Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Where I Stand — Guest columnist Zlatan Alibasic: Diverse views on law

Editor's note: More than 1,000 students from 30 Clark County high schools participated in the 47th annual Sun Youth Forum Nov. 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The students were divided into groups to discuss various topics. A spokesperson was chosen from each discussion group to write a column about the students' findings. Zlatan Alibasic of Valley High School writes about his group's discussion on law and crime issues. THE DISCUSSION in our group began with the introduction of our monitor for the day, your typical welcomes and then right to "So how do you feel about capital punishment?" My eyes paced around the room waiting for someone to respond, but they did not need to look for very long.

Many students were very eager to express their views. All the way from "Capital punishment should be abolished as a whole" to "Capital punishment should be exercised after every first degree murder."

We spent nearly 45 minutes debating capital punishment, including the constitutional issues as well as the ethical issues. But this was just a warm-up.

The capital punishment issue led to another discussion involving teenagers being tried as adults in court. Being in the proper age group, this discussion was "very close to home." Most of the students in the room were either juniors or seniors in high school, making them between the ages of 16 and 18.

Many proponents of juveniles being tried as adults argued that teenagers are old enough to know right from wrong and should be held accountable for their actions. Many of the later issues discussed also helped to support this feeling. Opposition was raised in the area when students spoke out about the "realities" of trying juveniles as adults.

Students quoted statistics and studies, arguing that juveniles sent to adult prisons were more likely to return to those prisons. They also stated that juveniles were more likely to suffer abuse inside adult prisons. "If juveniles aren't even given full constitutional rights until they are 18, they shouldn't have to suffer the same consequences as adults do," one participant said. Or are they?

The next hot topic up for grabs was gun control. Many people would not realize that students of this age are very well informed of current legislation as well as preceding Supreme Court cases dealing with these areas. Gun control was a prime example of the students' expertise.

Students quoted the Second Amendment and referenced the Brady Act of 1998, as well as Project Exile in Richmond. But the legislative plans have holes and these students found those holes and covered them up, proposing lesser gun restrictions. "If you tighten up gun control laws," one student said, "you are really only making it harder for the honest people to get guns and increasing the proliferation of illegal guns to criminals."

Each student spoke out, some comparing U.S. gun control policies with those of other nations. The depth of discussion was amazing. Then it was lunch time! After "recess" -- remember, we are kids -- we reconvened for some more small talk.

Students reopened with a question that was seen on the ballot not too long ago, Question 2. Quite opposite from public opinion in November, the majority of the room did not oppose same-sex marriages.

Many people felt that if it doesn't affect them, it should not be their business. They also felt that there were again some constitutional issues at hand, particularly the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law.

Finally we changed subjects again. But this time the focus was whether or not the drinking age should be lowered. Again, many comparisons were made to other countries and their younger drinking ages.

Many people might think that teenagers would jump at the thought of the drinking age being lowered, however this room proved quite the contrary. Many students opposed the idea of a lower drinking age, believing that this would cause a massive increase in the number of DUIs and thus an increase in resulting deaths.

Many of the students did, however, agree that 18 may be considered a more "fair" drinking age. "If you are old enough to go to war and to die for your country, why can't you have a beer?" one student asked. This led to another issue, which was also seen on the Nevada ballot recently: Question 9.

Students related many of the same concerns they had about lowering drinking standards with the legalization of marijuana. Some thought that this measure would just be too radical; some argued that it may be considered an advocacy by the government that drugs were OK.

Proponents, however, argued that the government had been hypocritical in the past to give the OK for medical marijuana but not any information as to how to obtain the "medicine." Proponents also argued that legalization would help influence the focus of police officers, mandating them to focus on actual crime rather than on petty marijuana use, not to mention putting many "drug dealers" out of a job.

These two issues continued to be focused on as one until we were finally encouraged to "move on" by our monitor. Time was running out and there was only enough time for one more topic: Should "under God" be included in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Again, an issue that many people would not think about more than once, but these amazing students had some serious views to express. A number of students disagreed with the phrase "under God" for one simple reason -- the separation of church and state -- or at least this was the crux of their argument.

Students also brought to attention the fact that our country was founded upon freedom of religion and making someone pledge their allegiance to God may violate that person's freedom to any religion. Other students were quick to point out that the government of the United States was originally recognized to be "under God," as per the Declaration of Independence. Not to mention the fact, according to a student, that "every dollar that everyone spends, regardless of religion, says 'In God We Trust' on the back of it."

After wrapping up any final arguments, it was over. So that was our incredible experience at the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum. It became a perfect opportunity for us to share our views and concerns with important community leaders and to one another -- especially helpful was student Amanda Barron, who had many thought-provoking ideas. It was a very enlightening and mind-opening experience and I am grateful for having been a part of it.

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