Deliberate action. Should be charged to the fullest extent of the law.

 

They deliberately set the fire, yes. Did they deliberately set a fire with the intent of that fire killing 14 people? No way.

 

Eric Harris (18 years old) and Dylan Klebold (17 years old) intentionally killed 13 people in the Columbine Massacre before killing themselves.

 

If you say the two teens who set the fire in Gatlinburg are "murderers" and say that authorities should be prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law, then would you have the two teens reaponsible for the fire charged and tried in the same way that you would have had Harris & Klebold charged and tried were they apprehended before they had the chance to commit suicide?

I don't usually go down plantmanky's path too far on a lot of topics, but IF they were deliberately setting fires and walking off, then I'm in agreement with him here.

 

How would you answer the question I posed to plantmanky in the post above this one?

They deliberately set the fire, yes. Did they deliberately set a fire with the intent of that fire killing 14 people? No way.

 

Eric Harris (18 years old) and Dylan Klebold (17 years old) intentionally killed 13 people in the Columbine Massacre before killing themselves.

 

If you say the two teens who set the fire in Gatlinburg are "murderers" and say that authorities should be prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law, then would you have the two teens reaponsible for the fire charged and tried in the same way that you would have had Harris & Klebold charged and tried were they apprehended before they had the chance to commit suicide?

 

Yes actions have consequences.

A person who is driving drunk, not intending to harm anyone, but has a wreck killing several people, are they not charged with vehicular homicide? I would think these 2 would be charged with something similar. They may not have intended to hurt anyone, but they are still responsible for 14 deaths

A person who is driving drunk, not intending to harm anyone, but has a wreck killing several people, are they not charged with vehicular homicide? I would think these 2 would be charged with something similar. They may not have intended to hurt anyone, but they are still responsible for 14 deaths

 

Larry Mahoney was charged with murder for the 27 deaths of those who died in the Carrollton bus crash, which he caused while driving drunk. The jury knocked the charges down to man-2.

 

The fact is, finding a jury full of people to agree on throwing the book at someone for something they didn't necessarily intentionally set out to do is not an easy task.

Yes actions have consequences.

 

Someone intentinally runs a stop sign and ends up causing a fatal accident. Charge them with murder?

Kid sets a bag of rags on fire in the basement, then just walks out. Entire family dies, murder charge?

Someone intentinally runs a stop sign and ends up causing a fatal accident. Charge them with murder?

 

Yes.

yes.

Kid sets a bag of rags on fire in the basement, then just walks out. Entire family dies, murder charge?

 

I might consider a murder charge there, depending on the kid's age. There is a fairly significant difference there given the fact that the kid set the fire in a home versus setting it outdoors. At least I see a definite difference there...

Seems to me like everyone is responding based on their comfort zone understanding of the law... in KY.

 

Keep in mind the TN law difference, which is significant here.

Kid sets a bag of rags on fire in the basement, then just walks out. Entire family dies, murder charge?

is the house in TN or KY?

It seems as if there is more concern for the (potential) guilty living than for the innocents who died. They intentionally set the fires, whether they meant harm or not, they should pay a harsh price for their actions. Maybe the death penalty is off the table, but life in prison is not. Mahoney should still be in prison, rather than walking free.

 

Just on Ch 12 news (Cincy), they reported that all options are on the table. Punishment could range from 60 yrs in prison to life and even the death penalty.

Seems to me like everyone is responding based on their comfort zone understanding of the law... in KY.

 

Keep in mind the TN law difference, which is significant here.

 

Could this become a federal case since the Smokeys are a national park?

Prosecutor: 'Everything on the table' for juveniles charged in deadly fire - WCYB