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Thursday, January 24, 2019

MACR at 9 years old is stupid

There is a move in Congress to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from the current 15 years old to 9 years old. As in nine years old, wow.

MACR means that if the person or child is within or below that age, he/she cannot be jailed for crimes commited. It is true that many children are used by criminal syndicates and gangs, thousands of children. 

If this is the case, then government and the criminal justice system should penalize the parents or guardians, not the 9 or 10 or 12 years old who are caught commiting a crime. There should be more personal and parental responsibility in rearing children to become responsible adults and members of a community.

The image here I got from a friend's photo comment. Meanwhile I like this position by Sen. Recto in his press statement the other day.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto
21 January 2019

The proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) calls for evidence-based legislation.

It should be grounded on facts, supported by studies. Not on whims, and unproven theories.
We need to read the scholarship behind the proposed policy. In the absence of any, we may be legislating based on superstition.

Ilan po ba ang drug lords na 9 years old sa bansa ngayon? Ilan po bang nuebe anyos ang sangkot sa kidnap-for-ransom? Mayroon po bang mga sampung taong gulang na kilabot na carnapper? Sa record ng BOC, ilang onse anyos na ba ang nahuli sa pagpupuslit ng shabu? Where is the science in pegging the age threshold at 9?

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