rolltider, i think iraq is safer than america, i am glad the 16 year old is ok, they should not have to fear walking down the street at 8:45 p.m. that is crazy. instead of taking 300 grand to pay a “planner” they could start by hiring more police officers. take the thugs who did it off the street and throw away the key.

I agree 100% you shouldn’t be scared to be outside your home at night.  But, its just like riding your bike down Springhill Avenue with cars whizzing by, you are taking your life for granted because you don’t know when a nut is going to hit you. I think I know what my family would do, but its the “others” I don’t trust to not hurt my kids or me so precaution needs to be taken beforehand.  My protection is a .38 special with permit to carry and just about everybody around my place knows it.  I would hate for them to find out I protect what is mine the hard way.

What I think is that it’s time for adult residents of this neighborhood, in conjunction with law enforcement, to reclaim what belongs to them!  I’m sorry, but no one should be scared to be outside at 8:45 at night.  I refuse to live my life in fear, and I understand that I live in a safe neighborhood.  However, if I lived somewhere that it would be scary to be outside at 8:45 pm, I’d be doing something about it by helping to start a neighborhood-watch program involving adult residents and police officers!!!  People should not have to feel as if they are held prisoners in their homes!

You think 8:45 is too early?  I think after dark you would be crazy to walk around in any neighborhood.  You never really know who your neighbors are or what they are. Actually my own neighborhood is basically just kinfolk, but if my child is outside after dark, when I stick my head out the door or look out the window, I better be able to see them or at least holler out the door and they answer.  You can’t take anything for granted anymore. Even walking around at a school function unless they are with two or more people in a lighted area, it is not safe.  The saying goes, its better to be safe than sorry. With thugs and punks roaming the street and getting more and more brave each day because of basically no consequences for their actions, you might not even be safe in your own house, much less your own yard.

rolltider, do you seriously think it’s inappropriate for a couple of 16 year old boys to be walking through their own neighborhood at 8:45 pm?  I have a 16 year old at my house, and if she’s in bed sleeping at 8:45 pm, I know she’s ill.  Even my nine year old has cheerleading practice until 8:30!  If it were 1:45 AM, I could see it, but 8:45 pm?  Naaahhhhh.

What are they doing walking around at 8:45?  Get inside, get to bed.  I know, I know, we live in America, have rights to walk around the neighborhood if we want, yada yada.  All I’m saying is, take some precautionary actions.  Go home, help keep yourself safe.  I live in a fairly decent area I don’t go for walks.  I feel completely vulnerable and knowing how things are these days, I don’t feel safe.  I guess we will find out if this was random or not at a later date . . . ?