# Police: Teens killed man -- just because **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717 "2013-08-20T15:04:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/61 "2013-08-21T03:48:10Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > This has been big in the news over here this week, but I’m honestly surprised it’s got this much press in the US. It’s pretty horrible, but … you’ve got a big country. Aren’t there lots of murders? > > Anyway, you shouldn’t worry too much about Australian’s getting a bad impression of the US, no matter what Fisher might say. We have our own current brouhaha over a string of murders by [parolees](http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/sweeping-changes-to-tighten-states-parole-system-20130819-2s7kh.html) who didn’t get put back in the clink quick enough after exhibiting violent behaviour, so it’s not like we’re currently in a position to blame you guys for behaviour our own mob is exhibiting just as badly. > > People. Suck. The mother of the kid who didn’t believe he was involved allegedly also said that even if he was, he didn’t deserve a life sentence or the death penalty for it. If they were over here, those penalties wouldn’t be on the table. We don’t have the death penalty, and time and again we see murderers being sentenced to jail terms that seem out of touch with community expectations. The parole board has a lot to answer for, but so do the judges that keep handing down light sentences. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/62 "2013-08-21T03:51:44Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Your piece of shit just got the Prime Minister of Australia to call for a boycot of our country. And killed someone. > [@Giles](#): > > I just want to clarify one thing: Tim Fischer, who called for the boycott, is a former deputy prime minister of Australia. The current PM (Kevin Rudd) is in the middle of an election campaign, and is unlikely to do anything so controversial. This part really made me think “WHAT!?” Especially since I couldn’t find any mention of it in either of the articles you linked. Some punk teenager in the US shoots one of your citizens so you boycott the country . . . how? However, thanks to **Gile’s** post and having found the story on [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/tim-fischer-boycott-us-christopher-lane_n_3786687.html), I see Fischer, who is passionate about gun control (which I can get behind) is advising Australians to not travel to the US, in form of protest about lack of gun control there. I don’t think it’s going to be effective in swaying policy or legislation in the US, but when you’re a politician championing gun control and something like this happens, you have to make some noise. I suspect the real intent is to strengthen support for gun control within Australia. (_See what happens in a country that doesn’t have tight gun laws? You don’t want to end up like them, do you!?_) Personally, I think that, yeah, this incident does highlight the need for stricter gun control, but I feel that the bigger issue is the need for better parenting and social/community support to prevent youth crime. Also, anyone who wants to make it a race issue is (probably) a dickhead, IMHO. (Not intended to be directed at anyone in this thread.) ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/63 "2013-08-21T03:59:06Z")
The boycott proposal is stupid. I did a headslap when I saw the reference to the PM calling for a boycott. I knew Fischer had, but I hoped Rudd wasn’t that ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/64 "2013-08-21T04:02:48Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > This has been big in the news over here this week, but I’m honestly surprised it’s got this much press in the US. It’s pretty horrible, but … you’ve got a big country. Aren’t there lots of murders? Yes, but not spree killings like this. Stuff like this is quite rare. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/65 "2013-08-21T04:05:24Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > A case of diversity failing to enrich? 😃 > > The point is there are still many things to talk about regarding this issue without it breaking down (almost immediately) into the usual, “Yeah, but what about you?” grade school crap. > > Talking about race doesn’t automatically have to mean figuring out who’s the problem. Maybe I expect too much. I’m not really getting this comment but maybe that’s because I’m assuming it’s directed at me. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’m not being a smart ass or dispensing my offensive dubious humor, but so did the President’s mother. > The[kid appears](http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/20/justice/australia-student-killed-oklahoma/) to be Caucasian to me. Which kid are you talking about? One of the three is obviously caucasian-looking - the oldest one. But the mother that’s been referenced in this thread is not that kid’s mother (or so I gather from [this article](http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/three-teens-charged-over-murder-of-melbourne-baseball-player-chris-lane/story-fnii5smq-1226700172461) linked to above). She’s the mother of the 16 year old, who is in the middle of the three mug shots. Does he look Caucasian to you? My point was that in \*addition \*to the oldest kid, who looks white, the middle kid, who does not look white, also has a white parent - thus further undermining the OPs effort at race-baiting. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/66 "2013-08-21T04:05:37Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > This part really made me think “WHAT!?” > Especially since I couldn’t find any mention of it in either of the articles you linked. > > Some punk teenager in the US shoots one of your citizens so you boycott the country . . . how? > > However, thanks to **Gile’s** post and having found the story on [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/tim-fischer-boycott-us-christopher-lane_n_3786687.html), I see Fischer, who is passionate about gun control (which I can get behind) is advising Australians to not travel to the US, in form of protest about lack of gun control there. > > I don’t think it’s going to be effective in swaying policy or legislation in the US, but when you’re a politician championing gun control and something like this happens, you have to make some noise. > I suspect the real intent is to strengthen support for gun control within Australia. (_See what happens in a country that doesn’t have tight gun laws? You don’t want to end up like them, do you!?