HOLD PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THEIR CHILDREN

Editor:

Re: Mother upset police destroyed marijuana pipe, Crime Beat, Aug. 27

I was speechless when I read the list of complaints the police had
dealt with last week, including the complaint where some youths had
been found intoxicated by smoking marijuana and still had the pipe in
their possession.

Naturally the police are going to confiscate and destroy it. What I am
having a hard time understanding is why these youth were not charged
with something. Then to make matters worse, the mother of one of the
youth phones to complain about the destruction of the pipe because it
cost her $40.

Firstly, what on earth is she doing buying her child a marijuana pipe
and why was she not charged with supplying or allowing a controlled
substance to be used by a minor?

What or where is our community heading when we read this in our paper
last week and a story of a mother purchasing vodka for her child the
previous week. It's no wonder some of our youth are getting up to
mischief and causing vandalism with parents like this around.

Every week we read about fences being kicked down, park structures
being damaged or just general nuisance problems. I strongly believe
parents should be held accountable for their child's actions until the
child reaches the age of consent. This includes being charged along
with the child for any vandalism or criminal damage their child causes.

I also believe it's a parent's responsibility to know where their
child is at all times and not hide behind the excuses of "Oh, I
thought they were at a friend's house." Kids should not be out roaming
the streets at all hours of the night and early morning.

All my kids know this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our
house and there will be serious repercussions, including the police
being called if there was any criminal activity going on.

Michael Hughes