Teens tossing lit matches on trail started fatal Gatlinburg wildfire

[Tanuki]

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2016/12/09/sources-teens-toying-matches-started-fatal-wildfire/95210356/

[dembotoz]

1. not a good idea especially in a drought

remember doing that as a kid but never in the woods...but i lived in a city and matches on pavement not as bad i guess

[hlthe2b]

6. I am generally opposed to corporal punishment of children...

and my parents did not generally use physical punishment at all, but if I (or my sibling) had been caught playing with matches or similar dangerous irresponsible acts, they would have left us unable to sit down for a week. And, frankly, I would, in retrospect, agree with that.

I'm not about to make blanket judgement of these or any other parents, but it does make me wonder...

[kcr]

7. Then you aren't opposed to corporal punishment for children.

So that's why you're wondering.

[hlthe2b]

9. and what would be your solution for parents catching children engaging in this behavior

that might avoid a future repeat action resulting in the death of 14 people, including 2 children, and 2400 homes and structures?

[dumbcat]

11. A stern talking to?

Yeah, that'll work.

[hlthe2b]

23. Apparently some think that alone in these youths would have made the difference...

Not comforting at all to me--nor I'd imagine if the families of that tragedy could see this.

[SticksnStones]

13. If an adult was flicking matches and started the fire

There'd be no legal way to beat him as a punishment but somehow a beating is palatable if the recipient of said beating is a minor?

Now I'm wondering...

[TrekLuver]

15. Severely punishing - I would make their life miserable A LOT LONGER than a week. I would have them

also "work" and donate all monies towards restitution. I would force them to face victims of their careless act. I would make them volunteer. I would ask if they can speak at schools to tell their story and warn other children to not do this. Oh yes I would have all sorts of punishments cooked up.

I don't agree with hitting people to get a point across. And it doesn't work. How can you teach a kid not to hit people but you've been known to haul off on them. I understand even parents make mistakes and can even lose control -- but premeditated hitting I disavow.

[hlthe2b]

2. This leaves me speechless...

[Auntie Bush]

3. How does one punish stupid kids like that?

They must have seen man y wildfires on TV and knew darn well houses, people and animals can and will be burned. These kids are animals! How can they possibly grow up to be good citizens?

[LisaL]

4. They are being charged. 17 year old can be charged as an adult.

Even 15 year old can potentially be charged as an adult if charges like felony murder are added.

[kcr]

5. These kids are kids

And kids do dumb stuff. A vast majority of the time it doesn't lead to stuff like this.

[LisaL]

8. And when it does, they can end up going to prison for a long, long time.

[left-of-center2012]

10. They killed 14 people & destroyed more than 2,400 homes and businesses.

Let's not think of them as poor, misguided children.

[Uponthegears]

12. Let's review

(1) Two kids are throwing matches down (something one poster here has admitted doing as a child) on a trail (which, btw, in the case of the Chimney Tops Trail is dirt and/or rocks with grass on the sides and near the top almost barren -- I've been on it);

(2) A fire starts up behind them and they apparently are not even aware it has started because the article suggests they are videoed just walking down the trail but the smoke can be seen behind them.

(3) The fire is in an area which is miles away from Gatlinburg (again, been there)

(4) Freak 70 mph winds blow the fire up over the ridge and across miles of terrain

(5) Tragedy results

(6) Some supposedly "liberal" DUers decide two kids carelessly throwing down matches are criminals who need to go to prison.

Do I have it down about right?

[KittyWampus]

14. Being liberal doesn't mean individuals shouldn't be responsible for their actions.

[dembotoz]

16. somehow throwing matches is not the same as shooting someone on the street

yes death results but just not the same

guess the difference lies between stupid and criminal intent

[KittyWampus]

19. Right. Killing someone accidently still kills them. Let the prosecutors decide the charges.

[Uponthegears]

22. Yea, because prosecutors

Are the best safeguard against bullshit prosecutions.

[dembotoz]

24. I trust prosecutors as far as I can throw them

Live in a red area and vi am too often unpleasantly surprised

[Uponthegears]

18. They threw down matches

A freak weather event turns a usually inconsequential childhood activity into a tragedy.

What or who is responsible . . . Do we just lash out at the kids because they are the only ones we can exercise power over?

[KittyWampus]

20. They are just as culpable as a drunk driver whose crash kills a family in anothe car.

[Uponthegears]

21. You have to be joking

Drunk driving is not negligence.

That's the worst that happened here.

[TrekLuver]

17. I know it's really ridiculous!!!