I am just wondering if those of you who are not in the "hang, torture and floggem" brigade have any first hand knowledge of what you're talking about?
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Baby Peters stepfather scalded in prison
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I can appreciate both arguements - but Reading the case it's bloody difficult not take the stance of revenge, it's a natural response.
Posted 2 years ago # -
On a moral point: Let us assume that the perpetrator has become a sadistic paedophile by
1: Being born that way (inherent nature, therefore not responsible in the same way that a wasp is not responsible for being a wasp, say) or
2: Being made that way (subject to the same sort of attack when young, therefore a victim).
Given that, in neither case, their actions are those of someone who is responsible for their nature, how is it right to inflict pain or death on them as if they were morally culpable?
A difficult question for which the impulse is, to look for an easy answer...
So then what is the answer?. If a wasp stings you what do you instinctively do? Try to swat it, kill it, revenge for stinging you?? Of course you do
Or put it this way, what as humans can we do. Either keep him in prison, which will be costly and pointless?. Pointless to the part of why have someone locked away for the rest of their lifes, it serves no purpose at all. Rehabilittion? . Great news BUT what happens if he does it again. Could YOU go round to the parents of that child and explain well we thought we rehabilitated him but i guess not. Put yourself in the shoes of them. Its also very easy to say spend more on social services but sometimes things happen that even they would have no powers to foresee.
I'm all for giving second, third, fourth chances to people but only the majority, bank robbers, drug smugglers, car thieves etc where the nature of the crime is not to inflict unneeded and simply horrific cruelty on people but the minority needs to learn that what they do will not be tolerated by our race. Some other countries cut of hands etc, we need to be more tactile in our judgements as a preventative
Posted 2 years ago # -
Also, bearing in mind that "Prison as dissuader" doesn't work - after all, if it did, the prisons wouldn't be full to bursting...
Or, for that matter, the Death Penalty - people still commit murder where it is in force.
Or is it just satisfying the urge to revenge something that's not even, directly, anything to do with you?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Or, for that matter, the Death Penalty - people still commit murder where it is in force.
Not the same person though
Posted 2 years ago # -
I am just wondering if those of you who are not in the "hang, torture and floggem" brigade have any first hand knowledge of what you're talking about?
Anyone unfortunate enough to have this "first hand knowledge" is the least able to make a proper judgement about what should be done to the perpetrators of abuse.
A response founded in pain, rage and hate is exactly what we need to avoid in our justice system.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Exactly. That's the difference between a justice system and a revenge system.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I agree with johnners - I think any involvement of a victim in the criminal's punishment is bizarre.
But having said that bad people are more likely to inflict nasty punishments than good and prison is full of bad people so it's perhaps a good way of criminals getting a taste of what society would rather happened to them than those that have to do what seems best with regards to human rights and living in a nice society...if it happens in prison it's suitably detached for most of us to not worry about. And most of us will shed no tears for chaps like that. A significant chunk of people, perhaps even the majority, would be quite happy for criminals of a certain type to kinda disappear - they maybe just don't really want to know about it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
..if it happens in prison it's suitably detached for most of us to not worry about. And most of us will shed no tears for chaps like that. A significant chunk of people, perhaps even the majority, would be quite happy for criminals of a certain type to kinda disappear - they maybe just don't really want to know about it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"do-gooders"
Every time someone uses that as a perjorative, I can't help but smile
Posted 2 years ago # -
I agree northwind - along with the use of liberal in the same way.
TJ -Proud to be a liberal do-gooder
Posted 2 years ago # -
+1 Northwind
Doing good? You fools!
Posted 2 years ago #
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