http://posttrib.suntimes.com/17780614-537/gary-car-owner-shoots-carjacker-in-the-back.html
While driving earlier today, I passed this scene. Due to the cold temperatures and the sudden snow that we recieved overnight, I was a little taken aback when I saw yellow crime scene tape. Usually this is indicative of a murder. It was definitely too cold for someone to be out shooting, but hey, anything is possible these days. Knowing that the local newspaper is updated throughout the day, I couldn't wait to see exactly what was going on at 12 in the afternoon on a Thursday that would require so many squad cars. Imagine my surprise when I read the article.
A 19 year old shot and hospitalized after stealing someone's car. It hit pretty close to home. My own son was involved in an incident similar to this. He and some friends stealing a car from someone while the person is right there on the scene. Stealing of any sort is wrong, no explanation, no justification can suffice for such an action. Lately I have read more and more articles of incidents similar to this however. This particular case however stands out. This is so because of the consequence incurred behind it. While I have read several articles about car thefts and carjackings, I hadn't read any where the victim had actually retaliated. Unfortunate for the young man to have been shot, however that is one of possible consequences that one can suffer from blatantly taking property that does not belong to them.
When I found my son in a similar situation, that was one of the first thing I said to him, "What if the victim had a gun and blew ya'll brains out?" You never know what frame of mind a person is in and how they will react to the violation of someone taking their hard earned possessions from them. Somewhere down the line, our teens and youth have lost or have not been given the value of hard work. You have to work hard for what you want. You have to earn what you want. What comes easy without hard work can lead to a long lasting heartache and pain. Now in the case of the young man in this article, what he mistook for an easy job or an easy target has cost him much more than what it was worth. Not only is he hospitalized from the injuries he recieved from being shot, once that is over, he will still face charges for carjacking, auto theft and robbery at the minimum. In the end, was it really even worth it?
As parents and society in general, we have to work collectively to instill the value of hard work and good morals in our children to minimize instances such as the one in this article. It is a daunting task but it still has to be done.
