Juvenile Crime

Re “Mahony Leads Protest Against Youth Crime Initiative,” Jan. 13: “Opponents of the initiative say it will unfairly target minority youth.” Maybe that’s because minority youth commit a larger percentage of crimes as compared with “nonminority” youth. Cardinal Roger Mahony says, “In 2004 we’ll be going after 12-year-olds, then 10-year-olds. Where does it end?”

I’ll tell you where, Cardinal. When parents who don’t seem to be able to raise children who can resist shooting other human beings stop having children. Or when people stop making excuses for their inability to be responsible members of society. Until then, we have a responsibility to our children (the ones who don’t kill other people) to keep them safe. That is how responsible parenting is supposed to look.

KEVAN PATTEN

Tujunga

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To Cardinal Mahony: If they can’t do the time they shouldn’t do the crime.

WIL SCARROW

Bellflower