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Father says son who took gun to school 'made a bad mistake'

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PORT ORCHARD — The pale 9-year-old walked into the Kitsap County Juvenile Court on Thursday, looking dazed in his orange jumpsuit. There was a television camera in one corner; reporters filled nearly half the seats.Police say that on Wednesday, he took a loaded gun to a Bremerton elementary school, and that it went off in his backpack just before the final bell rang. The routine of third grade — school, homework, play — had changed in a split second.Now a classmate, 8-year-old Amina Kocer-Bowman, lies in intensive care, with a .45-caliber bullet wound to her arm and abdomen. She'll likely be there several more weeks and have several more surgeries, her doctor said.The boy's father, Jason Cochran, 40, sat next to him at the defense table and rubbed his back. The boy burst into tears. His mother, Jamie Chaffin, 34, was not there. Authorities say the boy got the gun from her home, and there's a chance she will face criminal charges.

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017582563_bremerton24m.html

I'm the first one here to suggest that there be tighter controls on firearms. This whole thing is sickening. And obviously the Mother will get sued at the very least in a civil suit. But I am at a total loss to understand how prosecuting this 9 year old boy, AND keeping him from his custodial parent is a good idea in the wake of this tragic accident.

Putting a 9 year old boy in jail accomplishes what here?
 
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I agree, locking up a 9 year old is pointless. Lots of mandated counseling, etc. is needed. And yes, the family of the girl will likely sue, as she's still fighting for her life at this time, and they will have huge medical bills.
 
Let the boy go home with his father and put the mother in jail.
 
I agree, locking up a 9 year old is pointless. Lots of mandated counseling, etc. is needed. And yes, the family of the girl will likely sue, as she's still fighting for her life at this time, and they will have huge medical bills.

You'll notice that's not a normal orange shirt he's wearing. It's inmate clothing. Unreal.
 
the boy was simply exercising his Constitutionally protected right to keep & bear arms.


;)
 
'Jail' (Juvenile Detention) may be the best thing for this kid considering his family circumstances. AT least in detention he would get mandated access to counseling and therapy.

From the story...

If the boy is found guilty of the charges, he could be ordered to spend up to 30 days in juvenile detention and 12 months on the juvenile version of probation and to perform 150 hours of community service.
A capacity hearing will be held in two weeks to determine if the charges will ultimately proceed. Under state law, children between 8 and 12 years old can face charges if a court determines the child has the capacity to understand an act is wrong."

His family history...


"When he was 2 ½, police found methamphetamine and syringes in his mother's belongings, court documents say. Later that same month, Chaffin was charged with forgery after trying to cash stolen checks. She was later convicted. When he was 3 ½, Chaffin was charged with selling marijuana out of a Kitsap motel. By this point, she had four children, according to court records. Meanwhile, Jason Cochran was convicted of domestic violence for assaulting Chaffin. He later violated the protection order. He repeatedly failed to pay child support and was held in contempt. Three or four years ago, they both relinquished their parental rights"

Tragic situation...
 
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to come along and take a tragic situation and make a political comment about it. I figured for that kind of a dickhead move it would take 40...maybe 50 posts. Shoulda known better...
 
the boy was simply exercising his Constitutionally protected right to keep & bear arms.


;)

Even if this were a legal gun owner, no one here argues that the RTKB allows for immunity from stupid or irresponsible conduct. Your attempt at humor falls woefully short.
 
'Jail' (Juvenile Detention) may be the best thing for this kid considering his family circumstances. AT least in detention he would get mandated access to counseling and therapy.

From the story...

If the boy is found guilty of the charges, he could be ordered to spend up to 30 days in juvenile detention and 12 months on the juvenile version of probation and to perform 150 hours of community service.
A capacity hearing will be held in two weeks to determine if the charges will ultimately proceed. Under state law, children between 8 and 12 years old can face charges if a court determines the child has the capacity to understand an act is wrong."

His family history...


"When he was 2 ½, police found methamphetamine and syringes in his mother's belongings, court documents say. Later that same month, Chaffin was charged with forgery after trying to cash stolen checks. She was later convicted. When he was 3 ½, Chaffin was charged with selling marijuana out of a Kitsap motel. By this point, she had four children, according to court records. Meanwhile, Jason Cochran was convicted of domestic violence for assaulting Chaffin. He later violated the protection order. He repeatedly failed to pay child support and was held in contempt. Three or four years ago, they both relinquished their parental rights"

Tragic situation...

