3 Hurt In Leaf-Blower Prank At Newport Beach Movie Theater

[Taypo]

Richbirdhunter,

I gather from your response, you're the kind of parent who defends junior even if he's guilty rather than let him face his consequences.

Years ago, our Sr. V.P. had an out of control son who he always protected with high priced lawyers as his son was always in trouble with the law. I knew the son. He was a dirt bag. He bragged that getting in trouble with the law was no big deal as his Dad would always save his bacon.

The son has been in prison now for a very long time.

My opinion: Defend your offspring if they deserve it, but only if they deserve it.

Enabling a kid whose gone wrong does them no favors in the long run.

Maybe, just maybe, if a kid whose headed down a criminal path finds he's on his own, may turn around.

I think I just found the division in our conversation, I feel that the leaf blower would be better categorized as a prank, rather than an actual crime such as armed robbery.

If my kid was a thief or a drug dealer I would be on board with your stand but I don't equate leaf blowers as felonies

Come on now. Wrapping a house is a prank. Egging a car is a prank. Switching salt for sugar is a prank.

Popping a fire door and scaring the heck out of a bunch of people in a theater after several recent high profile theater shootings is cruel, malicious and intended to cause a panic. The tools that did it either knew what they were doing or were completely oblivious to the consequences of their actions. Either way, they need a wake up call in the real world that a citation or a fight from daddy's lawyer isn't going to provide.

[Richbirdhunter]

Richbirdhunter,

I gather from your response, you're the kind of parent who defends junior even if he's guilty rather than let him face his consequences.

Years ago, our Sr. V.P. had an out of control son who he always protected with high priced lawyers as his son was always in trouble with the law. I knew the son. He was a dirt bag. He bragged that getting in trouble with the law was no big deal as his Dad would always save his bacon.

The son has been in prison now for a very long time.

My opinion: Defend your offspring if they deserve it, but only if they deserve it.

Enabling a kid whose gone wrong does them no favors in the long run.

Maybe, just maybe, if a kid whose headed down a criminal path finds he's on his own, may turn around.

I think I just found the division in our conversation, I feel that the leaf blower would be better categorized as a prank, rather than an actual crime such as armed robbery.

If my kid was a thief or a drug dealer I would be on board with your stand but I don't equate leaf blowers as felonies

Come on now. Wrapping a house is a prank. Egging a car is a prank. Switching salt for sugar is a prank.

Popping a fire door and scaring the heck out of a bunch of people in a theater after several recent high profile theater shootings is cruel, malicious and intended to cause a panic. The tools that did it either knew what they were doing or were completely oblivious to the consequences of their actions. Either way, they need a wake up call in the real world that a citation or a fight from daddy's lawyer isn't going to provide.

It was never my opinion that the boys did nothing wrong, it's my opinion that the correction should come from the home.

[Abraham]

RBH,

So, law enforcement should just look the other way?

Mom and Dad know how to handle this situation and will mete out justice in their own way?

Please, you can't be serious.

What was done by these cretins isn't up to the parents to discipline.

These guys need law enforcement/criminal courts involved.

However, if a parent is an enabler, of course their entitled kiddies should just be scolded and let go on their merry way.

P.S. If the perpetrators are caught, I truly hope the injured sue the pants off them and they get to serve time. This is NOT a petty crime.

[Taypo]

Richbirdhunter,

I gather from your response, you're the kind of parent who defends junior even if he's guilty rather than let him face his consequences.

Years ago, our Sr. V.P. had an out of control son who he always protected with high priced lawyers as his son was always in trouble with the law. I knew the son. He was a dirt bag. He bragged that getting in trouble with the law was no big deal as his Dad would always save his bacon.

The son has been in prison now for a very long time.

My opinion: Defend your offspring if they deserve it, but only if they deserve it.

Enabling a kid whose gone wrong does them no favors in the long run.

Maybe, just maybe, if a kid whose headed down a criminal path finds he's on his own, may turn around.

I think I just found the division in our conversation, I feel that the leaf blower would be better categorized as a prank, rather than an actual crime such as armed robbery.

