Sound Off: Your comments 5/4/09

Editor's Note: Monday night’s AC360° generated feedback on the verdict for the case against those accused of killing Luis Ramirez, and the killing of Chicago student Alex Arellano. Viewers believe the simple assault verdict in the Luis Ramirez case was a slap, and he should have been convicted of murder and a hate crime. Parental responsibility and Chicago gun laws were the focal point in the discussion of Alex Arellano, the 34th Chicago student to be killed this year. Viewers expressed opinions that Chicago’s gun laws are inadequate, and also believe that broken homes combined with lack of parental involvement and discipline play key roles in excessive violence by Chicago teens. Here’s some of what you said, and we’d love to hear more:
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Regardless of whether it was a planned hate-crime or not, these individuals committed crime...the victim DIED and therefore, it is NOT simple assault.

I cannot believe that these well-to-do white boys were acquitted, this is disgraceful, and calls for a re trial. How would you like if a bunch of Hispanic immigrants were out hunting for a white boy to make an example of this case?. I commend Mr. Amaya for supporting the family of the victim, and wanting to take the case before a federal jury. If this case does not go to appeal, make sure something serious is going to happen, and it would be completely justified. An eye for an eye.

The bottom line is a man is dead. Why aren't these kids being charged with murder? How could a jury let these kids go free?

Seriously, these teenagers, under no circumstances should get away with this horrific hate crime.

I just caught the short clip about the child's death in Chicago. It amazes me that a city with some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation in a state with some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation can have murders by firearms. What we need are MORE laws! (sarcasm there). Seems to me that this is another indication that the underlying issues are not the availability of firearms but may indeed lie elsewhere.

Re. the boy burned to death in Chicago. I believe that parenting is to blame. In my neighborhood, all I see are grandmothers taking care of the families and enabling bad behavior of their own kids and grandkids. Kids in the public school systems have become mean, cliquish, offensive and angry. Why? Because the parents aren't there to parent! Parents should ultimately be responsible for their kids! And if not, should pay for it by taking mandatory parenting classes or jail time. They say you need a license for most things, why not for having children? If you can't pass the test, don't have one. Simple.

You had some heartbreaking stories on tonight. The boy, who was beaten, burned and then shot in the head?? Unbelievable. Then, Luis Ramirez . . . even putting aside the racial epithet, there is no "street fight" when it's 4 against 1. They could all have been members of the same race; I'd still call it murder. And the father saying that his kid was "good," had never been in any trouble and was a straight A student was just a slap in the face.