Whether it is a report about the 16-year-old suspect in a deadly Seattle-area mall shooting or the shooting of a would-be teenage carjacker outside the home of a Supreme Court justice, there appears to be a uniform omission in all of the news coverage, which only helps to fuel the gun control agenda.
None of the reports provide an in-depth explanation of the laws already being violated by the teens involved. As a result, readers and listeners are left with the impression that “one more law,” which ultimately only affects law-abiding adults, is the solution to the problem.
Facing charges in Washington, D.C. for the attempted armed carjacking outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers. He has been charged with carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large-capacity magazine, according to the New York Post.
Not mentioned is that he was prohibited by law from having the handgun at his age because teens cannot get a license to carry in the District.
Amazingly, the Deputy U.S. Marshal who shot him at point-blank range didn’t kill Flowers. Perhaps the lawman needs more range time.
Emerging at the same time from the “other Washington” is the somewhat bizarre story revolving around the slaying of 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson at the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, a suburban community north of Seattle. Sixteen-year-old Samuel Gizaw has been charged as an adult in the case. He faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
While those charges should be self-explanatory, KOMO News—the Seattle-area ABC affiliate—could easily have noted that in Washington state, the suspect is prohibited by existing law from carrying a concealed handgun. Viewers frequently need to be reminded about existing laws that were adopted to prevent this sort of crime, and which evidently have failed, fatally. The establishment press never delves into that arena.
Gizaw allegedly drew a gun in response to being punched in the face by another teen, for who the fatal shot was meant.
This is where the story became an outrage. Gizaw was initially released on a $500,000 bond. At ten percent–$50,000 cash—that’s not chump change for anyone’s parents. His mother reportedly turned him in, and then after charges were announced, Gizaw was back in custody, and bail was set at $2 million. In Washington, teens are automatically charged as adults in such cases.
According to the Everett Herald, the confrontation which ended in then shooting started because of a “disrespectful comment” he allegedly made about a deceased friend of the other teens involved. Gizaw left the mall with friends and the gun has not been recovered.
Gizaw has entered a “Not Guilty” plea.
Meanwhile, authorities in Las Vegas have arrested three teens, including an 18-year-old identified as Doir Jenkins, in the slaying of another teen in May, according to KLAS News. The other suspects, 17 and 14, are believed to have been involved in the murder of a 16-year-old.
In Harrisburg, Pa., a 17-year-old identified as Tyjawan Hill is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and “firearms offenses” following an incident in which a 15-year-old was shot in broad daylight on a Harrisburg street. The suspect is being held without bail, according to WHTM News. Here, again, is a case where existing law addresses the situation, which is another omission by the media, which could help explain why no new laws are necessary to address the situation.
Down in Sanford, Fla., 16-year-old Christopher Bouie, Jr., was charged as an adult after allegedly wounding ten people at a party, according to CBS News. He faces five counts of attempted second-degree murder while discharging a firearm, and one count of firearm possession by a minor at the April 28 incident.
Again, no mention that existing law provides an adequate response to the alleged crimes, so there should be no reason for additional legislation in Tallahassee.
And, in Miami, an 18-year-old identified as Jeron Smith, is charged in the slaying of 15-year-old Damarion Bailey. At least the Miami Herald made it clear the suspect is no model citizen, having been charged with illegal firearm possession in April. He posted $7,500 bond on May 22. Smith’s mother is claiming he and the victim were friends, according to a local NBC affiliate.
There never seems to be an accompanying analysis of these crimes, and how the teens involved are already violating multiple existing laws even before shots are fired. It is never explained that gun control laws did not, and more importantly, cannot prevent mayhem by teen killers.
The laws are only good for prosecuting criminal suspects, not preventing any of the crimes. This seems to be roundly misunderstood by nearly everyone involved, except for the gun prohibitionists interested in sensationalizing the crimes and then exploiting the grief, and by the Second Amendment activists toward whom a deaf ear is turned by the media.
Something equally important, which rarely seems to happen, is a follow-up report about these crimes revealing the source of the guns involved. Are they stolen? Were they taken from then suspect’s home? Were they obtained from illicit sources “on the street?”
It is a cinch none of these guns were legally purchased by the teen suspects at a legitimate retail shop and none were purchased at gun shows; facts which are so rarely reported as to be non-existent.
Likewise, nobody bothers to mention that these teens could not possibly obtain a concealed carry permit or license.
If the listening or reading audience is made aware of these facts, it might cool public fervor for new and more restrictive laws which only encumber honest citizens.
But then, where would be the sensation be in that, for a media addicted to sensationalism in the interest of ratings?
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
It is so sad that many children today get all of their education from the internet, tv and our failing public schools. Parents, Church and Wholesome Youth organizations seem to be completely absent.
It takes a village, don’t ya know?
Thanks for reading and sharing this AMMOLAND report
If we just had some sort of a law that made bad behavior illegal, I’m certain none of these instances would have occurred. /sarc off
Yeah, maybe a law against murder or rape or theft. How about attempted crime, that is almost as bad.
