Regarding the column “Youth doesn’t excuse assault,” I completely agree, as I think any reasonable person would, that what this individual did is wrong and disgusting. I think that anyone who threatens someone for pornographic pictures should face serious repercussions by the school as well as parents. The problem I have with this story is that the child is only 14 years old. If he is charged to the full extent of the law, this child, which he still is, is going to be put on the sexual predator list for the rest of his life. It doesn’t go away when he turns 18. This means he will have to register every time he moves so that everyone in his neighborhood knows who he is. This is also going to make it very hard to get a job for the rest of his life. This child is only 14! How can anyone with a clear conscience put this child in this situation for the next 70 years?

Steve Knautz
Mechanical Engineering
Senior