As the 2017 Legislative session nears I would suggest two new laws to be enacted in our state.
First, eliminate juvenile status for any violent crime. When I was growing up in the 50s the juvenile laws were used to protect kids who stole hubcaps and committed other non-violent crimes. If a citizen is killed by a juvenile he is just as dead as if he had been shot by an adult. If a youth is old enough to stick a pool cue up a team mates rear end or start a fire in Gatlinburg that caused $500 million in damages and killed 14 people they are old enough to be treated as an adult.
Second, it seems like every day we wake up and read about another high speed chase on our roads or interstates that not only endangers the lives of our police but many innocent civilians on the road. The law would mandate one year in prison for every mile that a driver leads police on a chase. If the chase results in a death then the driver should be charged with second degree murder.
Douglas Jones
Ooltewah