Today's news carries what I see as a possible message of hope for teens considering violence as a way of expressing displeasure with their life.

Setting aside the triggers that cause human beings to become killing machines, nothing quite offends my sensibilities as murderers who hide behind defenses like mental illness to escape punishment. That's why I am pleased when people take responsibility for their actions and plead guilty to save the time, money, and stress to the victims' families which would result from a protracted trial.

I don't know if the justice system offers any "reward" for early pleas (not the kind of plea sought by the prosecutor or defence attorney during a trial, but the kind that comes voluntarily at the time of arraignment). Perhaps there should be a system that allows defendants to be partially rewarded for being truly remorseful and repentent.

What do you think?