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In speaking against the resoâ€" lution, Amy Wong said society should place more emphasis on the morals and values that it presents to its youth rather than overtax an already burdened system with juvenile offenders. Her teammate, Jason Wong, argued that young offenders should have counseling, not jail terms so they are entitled to a "second chante" because many lash out as a result of abusive situations. "Murder is murder" no matter what the age and young offendâ€" ers are merely getting a "slap on the wrist" when they should be fed "a spoonful of real life." Malhotra said the perception that young offenders are innoâ€" cent kids is ridiculous. If youth crimes are violent enough to make the 6 o‘clock news, the offenders‘ names should be released to teach kids there are consequences for their actions, and give them "a taste of the real world," argued Rasaika Malhotra. No one likes to believe chilâ€" dren are capable of murder, but the potential to commit crime lurks in everyone, reasoned Andrea Snowdon who argued against the Act‘s age restriction of 12 to 18. She didn‘t believe at 19 kids are magically bestowed with the right The arguments for changing the legislation centered around the leniency of the act â€" how youths are. "literally getting away with murder" â€" and the anonymity that accompanies heinous crimes like rape and murder. According to the debate orgaâ€" nizer, English teacher Colleen McConnell, teachers chose the school‘s best debaters and the students then chose the topic for debate. ~*% he Young Offenders Act l’ is too lenient and should be overhauled. That was the issue to be resolved by six Grade 11 debaters at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School Monday morning and the verdict, as decreed by the judges, was a victory for those who believed the 1982 legislation should be changed. Debate ends with call for overhaul of Young Offenders Act : By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff ( yARVEY | MENS $ sn0ps | 2RA mens# snors DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE 183 Lakeshore Rd. East * 845â€"8911 at Garvey‘s NEXT WEEK Fri., May 27 Sat., May 28 SANSRBELT® DAYS Trunk Show "This mentality is ludicrous," she said. Snowdon said youths were Kids no longer care about the rules, nor are they scared of the laws and society must do someâ€" thing to stop this chaotic behavâ€" ior, she said. Her teammate, Jen Newman Pine Bark Chips Reg. 8.97 Balcony Box Reg. 4.97 Mondayâ€"Friday 9â€"9 Saturday 8â€"9 Sunday 9â€"6 Reg. 3.97 797 397 OPEN MON., MAY 23rd FROM 8 a.m. 30 L 247 Plastic Urn _ Reg. 4.97 Eagerâ€"Beaver getting the wrong idea about crime because of the lax conseâ€" quences. She quoted a psychiaâ€" trist who had worked with many young killers and found them to be abnormally well behaved. also felt the legislation loses credibility with its age restricâ€" tion which assumes someone is so much more mature at 19. The Young Offenders Act was not meant as a form of punâ€" E197 Uprights Spreading up to 2,600 sq.ft. Reg. 12.47 Meinor Oscillating Sprinkler _ . o) Reg. to 13.97 The Young Offenders Act was not meant as a form of punâ€" ishment but as a form of rehaâ€" bilitation, countered Lisa Gibbons. We lump them in as criminals, but many are abused and frightened. She challenged the audience to put themselves 597 1 nnx 50! Viny! Hose Reg. 4.47 Mondayâ€"Friday 9â€"9 Saturday 8â€"9 Sunday 9â€"6 "Children are our future and they deserve a chance to be just that," she concluded. P661 ‘OT She said young offenders 2 deserve a second chance and 2: that rehabilitation was possible £ because the teenage years are z "the most influential years." Cow or Sheep SAE Manure 18 kg bag