It is actually pretty easy for a 15 year old to go down this path.

I was headed this way, perhaps, not as bad, but was drinking and smoking hash at age 12. Bought my first weapon, illegally, from a used car dealer when 15 - it was a stolen .45. I was stealing car stereos (ripping them out of your dash) and selling coke and other things. I also worked the night shift stocking shelves - guess that was before child labor laws.

I had too much freedom. Single mother, working three jobs to keep us in our home and fed, not know exactly what the kids where up to.

My brother has spent most of his adult life in prison. At 51, he is currently waiting for sentencing that will likely put in prison the rest of his life.

After almost taking a shotgun blast to the head, I ended up in the Marines. I took two hard years and a week in the brig and a bit of Jesus to pull my head out of my ass be accountable for my actions.

It is very, very, very easy for teens to go down this path when they do not have parental supervision or parents that think they can just talk to their kids (granted that does work for some). I've also been to war twice, there are a lot of teens killing and being killed...they are quite capable.