Another sign of the decline of the family....

On patrol when I catch a juvenile for curfew violation or another issue where I only give them a ticket, I mail a copy of it addressed to "The Parents/Guardian" of Little Johnny. They can't fix it unless they know it's broke and the kid may forget to mention to Mom or Dad (aka Parental Units One and Two) that he was busted.

Now there is a lot wrong in this story. One is the kids are doing it, but let's be honest alcohol use is often a bit of growing up. A more serious issue is this guy is selling booze to kids and seems to not care. Hopefully DC handles him. But the reaction of some of the parents in this article is beyond the pale.

Here is the original story:



Here is the results:

TV Reporter Returns After Backlash from Teen Drinking Investigation

(from CBSDC.com) WASHINGTON - A CBS news reporter whose on-air coverage of teenage drinking led to threats against her children, a backlash across social media and her brief leave from reporting is now back at work and speaking out about the alcohol problem affecting Washington DC’s community.

Andrea McCarren, a reporter for WUSA-TV since 1991, investigated a report from a local parent that a store in northwest Washington DC was allegedly selling liquor to teenagers below the legal buying age.

“We watched and videotaped dozens of teenagers buying alcohol at Town Square Market in northwest Washington without being asked for identification,” reported McCarren in the story that was broadcast on Feb. 2.

Following the story, teens flooded the station’s Facebook page with angry messages such as “…you’re now the most hated woman in the dc (sic) metro area.” A follow-up report by McCarren about a police raid on an underage drinking party brought out further anger on social media against the reporter. In addition, parents of teens being arrested by police at the scene became upset with WUSA-TV’s coverage and questioned police as to why law enforcement was granting video access to the raid.

After her children were threatened at school, McCarren took herself off the air and reporter Derek McGinty continued the series of reports on the issue. McCarren said parents at the scene of the police raid also threatened to sue police and WUSA-TV.

In an interview Thursday on CBS This Morning, McCarren spoke about the backlash and its affect on her three children.

“At first I was frightened and then I became angry,” said McCarren. “It felt like an orchestrated Facebook and Twitter campaign of hate. People put my home address on the internet. There were calls for revenge and retaliation against my family. I’m now in about my 27th year as a reporter and I have never seen anything like this.”

WUSA-TV said 99 percent of the feedback they had received from the public had been positive about their investigation, and supportive comments on the station’s Facebook page have been growing.

“Shame on the parents for being angry because their child was caught drinking under age,” posted one user. “One parent actually said, why didn’t you run. We ask why this generation has less morals and respect.”

Couldn't have put it better. Another sign of the decline of the family. Years ago the parents would be the ones going to the cops demanding this place be shut down. Now they are mad their kid got caught. Then again the parents were't raised so why do we think they can handle raising children.

I really love the moron parents saying they will sue the cops and the TV station. If anyone you should be suing guys it's the liquor store owner for selling to your kids. We all know how stupid kids are without booze. And I'm not gonna say they will not get it. Given enough motivation they will get it (take it from their families, get an older friend/relative to buy for them, find another easy store). But this is a criminal act that can led to extremely serious criminal acts. I wonder is that piece of s%^& store owner will feel any regret if he sells vodka to a kid on a Friday night and later on the kid kills someone in an accident? Gee parents, will you be upset about your kid not running them?

BTY you can't sue. It was in a public place and they didn't show the kids face. Good luck with that you money grubbing waste. I don't know what is more pathetic, the fact you would think of trying to make money one you child doing this or the face you are responsible for this kid's upbringing.

Ms McCarren, I'm to say the least a critic of the media, more national than local. Local does actually do some good work in exposing issues like this. And I for one am glad you did it. Thank you. If you saved one kid from getting injured or killed in a DWI accident you did a hell of a lot more for the people of DC than John King ever did.

Please, keep up the good work.

Thanks again to Darren at RotLC for the link.