Brett;
From what little we know about the case, it sure appears that the teenagers that came to harass Mr White and his family are indeed culpable! They had no good reason to bother him at all. As he should have stayed in the house and called the police first, they should not have went to his house over a stupid E-mail, real or imagined. They should have used the law in this case..same mistake as OJ Simpson recently made. There are ways of pursueing wrongdoers ! ASlthough I sympathise with the dead teen's parents, I don't agree that he was "vindicated" ..or guiltless. He should not have showed up at Mr White's house and "getting in the face" of an armed person who is already distraught, is not very wise.
A tragedy on all sides that could have been averted, had as GB suggested, "cooler heads prevailed"..
I believe Dukkiller gave us a clarifying picture..one that many of us are not fully aware of !
My grandparents raised an orphan in 1905-1920 period. John (his name), dreamed of being a judge, and his dream came true to the point where he was eventually a NY State Supreme court judge. My Dad often said that one of John's quotes was, " Nine tenths of the law is common sense!"
That may have been very true in the early twentieth century...but recently, having seen the process among friends and relations that I know divorce, child custody, youthful mischief etc., I am convinced that there are many times when "common sense" is ignored !
It may be due to creeping liberalism or whatever, but common sense no longer cuts it in most cases !
One thing that laymen are often mistaken about:
LEGAL right & wrong ..very often have very little to do with MORAL right & wrong..
Morals..as typified with "natural law" or Biblical teachings..have no relationship to legal "ethics"...
When I hear politicians (who are often lawyers) speak about something being " ethical " .. I must remind myself that this often has nothing to do with
the concepts many of us consider as as honorable and right !