by all means what these kids did was wronge. and they should be punished.
kids should not have guns.
kids should not be running the streets.

should they be arrested for attempted murder and tried as adults? well lets see......they are KIDS, maybe they should be tried as kids. i dont get it, your not an adult till your 18. so punish them as kids. why dump them in the adult system and lose any hope of them being any thing other than thugs. they are miss guided, dumb, confused, ect.... but they are still kids. its so easy for people to say dump them into the adult system. maybe something should be done to help the miss guided kids!

My husband and I have 5 kids between us, if any one of them wanted to tell me they would call the police on me for spanking their hind end I would tell them go ahead, I will make it worth my while before the police get here!!! I was told that and never threatened my parents with that garbage again.

Wake up Janesville!!! This has been going on long before this incident, everyone just chose to ignore it. There are not gangs all over Janesville there are kids that want to be in gangs so they will do whatever they have to do to achieve that. Some of these kids are from middle class families not just from low-income households.

There is no such thing as Hard Time for Gun Crime. You get a harsher sentance when you drink and drive and kill someone but when someone shoots you at point blank in the head they get less time.
I have disiplined my daughter and she looked at me one day and told me if I did it again she would call the cops. She learned this from school by the way! I looked at her and told her if and when the police showed up I would tell them to take her and they can deal with her. It was never brought up again. I have never beaten my child but she has gotten a firm hand on the behind and still does even though she is 18. Kids are so disrespectful than when I was growing up but it can't be all blamed on the parents, yeah there are some parents who just don't care what there kids do and that is so wrong. I hope these kids will do some hard time but it will never happen. These kids will be let back out in a couple of months and we will see their names in the paper over and over again. As a parent I would be so embarressed to have my child do such a hateful hurtful crime!

Can we pull the "Hard Time For Gun Crime "
billboards now ? How about " Commit Gun Crime, Lose Your Play Station and HD TV " Does the DA have the guts to tell us the percentage of gun crimes which result in hard time ?

The kids pulled the trigger, punish the kids. Don't put the blame on anything but stupidity, disrespect for the law, and ... did I say stupidity? If we want to prevent further instances, get the police to round up the rest of the gang members and disband them. Then every parent in the community needs to step up to the plate and actually be a parent and put the fear of God in every child that needs it. Not just your own. I can remember getting reprimanded and disciplined by neighbors for screwing up and then come home to another chewing out or spanking from my parents 1. for screwing up 2. to prevent future occurences and 3. for being caught by the neighbor resulting in the phone conversation and embarrassment of my parents knowing that the neighborhood now knew that their kid was a dumb ass and got caught proving it.
Furthermore if you're a parent and you take offense at someone disciplining your kid, telling your kid to "stoppit" or generally straightening your kid out in public when he/she is messing up, lighten up. We're all adults, we all know when a kid is messing up, you just didn't get first crack at him/her. Be thankful someone took the time to help you out.

Society has ALWAYS been this way. Ever hear about Cain and Abel? Not saying it's right, just saying society needs these morons so that others have something to base their morals and ethics on. The parents aren't the only ones to blame here. What about teachers, principals, religious leaders, and peers? Aren't they role models anymore? Or are they still pushing kids through school for that "no child left behind" baloney?

If my submission was read carefully, you'll see I am NOT blaming the parents-entirely. There ARE other "forces" at work here(movies/TV/video games, etc. ...), but many of todays parents are nimrods, who have no business being near kids-let along having them. Go to the local "Wal-Mart". Quite often, it's a local "playground/baby sitter" for unruly kids...many of which are grabbing at items and running around like loose chickens. And-quite often-the parents have this helpless, glazed look about them. Their mind-set is on that big screen TV which will be in a landfill in a few years...not on their children, where it SHOULD Be!

ive been reading thru these comments i agree with alot of then there is the comments that just stupid. blame the parents, what are you even thinking? society has taken our rights away as parents, but when something bad happens, they want us to be held accountable. hard time for gun crime, sure, ive read where three felons were caught with guns, there wasnt even any jail time for them at all.they sent my 15 year old son to prison for probation revocation, and yet i read where these druggies and people get caught with guns are just slapped on the wrist just like these kids will be. violence does not breed violence. and putting blame on musicians, and video games is just a cop out.i also agree that if these so called gang bangers were taken to a big inner city where real gangs these pexsist, they would be crying for there themommies. what the police need to do is pick up these gang bangers, and dthe judges need to send them away, thensome of them might change there mind about there life styles. these people who want parents arrested, must have those perfect kids like wally and the beav,get real june and ward this is the real world not a tv show.

If I am a gun owner and I have safely locked my gun and ammo away and somoene breaks the locks and uses the gun, I should not be liable.
With teens, the govt took away many of parents tools to deal with teens in the name of abuse. That is fine, but don't turn around and now blame the parents after limiting their parenting.
That would be like passing a law against gun locks and then blaming the gun owner.

