Children service nightmare

[davew128]

Why does HE think it is "okay" to ASSAULT a LITTLE child that has said problems?

Reread the thread. The child is not little, and OP's posting suggests the child is significantly older than 13.

 

[Proserpina]

Physical discipline is NEVER recommended for such teens.

This whole family needs intensive counseling.

Smacking the kid and locking her up is NOT going to help the child at all.

 

[CdwJava]

Most people would consider that self defense. A near adult with a history of erratic and violent behavior threatens to grab a shotgun and blow someone's brains out? Would you suggest turning the other cheek with a loaded barrel pointed at it? Seriously?

Legally, I doubt that smacking her after she made the comment would come even CLOSE to reaching the level of self defense. MAYBE if she were going for the gun or had it in her hands. But, just for making the stupid comment? Unlikely.

Now, had he been truly in fear for his safety he should have called the police to report the threat. Since he whacked her and did not apparently call the cops, it would seem that he really had no serious concern for his safety and his actions were merely in response to her rude and dangerous comments. If his intent were to discipline as opposed to harm, then it might be lawful (though I am not certain of the state's laws on corporal injury to a minor for discipline).

 

[Isis1]

So you would rather defend a nutjob child who just threatened his life instead of the guy who defended himself.

Dave? what have you been drinking? The girl didn't have the gun in her hand. She made a verbal threat. Stepdad should have immediately removed the firearm from the house and made a police report. He wasn't defending himself. He was assaulting someone. And that someone was a child. Possibly an mentally disabled child.

 

[davew128]

Isis, maybe you haven't been paying attention to the news for the last dozen years or so, but all too often teens make threats involving firearms and carry them out. My cousin was in the building at Santana High in Santee, CA when the place got shot up several years back. I for one don't take these types of threats idly nor should anyone else.

 

[Just Blue]

Isis, maybe you haven't been paying attention to the news for the last dozen years or so, but all too often teens make threats involving firearms and carry them out. My cousin was in the building at Santana High in Santee, CA when the place got shot up several years back. I for one don't take these types of threats idly nor should anyone else.

So "cracking" the child will PREVENT this??? Please! Stop posting to threads that involve children until you know what the hell you are talking about.

Mom should have had medical intervention. Period. Legal Stranger that has been around this CHILD for ten and a half years should know better.

 

[Just Blue]

Most people would consider that self defense. A near adult with a history of erratic and violent behavior threatens to grab a shotgun and blow someone's brains out? Would you suggest turning the other cheek with a loaded barrel pointed at it? Seriously?

This is a CHILD. In WHAT WORLD is 12 a 'near adult'? Where did OP state that the 12 year old CHILD had access to a gun? And how, if gun is accessible to children, does that make OP or her LEGAL STRANGER, "right"?

 

[CdwJava]

Isis, maybe you haven't been paying attention to the news for the last dozen years or so, but all too often teens make threats involving firearms and carry them out. My cousin was in the building at Santana High in Santee, CA when the place got shot up several years back. I for one don't take these types of threats idly nor should anyone else.

No one said that he should have taken the comment idly, but "cracking" the kid in the head was not the wisest nor likely legal response to the comment. This was not a case of self defense. At best, it was a case of misguided physical discipline.

That is why the OP and hubby, had they felt the threat was serious, should have sought additional assistance from the police or through counseling. Because they did neither, I can only assume that they did not really believe the threat was all that serious.

 

[Isis1]

Isis, maybe you haven't been paying attention to the news for the last dozen years or so, but all too often teens make threats involving firearms and carry them out. My cousin was in the building at Santana High in Santee, CA when the place got shot up several years back. I for one don't take these types of threats idly nor should anyone else.

She didn't have the gun in her hand! Stepdad gets the gun out of the house where she has no access, reports the child for threats. Beating a child isn't going to stop verbal threats. He had alternatives. He chose violence.

 

[Proserpina]

She didn't have the gun in her hand! Stepdad gets the gun out of the house where she has no access, reports the child for threats. Beating a child isn't going to stop verbal threats. He had alternatives. He chose violence.

..which in this kind of case only begets more violence.

I will reiterate. Physical discipline is NOT appropriate in this situation.

The entire family needs intensive therapy.

And there is a HUGE difference between self-defense and corporal punishment.

 

[davew128]

This is a CHILD. In WHAT WORLD is 12 a 'near adult'? Where did OP state that the 12 year old CHILD had access to a gun? And how, if gun is accessible to children, does that make OP or her LEGAL STRANGER, "right"?

READ IT AGAIN. OP says the child has been bipolar SINCE 13.

 

[CdwJava]

READ IT AGAIN. OP says the child has been bipolar SINCE 13.

Bipolar does not mean dangerous. Plus, anyone can say their child is bipolar (and many do), but that does not man the child actually IS. I know many people that claim their child has a disorder for which that child has never been diagnosed.

Even if the child is bipolar, smacking her upside the head for commenting that she should go get a gun and shooting step dad would NOT be "self defense." Bipolar does no mean "guilty." As I said, it MIGHT be legal discipline in the OP's state, but it is not an adequate self defense claim for a charge of battery if it is ever brought. The fact that no additional action was taken seems to indicate that no serious threat existed.

 

[MichaCA]

I agree about the iffyness on the bipolar part. OP, was daughter professionally diagnosed with bipolar, the other disorders? If she was, has there been attention to figuring out what KIND of bipolar she has, and attempted to find a medication that works for her?

My advice is this would be step 1

However, thats no excuse for her getting so out of control, so clearly there are behavioral problems and family dynamic problems (alas the intensive therapy)

In the end...similar to somthing I am going through - child is having a hard time and in the midst she gets cracked...- inner ear bleeding three days later - mom, if you don't see these as family problems that need to stop now, no matter how...then your not helping your child.