_) > > Personally, I think that, yeah, this incident does highlight the need for stricter gun control, but I feel that the bigger issue is the need for better parenting and social/community support to prevent youth crime. > > Also, anyone who wants to make it a race issue is (probably) a dickhead, IMHO. > (Not intended to be directed at anyone in this thread.) Just to be completely clear, Tim Fisher not only is not and never was PM (except for a couple of short stints acting while the PM was away) he is no longer an elected politician. He retired from politics in 2001 and has been an ambassador until recently. > **[Tim Fischer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Fischer)** > > Timothy Andrew Fischer AC FTSE (3 May 1946 – 22 August 2019) was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as leader of the National Party from 1990 to 1999. He was the tenth deputy prime minister in the Howard government from 1996 to 1999. > Fischer was born in Lockhart, New South Wales. He served with the Australian Army in the Vietnam War. On his return he bought a farming property at Boree Creek. He served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1984. Fischer was ele... ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/67 "2013-08-21T04:06:05Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > The boycott proposal is stupid. I did a headslap when I saw the reference to the PM calling for a boycott. I knew Fischer had, but I hoped Rudd wasn’t that ridiculous. As I said, I can understand. One of their popular citizens (although I have never understood adults playing a children’s game, or adults being excited by those who do) comes to the USA and is murdered with a gun, I can understand their anger. As far as gun control, I dress out (an unusual term for a non sports person to use) at 110, and I cannot defend myself with a baseball bat. If someone comes into my house to kill me (as the guys who tried to rob my Wife) I would like to be able to shoot them. And if they take the gun away from me, I will take it away from them. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/68 "2013-08-21T04:08:04Z")
I think Australia calling attention to the US’s gun problems is an excellent idea. Where did these guys get the gun? It’s the elephant in the room the NRA and gun-supporters always try to avoid. It’s always bad parenting and video games. It’s never the fact guns are easier for kids to buy than cigarettes, booze and porn. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/69 "2013-08-21T04:14:27Z")
Thanks **stui**. I got that from **Giles’** post. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/70 "2013-08-21T04:17:58Z")
To Carinvorousplant, Don’t know if I’d call him popular, he would have been completely unknown to all the country except for family and friends, and I also don’t think Australians are generally up in arms about it either. It’s a topic of conversation, some poor young bugger attending a US college on a scholarship gets gunned down for no apparent reason by some kids. It’s tragic and a waste, but I don’t believe it’s triggering any anti US sentiment. What it does do here is to to reinforce our complete lack of comprehension of US gun laws and arguments about gun control. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/71 "2013-08-21T04:23:56Z")
The completing appalling thing for me is the attitude of the three. “We were bored so we decided to kill someone.” How does anyone ever think something like that? From what I’ve seen these kids were just ordinary suburban teens right? Going to school, playing sports, hanging out with mates, playing video games and stuff. How is their sense of right and wrong so Fubared that it sounded reasonable to all three to, lets kill someone for shits and giggles? ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/72 "2013-08-21T04:25:29Z")
Per Svejk’s observation, looks like one black kid, one mixed kid, one white kid. The whole “hate crime” thesis currently flooding the web doesn’t quite work. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/73 "2013-08-21T04:28:02Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > Per Svejk’s observation, looks like one black kid, one mixed kid, one white kid. > > The whole “hate crime” thesis currently flooding the web doesn’t quite work. I think it’s so awesome you can tell which one is black, mixed and white. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/74 "2013-08-21T04:39:15Z")
Just a question about possible sentencing. I see that Oklahoma has the death penalty, is it likely, given precedents that the prosecution will push for the death penalty in this case? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/75 "2013-08-21T04:42:40Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I wonder what kind of sentences young accomplices are really getting. We hear on the news about teens being charged as adults, and we see on the cop shows that accomplices get stiff sentences, but is it really happening? A local kid was out after two years. He watched his buddy hit a disabled kid with a hatchet (tried to cut his head off). They left him to die and went home. Two years? It varies a super lot by state, but in general, the trend is and has been for a long time for minors to get harsher sentences and at younger ages. That’s especially true for serious crimes. > [@GreedySmurf](#): > > Just a question about possible sentencing. I see that Oklahoma has the death penalty, is it likely, given precedents that the prosecution will push for the death penalty in this case? No death penalty for minors. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/76 "2013-08-21T04:51:38Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > This has been big in the news over here this week, but I’m honestly surprised it’s got this much press in the US. It’s pretty horrible, but … you’ve got a big country. Aren’t there lots of murders? There aren’t lots of murders where people are just randomly gunned down for fun. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/77 "2013-08-21T04:52:13Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I think it’s so awesome you can tell which one is black, mixed and white. School’s in session tomorrow. Shouldn’t you be cleaning your gun? After I’m done robbing a liquor store, we’ll meet up and compare notes. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/78 "2013-08-21T04:56:15Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > No death penalty for minors. So being ‘tried as adults’ only extends to which court they appear in? Not to possible punishment? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/79 "2013-08-21T05:05:59Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > So being ‘tried as adults’ only extends to which court they appear in? Not to possible punishment? It’s about the sentence too, but in 2005 SCOTUS decided minors couldn’t get the death penalty. There were people on death row at the time for crimes they committed as minors, so some states (Texas, big shock) did it when they could. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717/80 "2013-08-21T05:31:08Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > It’s about the sentence too, but in 2005 SCOTUS decided minors couldn’t get the death penalty. There were people on death row at the time for crimes they committed as minors, so some states (Texas, big shock) did it when they could. An interview with the local Sheriff I heard on Aus radio last night said that they could be tried as adults. So I assume they may be in line for death penalty? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-teens-killed-man-just-because/666717.md?page=5)