If my kid was a thief or a drug dealer I would be on board with your stand but I don't equate leaf blowers as felonies

Come on now. Wrapping a house is a prank. Egging a car is a prank. Switching salt for sugar is a prank.

Popping a fire door and scaring the heck out of a bunch of people in a theater after several recent high profile theater shootings is cruel, malicious and intended to cause a panic. The tools that did it either knew what they were doing or were completely oblivious to the consequences of their actions. Either way, they need a wake up call in the real world that a citation or a fight from daddy's lawyer isn't going to provide.

It was never my opinion that the boys did nothing wrong, it's my opinion that the correction should come from the home.

Yeah, I'm sure they've got a fantastic family structure that is capable of correcting such behavior. I mean, little marvelous snowflakes such as these have obviously been raised well and have simply fallen in with the wrong crowd. They're just misunderstood and don't deserve any of this undue attention.

[howdy]

I grew up in a time when Police Officer's would call the parents of young "offenders" and release them to the Parents. I grew up in a time when a young, stupid Navy Officer was caught driving drunk and he was allowed to call a buddy to come drive him home (not me this time). I grew up in a time when the news media only reported REAL news story's. We now live in a time when there is zero tolerance for teens being stupid. If two kids get in a fight in my school district, they are arrested and taken to jail. They must post bond, parents hire an attorney, and charged with assault. I grew up in a school that would put 16oz boxing gloves on the two combatants and let them duke it out in gym class.

My point here is a criminal charge is a lifetime thing. Convict these hooligans of a felony and they will NEVER get a decent job, hold a professional license, have credit, etc......for life!! That is a strong punishment for a stupid kid prank. They need to be caught, have the fear of God put in them, and let them know this was their ONE big chance in life to unscrew them self up.

Most of the people on this forum (just guessing here) are type A personalities. I can only imagine some of the stuff we did as teens. The vast majority of us grew up to be good, productive, law abiding citizens. Let us not be so quick to "throw the book" at them for being stupid teens.

OK, bring on the "what ifs" and "what if it was you" statements.

[Countryside]

"Inducing panic is when a person causes the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following:
Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that such report or warning is false;
Threatening to commit any offense of violence;
Committing any offense, with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause serious public inconvenience or alarm.

Laws governing inducing panic vary from state to state. Inducing panic is usually defined as a misdemeanor, but local laws should be consulted for specific requirements."


One witness said one of the offenders yelled that he had a "chainsaw." Though not vocalized verbally, a threat of violence was perceived. The intent to cause people to think they were being threatened and the desire to cause panic was clear. People were injured. I really do think it would stand up in court. Yes, teens do stupid things, but being a teenager does not mean being stupid is okay if others are injured.

[Taypo]

I grew up in a time when Police Officer's would call the parents of young "offenders" and release them to the Parents. I grew up in a time when a young, stupid Navy Officer was caught driving drunk and he was allowed to call a buddy to come drive him home (not me this time). I grew up in a time when the news media only reported REAL news story's. We now live in a time when there is zero tolerance for teens being stupid. If two kids get in a fight in my school district, they are arrested and taken to jail. They must post bond, parents hire an attorney, and charged with assault. I grew up in a school that would put 16oz boxing gloves on the two combatants and let them duke it out in gym class.

My point here is a criminal charge is a lifetime thing. Convict these hooligans of a felony and they will NEVER get a decent job, hold a professional license, have credit, etc......for life!! That is a strong punishment for a stupid kid prank. They need to be caught, have the fear of God put in them, and let them know this was their ONE big chance in life to unscrew them self up.

Most of the people on this forum (just guessing here) are type A personalities. I can only imagine some of the stuff we did as teens. The vast majority of us grew up to be good, productive, law abiding citizens. Let us not be so quick to "throw the book" at them for being stupid teens.

OK, bring on the "what ifs" and "what if it was you" statements.

If your teenage daughter ended up dead on that filthy theater floor because she was trampled in the rush, ill bet you everything in my possession you'd be singing a different tune. If not, you're no better than the parents who continue to coddle their children with no regards to the consequences of their own actions.

I didn't do stupid stuff when I was growing up. Why? Because I'd have been punished. Not time out, not a quiet room, a punishment. Old Testament stuff.

