Pre-emptive law proposed before 'flash robbing' takes root in WA

The issue I have is that the police called them "African American".  You can bet that none of them have ever set foot in Africa and neither have their parents going back for many generations.  We need to find a new name for them.

It would be better and easier for everyone that prepaid phones must be registered and only sold to people with valid ID's. I've always had to do this in Europe and South America. Its not foolproof but we're not dealing with the sharpest knives in the drawer here either.

 

Why do the politicians always want to write new laws for any "wave" in crime? Why not enforce the existing laws better and make the punishments actually be a punishment! When I was 10 and got caught shop-lifting my parents tanned my backside real good! I also had to work for the store to pay for the toy I tried to steal and I did not get the toy, either. Guess who never stole anything again? Think about it.We talk about stiffer penilties but then we don't want to cause the thief any emotional trauma.  Make the punishment actually be a deterrent as it was in the past. Evryone believes the "wild west" was a lawless place where the bad guys had free reign and took what they wanted and we are so much better off now..... The exact opposite is true! History only talks about the major event that happened on that one day, not the other 364 days where nothing happened.....  We don't need more jails either. We just need to make the thief's regret what they did and not want to ever do it again. I have no moral problem with public whippings or labor camps! We stopped whipping because we say that's too cruel. No, deep down we stopped them because we didn't want ourselves to be whipped. No thought of just not committing a crime. It's really just that simple! No fancy laws. No lawyers to bargain on lesser penilties/shorter sentences.  And no deviation from the set standard.  By doing it in public, it would act as a deterrent to those thinking about doing something unlawful.

 

Call me barbaric, monsterous or any other name you choose. But, inside you know I am on the right track! Look at the crime rates and how they steadily have been going up as the punishments have gotten more "humane". The countries with the lowest crime rates usually have the worst penilties for crime.  I'm just sick of all these criminals in jail, eating food and getting medical attention paid for by my taxes while there are law-abiding people living on the cold, wet streets with nothing to eat and not even a bandage for a cut. But, our society must reward these thieves with 3 square meals a day, warm, clean and dry bedding to sleep on, medical and dental work if needed, job training and placement upon release. They are also giving one a sex change surgery! REALLY?!?!? And this is how we punish?

I don't agree with punishing the parents anymore then the punishment of having separation from their children while they are in detention. When children misbehave they should learn early personal responsibility in this case I think that means incarceration in appropriate facility for at least a year. Those that are 18 or older before sentencing should face adult penalties and adult jail time , as well as a record.

  This crime is going to grow as long as the punishment does not exceed the crime and right now it's only honest people who pay for their items that are being punished in the form of higher costs. 

 

One doesn't need to be a bigot to notice that most of these children appeared to be black, if not all. The black community needs to stand up and defend itself from the stereotype that this perpetuates. Why don't we see an outcry from the black community wanting to see justice prevail here. Until the black community supports and cries out for punishment for its own that commit crimes they don't deserve to be considered equals as long as they expect the rest of us to tolerate this behavior. 

 

 All too often it appears to me that the black community doesn't want to take responsibility for its own problems instead blaming it on the man that keeps them down. Well black community here an example of behavior that perpetuates a bad stereotype on the black community and if you want to break that stereotype start here by demanding punishment for these criminals. 

  If these kids get away with this theft what will they do next? How will their criminal behavior escalate and then what will become of their lives. Black community do you care what happens to your children, reputation as a race, perpetuation of a stereotype? 

 

I don't think so. I think you're happy to live off the hand-me-downs from the government and to teach your children how to do the same. Prove me wrong.

 

 

the washington law,should make a group of 4 or more,not 9 or more.  these guys will just down size their flash group ,and still steal,,without fear of getting a felony charge.

I have seen a couple of posts stating the parents of the "flash robbers" should be punished as well.  The only reason I am not all for that is this:  the parents aren't always at fault.  I have personally seen (on more than one occasion) parents who try everything to raise their child (or children) to know the difference between right and wrong and the child (or children) still ended up in trouble with the law.  One couple I know actually left their son in jail for a time to try to get the message across.  If it can be proven that the parents encouraged lawless behavior, then they should be punished as well as the "flash robber".

I sure wish laws could be written to punish the parents.....  Might get the parents to start acting like they should. 

Off with their hands!

Yay!  More laws for the criminals that don't obey them.

Oh look, thieves, low life, dregs of society with a sense of entitlement, looking for easy prey because they are to lazy to work and society practices catch and release so they continue their scumbag ways. Stiff penalties are a start.

Hold them and the parents accountable for the amounts stolen! Or even 3 or 10 times as much. This is definitely conspiracy to commit a crime! The total amount taken should determine the classification of theft!

Great idea. Make it happen!

I can't believe I am saying this...but I agree with a Republican on this issue.  See, we can agree on some things...right?  There really is not enough consequences for crimes like these and crimes in general, in my opinion.  

I would say a just punishment would be to send these teens to a session of "Scared Straight."

That's where they are sent to prison for the day and harden inmates explain the consequences

of a life of crime. 

Lock down the store and wait for law enforcement officers to show up.  Charge them all with felony theft in adult court.   Sending them home with a "bad, bad" wagging finger in the face just isn't doing it.  

Their parents have trained them to be the worker bees, bringing home the honey for the hive.  Keeps the parents out of jail and off the radar and the kids just walk home without a scratch or a record. 

Make it a felony on the first offense. 

They are thieves..treat them as such and do not play nice with them. Take the amount out of their pockets, or their parents pockets. Make them aware of what can happen when they decide to break the law.