15 years ago this sort of thing would never have happened in Janesville. Now there are gangs all over the streets, its getting worse! As other cities, like Beloit, solve there problems Janesville is taking a step back!

How disgusting! Typical, teenagers get in trouble, and point the finger somewhere else besides them because it's definetly not their fault!! But instead of the parents, shouldn't you be blaming Marilyn Manson, Eminem and all those other musicians who put all these ideas in our head? Oh yah, and dont' forget video games. C'mon people, these kids are old enough to get a gun, they're old enough to take responsibilty for their actions. And the same goes for everyone here blaming the parents- quit blaming others for problems that have happened. I believe the teenagers were the ones that pulled the trigger, not the parents.

If you can't blame the parents, how the hell are you going to blame the gun owner. Patriot, that is ridiculous!
Knowing the difference between right and wrong is not enough. People need to instill morals into their children. I'm not saying that the parents didn't do everything they could have, but I'm not saying they did.
No one here has said punish the parents and let the kids off. Punish the crap out of these kids, and check out the parents side of the story. Thats all.

For those who are interested in the history of "eye for an eye":
http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/An_eye_for_an_eye
or
ttp://thinkexist.com/quotes/
with/keyword/eye_for_an_eye/

Violence does breed violence no matter at what level. All violence is terrorism whether it's spanking a child or dropping bombs on a city. Some believe physical spanking is the exception to "2 wrongs don't make a right". But, for those who know we as parents a society can do better, suggested reading:
"Cultures of Peace: The Hidden Side of History" - Elise Boulding
"No Alternative? Nonviolent Responses to Repressive Regimes" - Lampen
"A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict" - Ackerman & Duvall
"Strategic Nonviolent Conflict: The Dynamics of People Power in the 20th Century" - Ackerman

Punishing the parents is idiodic. I was a problem teenager and my parents had no idea that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. Since I didn't get caught they had no reason not to think I wasn't being good. I don't kid myself about my teenager either. I know he is not an angel, but he is a pretty cool person and I love spending time with him, doing things that I may not necessarily like, but he does. Make sacrifices of time and self for your kid and someone else's too. Just that small gesture can cure a lot of these problems

It all starts at home. No foundation at home of morals and values. Then there is little or no hope for the kid. They will end up in trouble 80% of the time. Parents need to step up to the plate and actually parent.

I'm with you Maverick - there sure is no shortage of idiots out there.

*What's a teenager doing with a .357-caliber Magnum?!?!?*

Poor parenting. Apparently, it's rampant in the area [see also: drunk kids killing themselves/others].

*Paraphrasing Gandhi, when you live in an eye-for-an-eye society, you make the whole world blind.*

That's actually Hammurabai's code. And your misquote is still wrong. It only leaves OFFENDERS with one eye left, hopefully learning a lesson that their transgressions have consequences. Therefore, the poor kid who got shot should be able to leg-wound his attackers for free.

*From the Oval office to TV networks to the Janesville streets, the message seems to be that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict*

What does the Oval Office have to do with poor parenting? I'm assuming your tangent is regarding the invasion of Iraq. If you want to say Saddam's daddy didn't raise him right, therefore he violated an existing cease-fire agreement [only in place because HE invaded HIS neighbor and had to be FORCIBLY ejected from that neighbor's territory] that resulted in a state of war re-existing between his nation-state and ours, then maybe you'd have a point.

I totally agree with fisherhouse! I do everything possible to teach my child right from wrong and if they do something wrong why should i be held responsible? I grew up in a home where both parents worked very hard and taught us right from wrong but 1 out of 3 children had a mind of their own and did what they wanted and t caused a lot of problems and still does to this day in their mid 40s and if anyone tried to blame my parents for what they have done would have been insane! My parents til this day are the best but becuse of what my sibling had put the family through was not at all would of been because my parents were idiots!

The juvenile justice caseload started going up when woodsheds started disappearing.

The Iraq idea is interesting. However, I would hope that you would want these little thugs dropped off on their own, and not embedded with our regular troops. I, for one, would not want a bunch of undisciplined punks running around with loaded weapons watching my back. No thanks.

I think it is sad how long Janesville citizens have ignored that we actually do have a problem! It's not like these kids are big "gang bangers" but they sure want to be and that is what causes these problems. These kids don't care! Our society needs to wake up otherwise they will be coming to your neighborhood soon!!!

What has our society come too?? Does anyone have any respect for human life?? So, we place these rats in jail for a couple of years, they get out and do it all over again. I firmly believe, you want to belong to a gang, then give that gang a 1-way ticket to Iraq. Let them know what it is like to be on the other side of being fired at. Smacking around their parents is not going to do any good. Some where along the line the right and wrong has been lost, maybe it is cuz our system makes it too soft for these men and women who break the law?? You cannot tell me that there are so many more people wired wrong these days. It comes down to choice and these boys are old enough to know that shooting at someone to hurt or kill is not a very good choice...even if their parents did not tell them that.

