't we be giving children the chance?

Instead of ripping Jordan Brown of his rights perhaps America, oh America, should stand as tall and proud as the Statue of Liberty and hold the torch for the freedom of its children...free to not be incarcerated for life....

Article 37 UNCRC :

States Parties shall ensure that:
(a) No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age;

http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/uncrc.asp#One

CRIN – Children’s Rights Information Network