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Kids Who Kill: Confronting Our Culture of Violence
As parents, we used to feel secure in our children being safely watched over in our nation's schools. We drop them off in the morning, make sure they have their lunches and homework, kiss them good-bye, and happily go about our day- never even fathoming that we may never again see their smile, hear their giggle, feel their touch, tuck them in at night...
But, tragically, the families of the five victims of the Jonesboro shooting now know that pain. But Jonesboro is not the only town affected by misdirected, misunderstood children. While the media pounced on this story, seizing the opportunity to mount their proverbial soapboxes to address the issues, few- if any- took the time to really research the facts. "Experts" were quick to give their hasty analyses, turning this calamity into a pop symbol of our social decline. During this upheaval, Arkansas govenor Mike Huckabee met with the grieving people of Jonesboro, the victim's families, the Arkansas law enforcement officials, and felt compelled to address this issue- not as just another authoritative voice, but as a concerned citizen with a strong desire to move forward with hope, confidence, and security.
Governor Huckabee uses the pages of this book to explore this crisis looming over our country. As a former pastor and state official, Huckabee has first-hand experience with the demise of our nation. This experience qualifies him to examine the cultural demoralization and the current fascination with anti-heroes. Huckabee pulls everything together and proposes a key to recovery- the return to basic values: faith, family, work, and community.
But, tragically, the families of the five victims of the Jonesboro shooting now know that pain. But Jonesboro is not the only town affected by misdirected, misunderstood children. While the media pounced on this story, seizing the opportunity to mount their proverbial soapboxes to address the issues, few- if any- took the time to really research the facts. "Experts" were quick to give their hasty analyses, turning this calamity into a pop symbol of our social decline. During this upheaval, Arkansas govenor Mike Huckabee met with the grieving people of Jonesboro, the victim's families, the Arkansas law enforcement officials, and felt compelled to address this issue- not as just another authoritative voice, but as a concerned citizen with a strong desire to move forward with hope, confidence, and security.
Governor Huckabee uses the pages of this book to explore this crisis looming over our country. As a former pastor and state official, Huckabee has first-hand experience with the demise of our nation. This experience qualifies him to examine the cultural demoralization and the current fascination with anti-heroes. Huckabee pulls everything together and proposes a key to recovery- the return to basic values: faith, family, work, and community.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Mike Huckabee
57 books62 followersAmerican politician and a political commentator for Fox News Channel. A member of the Republican Party,
Huckabee served as governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and finished second in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries; he announced his candidacy on January 28, 2007. Following losses to John McCain in the Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island primaries, McCain became the presumptive Republican nominee and Huckabee exited the race on March 4, 2008.
Huckabee is the author of several books, an ordained Southern Baptist minister and a public speaker. He is well known for having lost 110 pounds (50 kg) in a very short time and for advocating a healthy lifestyle. He and his wife, Janet, have been married 33 years and have three grown children: John Mark, David, and Sarah.
Huckabee served as governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and finished second in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries; he announced his candidacy on January 28, 2007. Following losses to John McCain in the Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island primaries, McCain became the presumptive Republican nominee and Huckabee exited the race on March 4, 2008.
Huckabee is the author of several books, an ordained Southern Baptist minister and a public speaker. He is well known for having lost 110 pounds (50 kg) in a very short time and for advocating a healthy lifestyle. He and his wife, Janet, have been married 33 years and have three grown children: John Mark, David, and Sarah.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 31, 2012
This book is less about what may lead kids to kill and more a summary of Huckabee's political views. He rarely connects his views to violence committed by children, or violence in general. I've read many books about school shootings and sociopaths (which most shooters are) and this one was the least interesting.
April 25, 2021
I cannot say it was a waste of time lmao it's just that when I had this book I was intrigued by the title and was so excited because it peeked my interest but then when I started reading it, let's just say I was a little bit disappointed
February 23, 2015
I read Huckabee's book for background on my current project. I'm glad I knocked it off in one night, so I didn't have to much time with it. As one might expect, Huckabee blames these killings on the breakdown in society and family structure. What are these breakdowns? Huckabee: "Abortion, environmentalism, AIDS, pornography, drug abuse and homosexual activism...."
July 28, 2015
Read as part of my research into armed encounters assist in my book Debarred the Use of Arms.
An interesting and thought provoking work ,that i would recommend.