The disturbing fact is the age of those in your article. Parents play a roll in how their children interact in society. The government has changed how information is exchanged by the public school system & parents. The department of education controls the school board who controls the teachers and staff the parents have little say in the public school system and what happens to children during school hours. Parents should be held accountable for the actions of their children who are living under their roofs. Having children in the twenty first century has been complicated by the rules and… Read more »
John: Likewise, I was stunned by the ages of some of these kids, which is why this story was written. Maybe your suggestion is at least part of a solution. I dunno. It’s above my pay grade.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing this AMMOLAND report.
dave these kids are put in front of tv or computer, they have no parents.If you go look into Sigmund Freud he was involved in a nature vs nurture experiment they found children raised without input are vicious animals
Soon after a child enters the school system, parental influence begins to diminish. Between the teacher who is a member of the NEA or AFT, the school’s culture, and social media on the smart-phones that mom’s can’t wait to get for their children, raising a child to be clear thinking, knowing enough history and civics to be proud of their country, industrious, and ethical is a daunting challenge. I know this from first hand experience.
My son took a hunter safety class at 12 years old and there was loaded guns around the house all the time. He never considered taking one and shooting another human being . A gun safety class should be required for high-school graduates to receive a diploma in my opinion . Educating youth to the damage a firearm can do at an early age might just change these situations where kids feel the need to pick up a firearm and kill another human .
I know this sound insane but do you remember red asphalt? It was a movie to try and convince kids not to drink or take drugs and drive. I still see them throwing the dead body on the stretcher and his tongue falling out of his throat below his jaw where his throat was slashed open. YUK!!! I say we show them everyday in one class for a full month footage of our soldiers that have died in battle in the history class. Then the next month have a class on how to properly handle a firearm and then have… Read more »
Arizona Firearms Safety; Students Manual
“If you bring your own gun to school, be sure it is not loaded. Check with your instructor as to any special school regulations that might be in effect. All guns upon arrival at school, or your meeting place should be handed to the instructor for safe keeping.”
Manual has my oldest brothers name on the cover. Published about 1958 give or take a year.
there was an umbrella stand in corner by the door was always 5 or 6 guns init, rounds were in your pocket, when I cleaned out my desk at end of year had a full box of 410 slugs and some odd bird shot good old days
the people that want more and bigger government still think they will get free food and housing from said government
Of course they will; Solyent Green!
yum, can i have gravy?
They do, the people looking for more government benefits are the ones NOT PAYING TAXES.
not the only ones some of the uber wealthy pay nothing, and often times get money back for political donations and such
Happens all of the time, here in central Florida. A teen shoots another, or most likely many others and the TV reports ALWAYS show displays of pistols at a gun shop. The reports then say that the gun was stolen from an unlocked car.Number one, the youth could not buy a gun in the display case, too young,second the youth admits to stealing the gun from an unlocked car. Never revealed is that the gun was already stolen, as was the car it was left in. Personally, I can’t afford to leave a gun in my car, $500/699 is too… Read more »
I’m pretty tired of hearing “teen” this and “teen” that in “news” stories when the person is eighteen or nineteen. Sure, “teen” is in the age, but anyone 18 or older is an adult, not a teen. They can legally vote, they’re an adult. Most states require a person to be 21 or older to purchase a handgun, or to be in possesion of a handgun while not being supervised by a legally allowed person. That is the only difference between 18 through 20 and a 21+ year old, but they are all still adults, not teens. That needs to… Read more »
In Florida, it is legal to own firearms at the age of 18. It is however, illegal to purchase or carry until 21.
Every kid in my neighborhood (except for one, Bobby)when I was young had his own, or had access to firearms. Had parents who took them shooting or hunting. Attended Hunter Safety and/or NRA Smallbore Rifle course. By age 14 (age you were required to have your own hunting license) we went hunting and target shooting without adult supervision. We policed ourselves, ” Dave’s little brother doesn’t go with us next time”. We were taught respect and responsibility. Guess which one ended up in prison.
grew up in a house full of ww2 bring backs, grandfather had ww1 stuff there was a Luger holding down papers on dads desk we were taught about tools from an early age, and a gun is just a tool
Most of ours where mil. surplus, My brothers referred to it as our arsenal. In my earliest childhood memories they were in a rack in my bedroom and in soft cases in the closet.
Same here, except our mil. surplus rifles were in soft cases tucked in between the mattress. Our closets were filled up with cases of mason jars of canned vegetables. Fond memories as well.
We had a walk in pantry + a laundry room for home canned & dry goods.
Still Remember my brothers sister in law visit to our home, “What Are you Doing With All This Food?”
She would have really been shocked if she saw all the guns in our bedroom.
root cellar and canned food in basement, the house was a revolutionary era construct so there was passages in the walls with gun racks and ammo, black powder was out back in garden stone shed (tin roof), everyone had guns at grand parents and that was in the state of Massachusets state would go nuts if they knew what is at the beach house
Yes, but the government now has control over what he can have posted or not per the supreme court. I cannot believe that there is not an outrage regarding the removal of first amendment rights for freedom of the press.
Just a note, laws don’t prevent crime, they simply state what is considered unacceptable behavior and proscribe penalties for the bad actors.
It seems to me we have a lack of responsibility by parents! It is parents responsibility to teach their children right from wrong. Our society is imploding at the family level.
So true, I say it started with removing God from our schools, everyone gets a trophy and spare the rod and treat your children like the adults they are not.
The more you remind the sheeple that the existing laws do t work, the
more they will cry for gun bans and repeal of the 2A, so be careful what you ask for.
if kids were raised with discipline the USA
juvenile delinquents.
Let’s hope the ”teens” don’t make a habit of old Sotomayor. She might start to think these wonderful young men are crooks.