It is tragic no doubt, but he is not living with the Father or The mother. The uncle is the custodial parent now. the idea that "counseling in jail" is somehow better than counseling while under his Uncle's care I don't agree with. The kid must be scarred ****less right now. I have to believe the uncle's place with counseling to boot is a much better and more appropriate place.
 
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It is tragic no dount, but he is not living with the Father or The mother. The uncle is the custodial parent now. the idea that "counseling in jail" is somehow better than counseling while under his Uncle's care I don't agree with. The kid must be scarred ****less right now. I have to believe the uncle's place with counseling to boot is a much better and more appropriate place.
You saw that we are talking about 30 days...right? Not a bad idea to have the kid in a detention center where he can be observed.If the kid has a consience...this is playing hell on him. If he doesnt...he is a budding sociopath. Either way...not a bad idea to observe him and get him treatment. If we are talking about years and years or even a day in adult prison...I completely agree.
 
You saw that we are talking about 30 days...right? Not a bad idea to have the kid in a detention center where he can be observed.

This is a 9 year old boy. He's not a 16 year old thug, Have you ever been in or around Juvi before? Hardly a place for a scared lonely 9 year old. 30 days to a child is an eternity.
 
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This is a 9 year old boy. He's not a 16 year old thug, Have you ever been in or around Juvi before? Hardly a place for a scared lonely 9 year old.
Hell...Ive RUN a juvenile facility before. I know what they are like. There are a TON of kids that grow up in deficit home situations that end up there...youngest I saw was 6. Arson...shoplifting...a lot of acting out behavior. IF he is sentenced he wont be sent to Attica. For a 30 day sentence he likely wouldnt make it out of the O and A wing.
 
9 year-olds make mistakes. We don't expect them to understand what adults should.

this kid should NOT go to prison. He needs counseling & proper guidance.
 
Ughhhh God help those kids.
He didnt have to. We did. What you 'know' about me is precisely zero. Some people live their lives pretending to give a ****...some people live their lives acting. I hope you are comfortable with your contributions to the world. Me? Im just fine.
 
The boy belongs in a state mental facility until the age of 18. 9 years old or not, you don't bring guns to school. Why is the mother being blame? Did she give her son the gun and told him to take it to school?

Also if the little girl who got shot and her parents are illegal, they deserve no civil suites because she'd still be alive and well if they didn't sneak into the our country. It's bad enough that tax payers are footing the hospital bills.
 
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Ok I am going to take a crack at this. First let me say that I in no way condone the child handling the gun, or taking it to school. This is a very unfortunate event to say the least. My heart goes out to all families involved. As a parent I would be beyond furious that my child was shot at school or harmed in general.

All that said the gun should have never been in the mothers home as she was a convicted felon. ( as the story reported)

It should have not been able to be picked up by the son, but instead put in a secure place.

The son should have not been in the custody of the mother as she has obvious drug problems. Not sure what the dads record is so can't say it should be him.

I think the kid should have the crap scared out of him to see what happens when things like this occur. I think they have done the trick!

The mom should be the one on trial. She had custody at the time. The gun came from her home. She is responsible for the gun being in the kids possession.

In closing we should be enforcing the laws we have instead of making new restrictions. Why was no one checking on the kids welfare before the incident? The dad, the authorities? JMO
 
The boy belongs in a state mental facility until the age of 18. 9 years old or not, you don't bring guns to school. Why is the mother being blame? Did she give her son the gun and told him to take it to school?
Horse****. You have no idea what his mental capacity, thought process, or reasoning is or was. Kids do indeed sometimes do very stupid things for no good reason. There is nothing that has been presented to indicate he was bringing the gun to school for malevolent purposes. It could have been nothing more than he though it would be cool to show off. And you REALLY believe putting him away for 9 years is helpful...to anyone? Oh...and BTW...if you think 9 years in a mental facility 'helps' anyone or anything you are sadly mistaken. At best they make him a chemical zombie for the duration.
 
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