Thirteen-years-old Peter Barton (not his real name) was playing with a little girl of 6. Claiming that he was pretending to be a professional wrestler, peter punched, kicked and stamped the playmate to death. Her liver was severely damaged; her skull was fractured and the medical experts compared the injuries to a fall from the top of the house. Peter was tried in court as an adult and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole when he is 38.
“What we are dealing with is a new kind of childhood criminal. They are starting younger and they know what they are doing. They won’t think twice about killing” said the Florida State District Adam Emmit. The state of California alone registered 312 homicides committed by minors which must of them were gun-related.
Discussion questions for your comment:
Peter claimed he was pretending to be a wrestler. Could he be saying the truth?
Is it really possible that a 13 year-old boy could intentionally kill a young girl?
Are children the same as they have always been, or are they really different these days?
What do you think about the punishment was given to Peter?
I think he is saying the true because I saw these wrestlers and sometimes I pretend it with my brother too the T.V influence us sometimes. I don’t really believe that he kills her intentionally, maybe he was so excited and he doesn’t realize that he was hurting to the girl. In my opinion no I don’t believe it in the past the children were kind of pacific they don’t saw all the violence on the media they play in the gardens but now most of the kids know everything and see too much violence in everywhere. For me, the punishment was unfair maybe he had mental problems or his parents don’t teach that the things he saw on the T.V are dangerous and the media only show people hurting and fights so is unfair who knows maybe it was a mistake.
ResponderEliminarWell of course he's saying the truth, he's just a kid. Most of them wants to be what they see at TV, internet or even what other children do. I think isn't his fault. I believe the fault is in their parents because is in their homes where a children need to be teached about what it's wrong or what it's fine, if their parents didn't explain him why he cannot practice wrestle at home or anywhere or just explain him that wrestler needs to practice several years for can do it without problems. But if the kid did it is because his parents never took a minute to teach him why he can't do what he did...
ResponderEliminarThat's what I think about it.
Laurens Chaves Mendez.
He is sayign the truth. He's just a boy who were really playing to be a wrestler, he won't lie about it and mostly knowing in the kind of trouble he got into. I'm sure it wasn't he's intention to kill the little girl, probably he just got to exited about the "game". I believe that children like him, act this way beacause they're influenced from the TV shows and the internet. Also the irresponsibility of the parents by letting them watch these things is one of the causes. I'm not sure what to think about the punishment that he recived. But, in the bottom line, he has to pay for his actions. Even if he only has 13 years old, he definetly has to know that what he did was beyond wrong...
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion, the kid has damaged so much parts of the little girl’s body, and that is something that we can’t change because it happened and is past, that’s why I think the kid has to be judged! We can’t be saying that he’s just “a little kid” because that’s a lie at the age of thirteen years old, we can think by ourselves and be responsible about we have done and we have said, like this case. We can’t be giving apologies by everything, that’s why the world is like it is, because of the pretexts that the people always give. It’s important to make clear that he’s of thirteen years old, and like I said he has to be judged, but not like an adult, even knowing that he has made a brutal aggression, he has to pay that like he is, a kid.
ResponderEliminarMaybe Peter was actually playing at first, but I think that when he started to kick her he had to realize that he was hurting her, and that it wasn’t wrestling anymore, so I don’t believe he is telling the truth . He is thirteen years old and he has the ability to know the difference between good and bad things, and it is possible that he did it intentionally. Nowadays the mass media is influencing children since they are babies, the TV programs, videogames and internet transmit violence to children, and it’s know manifesting in the world. If we compare the children long time ago with the actual ones, we can realize that their lifestyles and hobbies have changed these days. In my personal opinion, I agree with the punishment that was given to Peter, even if it wasn’t totally his fault, because of what he has lived on his house, what was his parents’ responsibility, he did it and now he has to face the consequences of his acts. We are not sure, if they don’t do anything now, he could be an aggressor in the future.
ResponderEliminarI think that could not be a fighter and that was just a child, and if it is possible that a child has intentionally killed a child in these times the children have changed much since the media have a lot of violence, both on television, newspapers, internet and others, and with this thought that what they see is right, and the punishment assigned to Pedro can be a bit harsh, as only a child, just by keeping him locked behind bars about three or four years might have been enough.