I dont do stupid stuff as an adult. Why? Different people would be the ones punishing me.

"Lets just give them one more chance to be good boys. They deserve better and they're just as good as the other kids who aren't running around causing injury to others."

No, they're not. They're criminals.

[Richbirdhunter]

I grew up in a time when Police Officer's would call the parents of young "offenders" and release them to the Parents. I grew up in a time when a young, stupid Navy Officer was caught driving drunk and he was allowed to call a buddy to come drive him home (not me this time). I grew up in a time when the news media only reported REAL news story's. We now live in a time when there is zero tolerance for teens being stupid. If two kids get in a fight in my school district, they are arrested and taken to jail. They must post bond, parents hire an attorney, and charged with assault. I grew up in a school that would put 16oz boxing gloves on the two combatants and let them duke it out in gym class.

My point here is a criminal charge is a lifetime thing. Convict these hooligans of a felony and they will NEVER get a decent job, hold a professional license, have credit, etc......for life!! That is a strong punishment for a stupid kid prank. They need to be caught, have the fear of God put in them, and let them know this was their ONE big chance in life to unscrew them self up.

Most of the people on this forum (just guessing here) are type A personalities. I can only imagine some of the stuff we did as teens. The vast majority of us grew up to be good, productive, law abiding citizens. Let us not be so quick to "throw the book" at them for being stupid teens.

OK, bring on the "what ifs" and "what if it was you" statements.

These are all good points, when we were kids there was no social media, no 24 hour news cycle. We never would have heard about 3 kids in California.
When I was in high school the head football coach would take two boys that were fighting down to the 50 yard line of the football field and tell them to fight, he would also tell us not to roll around like sissies and fight like men.
Could you imagine what would happen if he said that today? All the social media people would go insane

[Abraham]

RBH,

A bit of deflection to avoid facing reality?

Some here defend the action of these criminals due to being teenagers.

Nonsense.

I don't buy the idea that criminal teenagers deserve a get out of jail free card. Their crime was serious.

I hear a lot of gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands decrying: They'll have a record and it'll haunt them.

Guess they should have considered that before committing an injurious crime.

All of you that believe in enabling, entitled junior, cuz the poor little devil is only being a rambunctious teenager, are the ones who contribute to junior continuing his criminal behavior. He has to be stopped. Not given a shrug of the shoulders and a quick excuse.

Don't any of you that want junior to get a slap on the wrist have ANY understanding of the magnitude of what these criminals have done?

[howdy]

RBH,

A bit of deflection to avoid facing reality?

Some here defend the action of these criminals due to being teenagers.

Nonsense.

I don't buy the idea that criminal teenagers deserve a get out of jail free card. Their crime was serious.

I hear a lot of gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands decrying: They'll have a record and it'll haunt them.

Guess they should have considered that before committing an injurious crime.

All of you that believe in enabling, entitled junior, cuz the poor little devil is only being a rambunctious teenager, are the ones who contribute to junior continuing his criminal behavior. He has to be stopped. Not given a shrug of the shoulders and a quick excuse.

Don't any of you that want junior to get a slap on the wrist have ANY understanding of the magnitude of what these criminals have done?

No...Why don't you enlighten us.

[Dave2]

Richbirdhunter,

I gather from your response, you're the kind of parent who defends junior even if he's guilty rather than let him face his consequences.

Years ago, our Sr. V.P. had an out of control son who he always protected with high priced lawyers as his son was always in trouble with the law. I knew the son. He was a dirt bag. He bragged that getting in trouble with the law was no big deal as his Dad would always save his bacon.

The son has been in prison now for a very long time.

My opinion: Defend your offspring if they deserve it, but only if they deserve it.

Enabling a kid whose gone wrong does them no favors in the long run.

Maybe, just maybe, if a kid whose headed down a criminal path finds he's on his own, may turn around.

I think I just found the division in our conversation, I feel that the leaf blower would be better categorized as a prank, rather than an actual crime such as armed robbery.

If my kid was a thief or a drug dealer I would be on board with your stand but I don't equate leaf blowers as felonies

Pranks are harmless. This could've given someone a heart attack.

[Dragonfighter]

Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?"