Parent-Liability Law Unneeded; Teen Offenders Should Be Named

Superior Court Judge (Francisco P.) Briseno and the other Orange County officials who favor the publishing of the names of “serious juvenile offenders . . . “ deserve our support. It is high time that we stop “protecting” their identities simply because they are juveniles.

People under 18 know the difference between right and wrong. The juveniles who murdered honor student Stuart Tay knew their acts were wrong. The boys who went gay bashing in Laguna Beach knew their acts were horribly violent. The people who (spray) graffiti in our cities and vandalize our schools know and do not care that the property they are abusing is not theirs to abuse. Why protect their identities?

Santa Ana Police Chief (Paul M.) Walters says, “We’re not trying to publicly embarrass kids with this.” Why not? So what if the publication of their names is embarrassing to them! If embarrassment works, use it! We certainly do not hesitate to embarrass people over 18.

Many people act irresponsibly and commit crimes repeatedly simply because they have not been made to face the consequences of their actions. Maybe one of the consequences should be to face the shame of violating laws designed to hold civilization together.

The effect of protecting the anonymous “youthful offender” has been to lump teen-agers together in the public eye rather than to single out those who have no respect for the rights of others.

All too often our juveniles, most of whom are decent people, have had to listen to elders ask questions such as, “What is wrong with today’s youth?” and endure statements such as, “In our day teen-agers weren’t as bad as they are today.”

Laws are passed against youths in general. People are calling for closed campuses and curfew laws simply because of a disrespectful handful.

Once again the innocent majority is losing its rights because of a vicious, anonymous and protected few. We should refuse to give them shadows in which to hide. We should take away their anonymity. They have taken away much that is ours.

MILTON B. ROUSE

Dana Point