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    JustPassingThroughAngela Helm
    7/22/17 10:51am

    Ugh! These boys are little psychopaths I’m sure. Yet, I shudder to think what kind of law Florida will pass placing a duty to rescue on its citizens.

    The law will be overly broad and we will see abused children thrown in jail because they were too scared to call the police while their father was beating their mother to death, for example. Hey, it’s just a phone call, right?

    I lived in Florida for 7 years. That state can’t make criminal laws without hurting large swaths of people.

    The ramifications of this case will reverbate for the Dunn family as they cruely lost their loved one. But, it will also end up destroying the lives of other folks who will subjects of future Root articles. Just you wait and see.

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      Desperate for a Shag GilesJustPassingThrough
      7/22/17 1:50pm

      Some women are charged with failing to protect their children from the same abuse they experience at the hands of their spouse/partner. I share your concerns.

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      JustPassingThroughDesperate for a Shag Giles
      7/22/17 2:30pm

      Yup. And to add, I think most states have laws that obligate parents to protect their kids. Which makes sense, but the law has little to no room for “case by case” analysis or “empathy” so mothers who are also abused also find themselves as criminals.

      People don’t realize what they’re asking for when they ask for laws in response to what are truly awful instances of human cruelty.

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    Michael KingAngela Helm
    7/22/17 9:44am

    Hopefully they momma an’em kicked them sideways when they got home...

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      skefflesMichael King
      7/22/17 10:14am

      If I’d done that then my grandma would have smacked me so hard I’d have orbited the earth twice and then landed in Russia in that town with all the wolves. And I’d have been glad to be there, because the wolves would still be safer than going back to my grandmother’s house for another couple of orbits.

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    inhood212Angela Helm
    7/22/17 1:14pm

    They need mandatory counseling. They need to understand why what they did was wrong, they need to learn compassion and not to follow pack mentality. If I was their parents... Gosh, I would wonder how I messed up and then I would take them (maybe the whole family?) quick/fast to the nearest therapist.

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      -.--.--.--.-inhood212
      7/23/17 7:39am

      sociopathy is untreatable.

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      inhood212-.--.--.--.-
      7/23/17 12:59pm

      On the contrary. When you see disturbing traits in young people you need to act ASAP and try vehemently to get them on the right path. Their parents and community should not give up on them.

      These teens can still change if someones cares enough to help them.

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    skefflesAngela Helm
    7/22/17 10:12am
    “Just why didn’t you call for help?” asked McIntosh. “Even if you didn’t physically go in and help him, why didn’t you just make a phone call to get him help, someone who can help him? All it took is one call, one second, and a life could have been saved. He clearly screamed for help not once, not twice, but three times.”

    Yeah, exactly this. I can understand not going into the water themselves (in fact that is what pretty much every sane rescue and assistance agency recommends, don’t add to the casualty in need of rescue list by going into the water without proper equipment and training) but make the phone call to people who can. Instead of laughing, shout encouragement, if you can throw a line then do so. Standing and laughing is just.... I have no words to describe how callous and just cruel that is.

    Add another thing to the “I can’t believe we have to have a specific law saying this, but here we are” list. Just... This is why I drink so much.

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    PVAngela Helm
    7/22/17 10:27am

    I comment often saying that how people act as kids will only get worse in life. Its not that far of a stone’s throw from watching a person die to actually going out and taking that life yourself. Just like killing/torturing an animal without any reason is only a step or two removed from doing the same to an infant or adult human.

    To be honest, these kids need some time in jail, and then a few months or years in a psych ward... then a hell of a lot of community service.

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    Alf-eeAngela Helm
    7/22/17 10:13am

    The girl who went live while her friend was getting raped got nine months. This is similar to me except the boys are minors.

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      JustPassingThroughAlf-ee
      7/22/17 11:22am

      That idiot girl was convicted of obstruction of justice for not handing over evidence after the fact. She was initially charged with with the actual crime of rape along with the rapist, but pled down to obstruction of justice.

      Unfortunately, that situation was a little different because prosecutors were prepared to argue that she helped set up and took part in the crime (my understanding as a non-criminal lawyer). This situation is different in that an accident was in progress and the psycho teens refused to help which is not against the law.

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    I_AmUAngela Helm
    7/22/17 3:59pm

    My condolences to Mr. Dunn’s family and friends. Drowning is a horrifying way to die. Compounded with the fear Mr. Dunn must have felt seeing people who could have done something to save him. Instead they chose inhumane brutal taunts and their innate evil to dictate their inaction. The legality of their deed is not as relevant as their ability to watch another human being die. Many don’t believe Resilients are full fledged humans. Had Mr. Dunn been a dog, a fawn or any other animal I suspect there would be an outpouring of indignation the teens did not intervene to save it.

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    Ara_RichardsAngela Helm
    7/22/17 2:34pm
    Illustration for article titled

    Not calling for help is some serious red flag stuff for sure. Next up will probably be a freezer full of heads, for the lulz of course.

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    e36-burger-lordAngela Helm
    7/22/17 5:37pm

    Well, since it’s Florida they will likely pass a law stating that people somehow have to use guns to save others in these sorts of situations. The NRA will help them write the bill.

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    SaravahAngela Helm
    7/22/17 4:36pm

    A misdemeanor charge is not going to do anything. The Dunn family should take them behind the woodshed and wear that ass out.

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