I know each of you in the media here and viewers out there probably heard us in law enforcement or even in community events talk about what is the problem. And I’m going to go ahead and address the first thing that I know is going to come up. Because there are individuals out there viewing and include some of you media that want to blame the one thing that has no ability or the capacity to commit the crime itself. And that’s the gun .
These individuals committed the crime. What’s the solution? I wish I could give you that answer. Cause this world would be a whole lot better.
But the fact is, society fails it. We do not hold our juveniles accountable. We minimize their actions. Lemme tell you why I say this.
Last night, I had to stare into the eyes of two mothers. It’s not their fault. Cause last night what I saw was two mothers who are willing to give their everything. Do everything for them and give them their own lives. Because just like you and I, no matter how much we teach them…because I am a father…I am a father and I cannot fathom what they were going through.
These mothers and mothers across this nation need all of your help. Because here’s what infuriates me. I’ve got a particular media who has a problem with putting photos of juveniles out.
Now we do what the law says we can do…put these photos out. I put myself in the shoes of those mothers because I heard one of them say it. ‘I wish I would have knows what this one was doing and who and who they were. Because my kid never would have hung out with them.’
And to think and believe and to minimize any action that is criminal of a juvenile is a disservice, and frankly stupid to think. We need to hold them accountable and then hope that we can change them.
— Marion County Florida Sheriff Billy Woods
