A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

13 May 2016

Does mass break-in at FHS indicate a gang problem?

That’s a fair question. This wasn’t a case of an individual or two getting out of line. According to Kalispell’s police, the criminals numbered 21. To me, that suggests a strong possibility of gang activity and a potential huge public safety threat to our community.

The break-in was neither a school prank nor an academic transgression such as plagiarism. A mob broke into and vandalized a public building. That building was a school, but it could have been a museum, a hospital, a road department machine shop, a national guard armory, or an old folks home. It was straight out criminal behavior and must be treated as such, handled not by educators but by our criminal justice system.

Because some of the guilty may be younger than 18, there may be an attempt to handle the situation in the juvenile justice system, where things are done hush-hush, names are withheld, and members of the public are denied facts that might be relevant to their safety.

And there’s little doubt in my mind that some of the people who want to get an $89 million school bond package approved this fall hope that the break-in can be handled quietly lest it have an adverse effect on approval of the bonds. That’s an understandable concern.

Incredibly, to add insult to insanity, some are blissfully advocating not denouncing the miscreants because it might hurt their feelings. There are already online comments suggesting it would cruel and unusual punishment for the vandals to be made to feel ashamed of their conduct. After all, they were only “acting out.”

What rubbish.

The vandals weren’t acting responsibly. They were acting as a 21-person mob. That may make them a gang. It certainly makes them a potential menace to our community. We need to know who they are.

Therefore, treat them as adults. When they are arrested, release their names. Try them as adults. Shame those who plead guilty or are found guilty. Toss them in the hoosegow for 24 hours, then condemn them to community service and restitution.

Protect our community. Don’t cover this up.