New laws wouldn't have prevented McClain beating

After the gruesome beating of Samual McClain, local and state legislators are lining up proposing new laws aimed at attacks like this one.

Milwaukee aldermen are supporting an ordinance outlawing large groups of people from loitering in a "menacing fashion" whatever that means. Rep. Leon Young, Democrat of Milwaukee, is proposing tougher penalties for crimes like the beating suffered by McClain. At first glance, Young's proposal seems like a good idea and I don't know what to make of the other one.

Such ideas are being driven by the politics of the moment, and may well be worthwhile. However, would they have prevented this terrible incident from taking place? I don't think so. Mobs like this one aren't driven by rational thought when they commit such heinous acts. The juveniles and young adults that did this obviously lack discipline and have little to no ability to resolve conflict outside of resorting to violence.

Passing stiffer penalties is all fine and good for dealing with the crime after it has occurred. What people need to spend more time on is how we prevent more people from becoming so very cold and cruel like these kids have. That is much tougher, and not as simple as passing a bill and signing it into law.