ResponderEliminarMost of the childrens this day are very influenced with television programs or magazines and newspapers. He could be saying the truth I mean is just a child he could pretend to be anything and tried to imitate as much as possible I don't agree with the punishment but at the same time I agree, he kill somebody so he deserve it but like I say is just a child, he is gonna spend practically the rest of his life locked in jail, and that's not a good a life for a kid I think that when he gets out of jail he is gonna be more scared of the world and he’s not gonna learn anything. Right now the generation of childrens are much more aggressive and lots of kids are in the street and probably that's the reason why they are so much violent, they don't have someone that say what's bad and what's right so I think that's why they can kill somebody just like that it’s like a game for them.
ResponderEliminarPerhaps he’s saying the truth because a kid of thirteen years old doesn’t know well the impact that this kind of act can cause due to immaturity. I think that Peter don’t had any intention to kill the girl because maybe he saw that the professional wrestlers ever are unharmed after the fights so he probably thought that with the girl was the same. Nowadays the kids are influenced by the T.V shows and the internet for this reason the kids in these days are so different to the kids of a long time. The punishment is so high for a kid the responsibility are of the parents of Peter
ResponderEliminarProbably he was telling the truth, but I honestly believe that wit him, he knew he was seriously hurting that girl. That’s why I believe that this 13 years old kid intentionally killed. His intentions were to harm, dangerous intentions and he said that “he was pretending to be a wrestler meanwhile he was “playing” with this 6 years old girl, were a lie, because he really had to realize that he was actually hitting her (her liver, skull and different kind of injures probe it). Certainly kids today are different, now kids are more aggressive and disrespectful. Before, they were friendly, respectful; they were able to differentiate if they were playing with a boy or a girl and respected younger kids. In relation to the punishment that Peter receives, I can say that was commensurate with the crime. The fact that was involved a minor does not mean that he deserve to be treated differently. There was not excuse for his crime.
ResponderEliminarLike we know many boys nowadays have a lot of mental problems because part of these problems starts in the education that we have in our houses and in the schools and high schools…and isn´t just this, for example we should watch TV with them not for getting a time to entertain, is because those TV programs have a big part of influence in their minds..I think he was showing only many things that he has inside their mind and for him those acts are a normal activity that makes you feel relaxed, happy and you finish thinking that are normal and you can feel comfortable too…we can think that he is innocent and a big part of those acts are product of many problems that is living in his house or TV programs that he was watching everyday and finally I think that nowadays the little guys are watching more dangerous TV programs and people like murders are normal for them and we know that in the past the guys grew in a peace environment where that activities were less common…
ResponderEliminarMónica Alvarado Quirós 11-4
ResponderEliminarDiscussion questions for your comment:
Peter claimed he was pretending to be a wrestler. Could he be saying the truth?
Really I think that Peters believed to be a professional wrestler because of one problem on his own home, the mayority of these cases are manifested because of the care received or not recived for these children by their parents. May be his parent looked the professional wrestling on TV and taught to his child to watch them and that was good for him so the child wanted to do the things that he saw on the TV.
Is it really possible that a 13 year-old boy could intentionally kill a young girl?
Well, He was aware of his actions, but the fault should not to fall directly on the child. Because these situations depend of the environment in which the child is, like his parents, neighborhood, and teachers who can be influential in his life. Apart does not mention if the child has mental problems that could be very possible for to act like him acted. It may be that the child acted innocently watching the situation as a television set in his own world.
Are children the same as they have always been, or are they really different these days?
When I was a child I used to play with the another childs but how my environment was not bad they used to be fairly respectful. I think that before the children were healtier than now because they did not have a lot of bad media than now. I used to play more with popular games, but now the childs wear cell phones!!! And they are always in the msn or in the TV. Now the childs are so unrespectful: by example when I am in my house I can hear the childs out side screaming bad words!. But a solution for that could be to emphasize the good values using the media and each day will improve the young people.
What do you think about the punishment was given to Peter?
I do not think that it is a just punishment. He was only a child and he could used those days of his life doing something positive for society.So they would just give him a chance to change. Because if they had sent him to a reform he might have changed.
Well, this situation depends on the point of view. In one hand we can asume "Peter" is guilty of a pre-meditated crime, on the other, one can say "he's just a kid". In my opinion at the age of 13 you're still young, but not so young to be called a kid, and being unaware of the consequences of your actions. There's no way one can say a 13 year-old boy didn't knew that what he was doing would end in a tragedy, besides, if he was pretending to be a wrestler or whatever, he could clearly knew when the game needed to stop. I believe that in certain cases child homicides could be treated like accidents but there's no way in hell this could be an accident, I mean he was 13 and she was only 6! As the text says some are related to guns and weapons, that kind of homicides are the one you could say "are an accident" for example if you pull the trigger without meaning to (still kids shouldn't be allowed to be near guns).
