2.03.2006
Punishment in the UK smells like Elderberries
I took these comments from the BBC Have Your Say site during the brief bringing back to the frontline of punishment as an issue, and the nature of life sentences in particular. Of course, I have always believed in harsh punishment (not just non-deterrant, pathetically small fines all the time) and seriously frown upon some of the Liberty groups opinions. So the few chosen are bias towards my own views. Well the first one is here because it amused me. I guess I am so very tired of constantly reading about criminals on all levels of violence/property damage getting off so damn lightly.
"I just went to the possible future where New Labour stay in power for 30more years. The news reporter read, on a rather futuristic hologram emitting TV, 'crime and killing is now legal! Those damn victims..send THEM to jail!'. The news reader then shot his co-host. Seriously, this relentless fear of strong punishment on the 'poor' criminal is sending us down the pathway to madness."
"Murder is the deliberate taking away of an innocent human life. To seek to differentiate between "different types" of murder/homicide is illogical, unjust and can only serve to make decisions on taking away human life that bit easier for the criminal. After all, with the proposed multi levels of homicide, a clever barrister/lawyer will vastly reduce the chances of a criminal being given a maximum sentence."
"Why change? The current system takes a headline sentence, divides by two, subtracts good behaviour and tagging options, hence ensuring the liberal elite, and associated minority groups are happy for another year. We put criminals first, second and third, with victims(actual or the long suffering law abiding tax payers) last."
"I worry greatly about these people that think we should have compassion when sentencing cold-blooded murderers. If these people gain real power and influence then they will be more dangerous than any murderer out there."
"Why not invent a way of resurrecting the dead consequently no one would be charged of murder and the prisons will be empty. This a win win situation prison reformers should adopt forthwith"
"There are 4 possible justifications for imprisonment:
1. prevention
2. rehabilitation
3. deterrence
4. retribution
The first 3 are sensible and self-explanatory. But most posters here concentrate purely on retribution which is a far more complicated concept. Please think about why you feel this need to punish someone - in most cases, it seems based only on a vague sense of 'righteous' hatred. It says far more about you than about the crime in question. Where is the compassion?"
"The real problem is we've got too many hand-wringing bleeding hearts like (one above) of Bristol who's main concern is empathy and love for the murderer. Retribution is a justifiable and understandable desire when a loved one has been taken from you in the cruellest of ways. It would be interesting to see just how tolerant and understanding you are when it's your Mother / Father / child etc who's life has been callously cut short."
Where is the compassion the lady above asks? Should we find within ourselves compassion for murderers and child rapists; try to understand them, make them "better" and set them free. We should have compassion for people that know nothing of what life is truly worth and take it away leaving big empty holes. Should we push aside the victim's family and nourish the criminal at great expense and effort. No, but sadly that seems to be way favoured by those that influence/make the decisons. But, hey, maybe they do know best, for fucks sake. I'll just go play a video game.
