I saw a story yesterday that the National Guard is being brought in to police Washington D.C. For years, I’ve thought maybe military personnel should replace the police. Not because I’m anti-police, but because the military is better equipped, more disciplined in high-pressure situations, and often trained with a stronger sense of accountability when it comes to civilian lives. But in the same article, I saw something else — lawmakers considering trying kids as young as 14 years old as adults. And that’s where I have a problem. To me, that’s throwing the baby out with the bathwater. For as long as I can remember, laws have been changed to make penalties harsher and harsher. Yet the problems remain. Why? Because what they call a “deterrent” isn’t really one. Speaking from my own experience and my community’s reality — when your life already feels worthless, risking a life sentence is just part of the cost. Instead of always tightening penalties, why don’t we ever stop and say: “Hey,...