ResponderEliminarAlso perhaps it's true that kids these days are different, they're exposed to a lot of violence nowadays and that can wreck their minds in so much ways. When I has younger I used to watch lot's of TV programs that now when I stop to think about it, kids shouldn't watch 'em, all they do is show an unreal world to the children!
About the punishment I believe it's fair because I believe he was totally conscious when he murdered the little girl, I'd also recommend psycological advice and a wake-up alert to everyone!
I think a person at the age of Peter has conscience of the actions taken, by that I mean that he must know where an action can become harmful. According to the declaration of Peter he is innocent and it was just a game but when someone does something has to keep in mind that every action you make has a consequence. Also I think that kids today watch too much violence such as some television programs that a few years ago didn’t exist, so that children did not have that mentality. Regarding the punishment given to Peter I think they should not punish him as an adult, he still a minor and they must treat him in that way, for me he should be punished for less years like 5 or 10 years.
ResponderEliminarI think that this child suffered a trauma which affected his conduct which he believes can solve the violence.Using your imagination The most tragic thing is that only a child.
ResponderEliminarhe is a child who played to a fighter but as I try to fight with someone younger inadvertently created an accident that killed the girl.
But an hour if I can say something that violence every day is greater than expected and this creates problems because the violence will not stop if we do not educate our children better.
this child only takes a bit of psychological therapy and lack of support by their parents. the other theory is that misogyny and would need more than a terpia.
I think he’s saying the entire true and he didn’t want to kill him friend but he kills a person and deserves a punishment because he didn’t have any reason to kill her. Maybe he watched TV programs of fight or some movies of murders and the parents didn’t teach their son how have to be in the life. He maybe didn’t think about the consequences in the future, he is a boy, he didn’t have to do it and he’s going to jail.
ResponderEliminarThe punishment is good but very hard for a child because he is not a man, and if the judge is going to punish a kid the judge have to think this boy who is a child deserves a punish like child. But maybe was a mistake this death and is unfair, an injustice to punish with a 38 years in jail.
I do not know if Peter was telling the truth or if your assertion was correct, but what we do know is that the most of all parents who are at fault in this since it is they who are responsible for training and educating their children's behavior in addition to television, video games, the network and more technological things have to do in the minds of the children; for example before the children were more caring, liked to work or like to help their parents; however today children like to play, spending money, and locked in a world in which they only exist .
ResponderEliminarThis is behavior change and in my opinion Peter didn’t intentionally as a child but that if he was thinking maybe in their video games or movies fighting murderers, I think that the punishment given wasn’t good as this will not correct their behavior in my opinion would be better to take him a psychologist to help with therapy and to explain that in real life you can’t act so or maybe their parents care more about their teaching and so reduce the risks of today are the children who kill someone to play.
Now day's many children are been influenced by the TV shows that treats about wrestler, I think he's saying the true because a kid of him age thinks in play and not of do damage,althouth it could be intentional.
ResponderEliminarIs hard to imagine that he has killed her intentionally but if he did it in that way the boy could suffer from a mental illness perhaps out of his control.
I thing that the children have changed a bit, because of the influence of the TV shows, children have become a little more violent and try to imitate celebrities.
I thing that the punishment was too hard for a child that is who he are. He must be punish as an child of his age.
if.94 stands for Isaac Franco hahaha
ResponderEliminarAs every child always try to be like people that see in the T.V and maybe he was influenced by some programs of freestyle wrestling and he wanted to be like a wrestler. I think that is possible that a 13 year-old boy could intentionally kill a young girl, but this depends by the form that is educated and what they have in their minds. In these days the mind of the children is different than of the children of many years ago because of influence of T.V or internet. I think that the boy maybe not wanted to kill the little girl simply didn’t realize what was doing because maybe he just was excited for the game. Perhaps the punishment that was given to Peter not is the correct because simply is a boy and is a punishment very strong for age and instead of this he could have given psychological help.
ResponderEliminarI don’t think that he was saying the truth because he wasn´t a baby, he was 13 and he had the skill to reason what he was doing and realize it was something wrong but it seems crazy that somebody at his age can kill a little girl and for no reason. For me the punishment is a little hard because they are too many years and he could lost the most beautiful part of the life, he killed a little girl and finished her life but that’s no reason for ending another life sending him to jail, maybe it would be better if he go to the psychologist and make some work for correct his attitude. Children these days are different, because of the TV and those things they going bad.
