What kind of environment is this child in, when he has easy access to a gun, had these dark thoughts, had the grandparents clued in to the abuse... good Lord. I don't even want to think about what this child went through. I can't stand parents who go out of their way to physically punish their child for every little thing, thinking that spanking is the only form of acceptable punishment, and that it should be used in all situations. This sounds like a family that took it to clearly unacceptable locations.

Still, for a prosecutor in possession of the facts to bring the charges and try the kid as an adult, to look "tough on crime," that is sickening.

the public entities most responsible for managing failing families, protecting children from abuse, and monitoring foster family situations are traditionally underfunded and resourced, not to mention poorly managed.

Yet those professionals who work in those departments are held accountable for any/all failings, despite the logisitcal impossibility of their charges, in most cases.  I'm not going to excuse the willfully negligent social workers out there, of course.

So the problem really lies with government.  These are departments that truly meet the pbligation of gevernment to care for and preserve the welfare of citizens most in need.  If DFS/CS departments nationwide aren't funded, we're just going to see more and more of this.

About the 8 year old in Arizona who shot and killed his father and father's boarder

• Is the accused boy going to be punished appropriately?
  
• Are the victim's relatives going to feel that justice was done?
  
• Is the DA's career going to be enhanced?
  
• Does it send a message of deterrence to other eight-year-olds who might be considering similar actions?
  
• Is the public going to be happy that law enforcement is using its resources effectively to deter violence and crime?

When this case comes to trial, I have no doubt we are going to find out this child was a scapegoat for a sexual sadist or some other kind of pedophile sicko

The search warrant return does not appear to list any kind of spankings ledger among items recovered from the family residence.

In response to some comments: Children are reluctant to discuss their situations with teachers or other outsiders. I had excellent results, however, while working with children in groups. I never pushed it; I let them reveal the extent of their abuse within their own time frame. An immense amount of trust must be in place for them to discuss abuse issues.

As others mentioned, the possibility of revenge by the perpetrator is a major deterrent to disclosure. The abuser makes threats, and often acts on them, as a way to intimidate and frighten the children, to prevent exposure. Children have described some horrific acts that were committed by their abusers to ensure their silence, e.g., setting fire to their pets.

I don't know the specifics of this particular case, but an 8 year old child does not kill his/her parent unless there are extraordinary conditions. Usually, children will endure appalling circumstances, yet will continue to try to maintain a bond with the offending parent.

I cannot stress this enough: children only commit violent acts when they've experienced ongoing, dreadful situations of their own, unless there are other factors, such as neurological and cognitive problems, to name a couple.

Personally, I think that parents can discipline their children without using physical means. It requires consistency and follow-through. It does require a great deal of time, but the outcomes are worth it.

Way too much violence against children is tolerated in our society, especially if it comes under the rubric of parental discipline. IMO, James Dobson has had an adverse effect on many families in this country. The use of religion as a justification for corporal punishment makes me livid!

Well, I'll stop, but when you've witnessed some of the things I have, it'll really incite serious anger. BTW, sometimes in domestic violence situations, the mothers are also traumatized and consequently are not very responsible either.

Even though it was difficult at times, I considered it a privilege that these children and teenagers allowed me into their lives. Believe me, I received many personal rewards from my work with them.

ps. Sometimes, the children don't survive.