Convicting Children
The conviction of 14-year-old Lionel Tate for first-degree
murder and the subsequent life in prison sentence has been all
but absent from the media lately. After the Florida court handed
down the shocking sentence three weeks ago, it seems the media
considers it old news. I am choosing to publish my feelings
about this case anyway.
I cannot seem to overcome my strong feelings about this topic. I
cannot tolerate the fact that a 6 year-old child was beaten to
death yet I cannot accept a 14 year-old boy being sentenced to
life in prison without the possibility of parole. Where in the
world did this sentence come from? This is a child we are
talking about and a crime he committed when he was 12 years old!
The crime that brought this case to trial is appalling, yet
sentencing a 14-year-old boy life in prison without the
possibility of parole is ludicrous. This is not justice, this is
cruel and unusual punishment handed down to a child. This is
cowardice in its highest form and the jurors who convicted him
should be ashamed. How could the state of Florida try this boy
as an adult in the first place? He is not an adult nor should he
be expected to assume the consciousness of an adult.
I see pictures of Lionel Tate and feel nothing but horror at the
fear and uncertainty in his eyes as he looks at his mother,
obviously trying to comprehend his situation. Yes, the fear and
pain he inflicted on Tiffany Eunick is inexcusable. He should
definitely be held accountable for his actions, however, he
should be held accountable as the child he was at the time of
the incident and still is. His mother should be held even more
accountable. She was the adult in charge. Where was she when
this little girl received 30 horrendous injuries? In hindsight,
it