ResponderEliminarI think… peter could tell the true about that. It’s game for him, but he didn´t have to play that way. Because he has 13 years old and at this age he can think about things that make. Now day children are making that them to watch in the TV, play games, video games and everyday in their homes, in this moment the children are more intelligent and aggressive. I don´t agree about he was tried in court as an adult because Peter is kid doesn´t adult, he has bad behavior, but is better treated as kid to learn a lesson .I think that are many years for him. I guess that he stays in the institution or a place to help him.
ResponderEliminarNowadays, as we know, the kids are influenced by TV or internet, I think these is the case of Peter, maybe he saw a professional wrestler and he wanted to become like him, so maybe he was saying the truth. Also, I think that he killed that little girl intentionally, because a person of that age must know about the consequences that would happen if she or he does certain actions, like Peter did with the girl. Today, the children have a mentality more aggressive than the children of the past, this is caused for the influence, as I said before, of the television programs, internet, among others. About the punishment given to Peter, I think that the court didn’t have to punished him as an old person because, he still being a kid and his punishment must be for a minor I mean, that it would be like five or ten years on prison but no all his life.
ResponderEliminarI think that nowadays the television and video games are influencing kids. The behavior of the people is going to vary depending on many things, the most important is the family situation, because sometimes parents don`t pay attention to what their children are watching or playing, so this kids are going to do what they want and nobody is going to be there to correct them.Peter could be telling the truth when he said that he was pretending to be a wrestler, but he is thirteen years old, so he had to realize that he was older than the girl. He was playing rude and he was hitting the child hard. It`s important to consider that children are different these days, because they are very violent and now they don`t care about the consequences, they don`t respect teachers, parents and law. Finally, the punishment is unfair because he can`t be judge as an adult.
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ResponderEliminarI think there may be many points of view. Everything depends on the child's psychological state because if this kid presenting some kind of mental problem before may not be so innocent though. a problem child does not measure the severity of their actions, if he really was telling the truth it was an accident,severe, but an accident.
ResponderEliminarWith regard to the conviction I think is a bit unfair. I think a big conviction for a child of 13 years old is a bit irrational, is not going to do more than a shock to him, should seek other forms of punishment less severe but equally effective.
Currently the company has changed the way people think. Many children have uncontrolled access to different television programs or social networking Web sites that are not appropriate, it greatly influences the personality of each person. A child is not able to discern between good and bad things. I think there is different types
Well if we think and in my own opinion I believe that the boy was said the truth but the child mind is very complex and know how is saying the truth or how is saying the lie is impossible to know we don’t have the Lens of truth to know that. One guy so young couldn´t be a murder . I think that the guy was playing only. The only way to know more about the murder is thinking like a murder I can´t believe that he wants to kill the little girl. It’s a crazy idea. Now the boys in the contemporary era are very different the boys only watch violence, fights and deaths. The principal’s sources of this information are the television and the video games. If we see back in the time we only can see boys playing with land and nature with the threes and the water not with the television and the video games. The time was a terrible change in our society. And for the last the punishment was very hard is only a little boy I believe that this punishment was a horrible mistake made by the government of the state of Florida and its must be fixed soon very soon. My name is Kevin Campos Corrales 11-4
ResponderEliminarThanks to all for your active participation on blog 1!! :-D. Feedback will be given on the following weeks :-)
ResponderEliminarwell hes just a kid so hes saying the truth becouse maybe he was playing but he didnt know when stop but I think that the bigger problem is not the way that he play if not the media that influence himself and make him to do things like that, now I cant say if is possible that a kid kills a young girl intentionally it depends of the entorn that he lives becouse many factors can influence that,for example if he had an aggressive parents or something like that is probably that he have the same behavior
ResponderEliminarwell,nowadays the aren’t the same than some year ago,now many thing are different they doesn’t have the same education or the same values or moral,the influence of media and that different situations around the world makes them to act different and regarding the punishment I think they cant punish him with that because is just a kid so maybe he had to be punished in a different way.
I think I was a kid and was just playing and pretending he was a fighter but his age may account for the bad things and good and what should and should not do but I do not think a child has such intentions .
ResponderEliminarMaybe there is a small difference but the conscience and good and bad things are the same and therefore parents should yourself be responsible for the education of their children and be responsible for what they do.
not because they have differences this implies that the child has to do bad things.
And with regard to the punishment I think if you had to implement a court but not punish him as an adult or as a statement to anyone as he was a child.