What's a teenager doing with a .357-caliber Magnum?!?!? Paraphrasing Gandhi, when you live in an eye-for-an-eye society, you make the whole world blind. From the Oval office to TV networks to the Janesville streets, the message seems to be that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict. Until we learn to reward and TRULY value creative, as well as, tried-and-true nonviolent conflict resolution, the violence will continue to beget violence. The children are watching the adults and actions DO speak louder than words.

We have turned into a society of people that make it a routine to place blame everywhere else except where it belongs. You can't blame parents for something a 15+ year old does when they are away from the home. All parents can do is to try and get involved with their teen as much as they can. Parents cannot possibly keep a watchful eye 24/7. Unrealistic. If there is someone else to blame, it would be the owner of the handguns. If trigger locks are used or they are secured properly, then they cannot do harm. Parents can only hope that their kids can do whats morally & lawfully right. 15+ year old teens know the difference between right and wrong, therefore, they should be held responsible for their actions...NOT the parents.

I'm gonna catch "hell" for this, but many of todays parents ARE idiots. A consortium should devise some sort of "test" that a person would have to pass to...become a "legit" parent. Too many "accidental" kids permeating society today. The truth be known, 99.9 per cent of those "accidents" could have been prevented if the parties involved would have just "thought"...before they acted. As a society, this is the "spin off" of idiotic parents. Not all of it, mind you...but much of it!

The main problem here is that ,in the name of child abuse,society has taken the woodshed away from parents in general!!! Ask Michael Fay if he wants to go to singapore and disgrace the sidewalk. He got the cane - in public mind you 15 times I beleive and I dont think he will do that again!!What we need to do is take these children or their parents, and bend them over a post with their shorts to their ankles and cane them for 10 to20 or more whacks. It is my understanding of this highly effective form of punishment that you pass out after 3 or 4 whacks. Only to be revived fully with smelling salts to be whacked again.THIS WORKS.Just imagine how involved some of these worthless parents would be. I know some who deserve this because of rotten parenting skills and subsequent neglect.The bottem line is that without parents being involved, children have no direction . I have kids and they know I am keeping an eye out for their well being. As kids and future adults, I want the best for them . I call them as much as they call me on the phone . Sometimes its just to say hi and they know I care P. S. I KNOW WHERE MY CHILDREN ARE - DO YOU?

Several people commented that they didn't think it would be right to arrest the parents. Why not? Where did these kids came from, under a cabbage leaf? Everyone has the inherent right to own their bodies, and therefore, to have children. If you have a right, then you have a responsibility. They are opposite sides of the same thing. What does it mean to be responsible for your children until they're adults? It means you have the responsibility to teach your children what rights, and responsibilities are. Being responsible doesn't mean running around with a gang, and shooting other citizens, because it violates their inherent right to life. Shooting a gun is one of the most serious offenses imaginable, and if you're going to shoot one, you'd better know your rights, responsibilities, and you better be 100% right. Being arrested for negligence to your child is the price you pay for not being responsible. If you can't get arrested, it would be because you're not responsible for your children. If you're not responsible for your children, then it means you have no right to have children, and it becomes of privilege granted to you by some higher authority. The Constitution acknowledges our right to own our bodies. You are the authority of your life. There is no higher authority to appeal to, or who you need ask permission from. There is no argument after that. Either you believe you're the sovereign owner of your body and your life, and accept it's responsibilities, or you believe you are owned by someone else, like the government. That's a very, extremely dangerous belief that people have fought, and died for to shake off. Nobody needs to go to jail necessarily, but it's up to society to make sure all parties understand what's involved, and the penalties for continued behavior.

If my kid did something stupid like this I would'nt want to be the one arrested. Arrest the parent .. what is that going to teach these kids? It will send them the message " I can do anything that I want to because they're not going to do anything to me, they will put my parents in jail. HEEHEE HAHA "

These students should be arrested for attempted murder and tried as adults. That's the only way these kids are ever going to account for their actions. You can't always blame the parents but in most cases the parents are oblivious to what is going on in their child's lives. It's time they take more notice. As a parent myself, I don't allow my kids to wander the streets, they go where they are supposed to go and there is no in between. They are there or home, not wandering around. What the heck is wrong with these parents who allow their kids to wander the streets especially after dark? I've also noticed "gangs" on the streets here in Janesville, especially on Milton Ave, Milwaukee Street and near the Hedberg Library. They are real and they start very young. It's time the parents pay more attention to what their kids are doing so they can nip this kind of behavior in the bud at an earlier age. It should be obvious what your kids are up to. Some kids are just uncontrollable. When they get that way, the parents should make them go to counseling or put them in some boot camp for troubled teens so they straighten their acts up. A good parent should know what is going on in their childrens lives and that is where the problem lies. Too many don't take the time or just don't care. Maybe if those parents did take the time and show these kids they did care, these kids wouldn't act out in these ways looking for acceptance from their peers. It all boils down to self esteem and obviously, these kids don't have any.

