[ahtihn]

> working as a underling for organized crime to commit robberies, drug deals, and violent crime

Have you ever considered that these children are victims of organized crime? That they aren't capable of understanding the consequences of what they're doing and that they're being manipulated by adult criminals?

The problem here isn't the lack of long term consequences for kids.

[newsclues]

I used to be a drug dealer so I know what is going on and they aren’t victims, they are willing recruits.

12 year olds know it’s not right to sell crack.

The problem is the gap between lack of legal opportunities for youth and the allure of easy money, status and power from being a criminal. Doesn’t help that the media makes it look so fun and cool to be a gangster.

[ahtihn]

12 year olds selling crack aren't making a rational decision based on the lack of sufficient long term consequences.

So what exactly would worse long term consequences do besides ruin the life of kids making bad decisions?