Saturday, August 20, 2011

COMMENTARY: Teen Flash Mobs Must Be Punished to Full Extent of the Law

This week, the 17-year-old leader of a Philadelphia teen "flash mob" that assaulted and robbed people at random on July 29 was sentenced to confinement in a juvenile detention facility, where he could be held until the age 21. Other teens involved in the flash mob were sentenced as well.

In sentencing the teens, Family Court Judge Kevin Dougherty told them, "Your actions, behavior, and attitude are appalling and disgusting for civilized society."

Judge Dougherty is right. Needless to say, these teens would not like it if other teens attacked and robbed their parents.

Destructive flash mobs have become a problem in several other cities -- besides Philadelphia -- during the past few months. New York City, Chicago, Milwaukee, and other cities have witnessed such nonsensical incidents recently.

If these black teens think it's fun and all right to commit these repugnant attacks and robberies, they are sadly mistaken.

Indeed, such acts are not only illegal -- and can result in convicted teens having a criminal record for the rest of their lives -- but they are also a stigma that tends to portray these teens as barbarians.

Judge Dougherty has taken the appropriate action to discourage teens in Philadelphia from taking part in similar incidents in the future.

Judges in other cities where flash mobs have occurred must also take severe punitive action against these teens to ensure additional incidents do not reoccur.

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