As the book "At a Tender Age" implies, today's youth are not like the youth of previous generations. Instead of just being restless and mischievous and pulling a neighborhood prank or a petty theft, the pervading influence of gangs has created a generation of youth who are callous, hardened, cold-blooded criminals who would shoot and kill at the slightest provocation without a hint of remorse or conscience.
We should no longer view such youth as poor, unfortunate, misdirected victims of society who just need a little rehabilitation to become productive members, and for once see them for what they really are: vicious, violent, unrepentant thugs who brutally victimize children, senior citizens and other decent, law-abiding citizens through a wide range of illegal activities, including armed robbery, rape, extortion, drug dealing, assault and murder, and who are well beyond the hope of rehabilitation.