An interesting and thought provoking work ,that i would recommend.
January 30, 2018
I really, really want to try to understand the thinking of others in the political spectrum.
This man is either a colossal liar or just bad at science.
For example, he says that 40% of pregnancies in America now end in abortion. In 1995 there were 3,978,497 live births and 71,740 abortions, which means about 1.77 percent of pregnancies end in abortion, even less if you factor in miscarriages. Surely in 1998 when this was published the math wasn't much different.
He says that women no longer get child support due to no-fault divorce. What? He says that divorce drops women into poverty and that 75% of Medicaid recipients are women. Well, in Texas adult men and women can't get Medicaid unless they also get Medicare but women of childbearing age can while they are pregnant or for a year afterwards. It's the children who get Medicaid, and it's really hard to argue that giving immunizations or preventive care is more expensive than treating illnesses.
And for the women who don't have work skills because they grew up believing that an abusive or drunk guy would take care of them or because like many they really thought the child support check would be in the mail, well, none of this falls on the guy. If the woman hadn't asked for the divorce she would be OK. Ironically the example he used was of a couple that divorced after their child was killed in a car accident and the dad became a drunk. She divorced him, an attorney covered his assets, and he then re-opened his business and married a sweet young thing. Then mom became a drunk and their surviving kid too. It seems as a lack of male coping skills and a plethora of male double dealing led to that woman's temporary poverty.
Oh, and as to the topic? After discussing a few shootings, he puts the action of these kids down to bad manners, absent moms, video games, and, oh, yeah, bad manners and a lack of moral fiber. Then he rants on women being in the workplace and abortion for 100 pages.
I only gave it one star because I wanted it factored in somehow.
Oh, I forgot to mention that environmentalists and gay activists are responsible for these sociopaths shooting up schools or knifing their families too. I just never figured out how.
This man is either a colossal liar or just bad at science.
For example, he says that 40% of pregnancies in America now end in abortion. In 1995 there were 3,978,497 live births and 71,740 abortions, which means about 1.77 percent of pregnancies end in abortion, even less if you factor in miscarriages. Surely in 1998 when this was published the math wasn't much different.
He says that women no longer get child support due to no-fault divorce. What? He says that divorce drops women into poverty and that 75% of Medicaid recipients are women. Well, in Texas adult men and women can't get Medicaid unless they also get Medicare but women of childbearing age can while they are pregnant or for a year afterwards. It's the children who get Medicaid, and it's really hard to argue that giving immunizations or preventive care is more expensive than treating illnesses.
And for the women who don't have work skills because they grew up believing that an abusive or drunk guy would take care of them or because like many they really thought the child support check would be in the mail, well, none of this falls on the guy. If the woman hadn't asked for the divorce she would be OK. Ironically the example he used was of a couple that divorced after their child was killed in a car accident and the dad became a drunk. She divorced him, an attorney covered his assets, and he then re-opened his business and married a sweet young thing. Then mom became a drunk and their surviving kid too. It seems as a lack of male coping skills and a plethora of male double dealing led to that woman's temporary poverty.
Oh, and as to the topic? After discussing a few shootings, he puts the action of these kids down to bad manners, absent moms, video games, and, oh, yeah, bad manners and a lack of moral fiber. Then he rants on women being in the workplace and abortion for 100 pages.
I only gave it one star because I wanted it factored in somehow.
Oh, I forgot to mention that environmentalists and gay activists are responsible for these sociopaths shooting up schools or knifing their families too. I just never figured out how.
August 23, 2025
Horrible author. This man goes against the very idea of Christianity. He’s mentioned in a wonderful book called the social root of school shooting as a man who walked on campus of Westside for less than 30 minutes and then wrote about how he knew everything about the shooting. And then REFUSED to give any of his financial gain from this book to proceeds for victims of school shooting because “he’s entitled to whatever the profits were from that book” Jesus gave to the poor and helped the needy this man obviously does not.
October 3, 2023
DNF. This book has been on my list for so long and I wanted to like it but just couldn’t. It’s more about politics than the ‘kids who kill’. But what else should I expect from a politician, not a psychologist?
September 29, 2017
Huckabee's views about social values. Only kind off notable because it's pre-Columbine and the sources he quotes including a christian distributionist called Peyton Moore.
July 12, 2019
Some strong opinions in this book. I agree with many but don't with many as well.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews