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The current Juvenile Law defines the punishments on the crimes by a child who is older than 16 years old. In other words, any children can not be punished based on this law, even in the case of serious crime such as murder.
The purpose of this law is to protect children. It is based on the condition that children can not take responsibility since they have not yet understood exactly which is wrong.

However, recently, we saw some serious crimes by children younger than 16 years old.
Thus, some of us (Japanese people) think this law shall be more strict, to keep the order of our society. In other words, they think that the age limit shall be lower than 16 years old (e.g. 14 years old).

Question
Do you think this law shall be more strict?

Opinions

• "YES" (Pros)
  
  • In minor crimes, children shall be punished more strictly, because they think that now is the time for them to break the rule.
  • We should keep the order in our society more strictly, like in Singapore.
  • Human beings' responsibility shall not be defined on his (or her) age, because serious crimes can be caused regardless of criminal's age.
  • In minor crimes, children shall be protected.
    But, only if a children commits a serious crime intentionally, he (or she) shall be punished strictly.
• "NO" (Cons)
  
  • Most of children's crime are caused by the luck of affections.
    It is not their fault. It is our society's fault.
  • We should let children understand the importance of life, rather than change the law more strictly

Related Sites:

• Data of Juvelile Crimes in Japan (in Japanese)

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