Wasn't that Pro football player killed by "only" getting shot in the leg, severing the femoral artery? He died getting shot "Below the waist"

A gunshot below the waist is likely to be deadly if the femoral artery is compromised. Sometimes even medical attention cannot save the victim. A wound of any kind can be deadly to the victim if there are complications to recovery. Why do we give the attacker the benefit of the doubt in these instances? Are his rights more important than the victim's rights?

Oh no, please don't let the big bad gangs of Janesville take over our city! Give me a break. Let me guess, daddy forgot to lock up his gun and Johnny Wannabe "gang-banger" decided to try and impress his dipwad buddies. Why don't they ship these idiots to the south side of Chicago for a day to try out their gang-banger skills. They wouldn't last ten minutes. Freakin' losers.

Well, well, well where are those other smart ones from the 14-year old connected to shooting from the 21st?? I believe I told you all about this and I was the one that was wrong?? So, where are you people at? Hiding under the doormat??!!! Sarac is the only one with me on this one!!

Blaming it on the parents is whats wrong with the youth of today... They do something wrong/illegal and automatically it's the parents fault, a video games fault, a songs fault, because they were teased/bullied at school, etc... The kids do this stuff today because they know they can get away with it. A kid does something horrible and everyone points the finger at everyone and everything but the kid. Those kids should be charged as adults and for attempted murder not endangering safety. If you point a gun at another human being and pull the trigger, I say you are attempting to murder that person.

hightimes... your 18 year old friend who was shot isnt a gang member ??? y was he at a gang fight if thats what jpd is still calling it??? whats the REAL storey. 1 gun 2 guns 4 shots 9 shots and another eye witness. maybe this witness will be as credible as the girl who pointed the 14 year as the shooter when he wasnt any where near janesville.. whats the truth and what lies???

Oh yeah, the kids in question were brought up just right. Maybe we should find out what their parents did to help them become such responsible citizens. Or maybe it's what they DIDN'T do?
Are you trying to say people are destined to be bad or good from birth? I totally disagree. Your upbringing is the most important part of what you become.

Ha don't blame this on parents. The kids are the idiots, going out shooting up people. Like their parents haven't said, "don't harm others"? Oh it's real cool to harm others to prove you're a gangster. AND IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN TOO! Oh man, you're the baddest of the bad if you're in J-Town man. Give me a break, all these "gangs" in Janesville are a joke, we should send all these gangsters to Chicago, LA, or NYC for awhile. Why can't everyone just get along, hm...?

The "endangering safety" charge is likely a hold charge until they can determine who actually handled the weapon, provided it, and/or concealed/discarded it afterward.

they aren't charged with attemted murder because they shot him below the waist

liberte:
You can put a dog on a leash or lock them in a kennel/cage, you can't do that with your kids. Besides that a fifteen, sixteen or seventeen year old knows whats right and whats wrong. They know that there are consequences for their actions. Why in the world would you suggest throwing the parents in jail for something a young adult chose to do? And how can you compare a teenager to a dog? There comes a point where you can't control what your kid/teenager does. You can only raise them the best way you know how and hope that they turn out fine.

Parents can only do so much. Some kids are just beyond help. I don't know the parents so I can't comment on whether or not they did all they could to keep this kind of thing from happening, but with the kids being 15 and older, there has to be a large amount of the responsibility placed on them. Kids that age know the difference between right and wrong.

Our society has to get out of the frame of mind that there is always something or someone else to blame. Whatever happened to personal resposibility? These 'tough guys' knew what they were doing when they went to get there guns and shoot someone.

interesting iwas told by someone who heard from a police officer that there were no gangs in jvl

interesting i was told by someone who said they heard it from a police officer that there are no gangs in jvl

Arrest the parents?? Then what? These are children that are SEVERLY troubled . Mommy and Daddy can't just say, stay in your room junior. 14+ year old children are as big as adults. These kids will leave, sneak out, steal your car, etc. Yes, there actions MIGHT be a result of a bad upbringing, but what are we going to do about it now???? Please explain to me what arresting the parents will do to help the situation? Besides, make the lives of these children more screwed up?

I agree that the parents should be held liable, however, these kids need to be held accountable for their actions.

You don't arrest the dog, you arrest the dog owner because they're responsible for the dog.
Arrest the parents for negligence because they're responsible for their children.