I think that criminals need to face the proper punishment for their crimes and their actions. Whether it was a minor offense or something as major as killing someone, I think if people break the rules, they should face the consequences.
I recently had a little run in with the law myself. I will admit to speeding a little too much, and then I had another violation added on top of that! I was driving after 10 p.m. without my big kid license even though my mother and myself made it very clear that I was over the age of 16. Oh well, that's a whole other story. I paid a little on the south side $300 for both tickets. A month later while listening to the radio, the newsman talked about an ex-rapist who was caught violating parole and was only fined around $150! I think that that is just a little bit ridiculous. I'm sure that he served time for his crime, but he is much more of a threat to society than a teenager trying to get home before curfew. It doesn't seem right that I'm the one who had to pay more of my hard earned money for a much less harmful crime.
As another example, on the Oprah Show recently, there was a teenage boy who had been sexually abused by a family friend for more than three years. He never told anyone about it, and one day he finally snapped and stabbed the man over 55 times. All the boy received was five years of probation. I understand all the trauma that the boy must have went through, but killing someone isn't the only way out of a sticky situation. Especially stabbing someone 55 times. I think that's being a little overly aggressive and totally uneccessary. I think that people that murder other people need to pay for what they have done, which is taking someone's family member or friend away from them. Committing murder should never be a persons way out. The boy could have told his family and they could have went to the police and had him arrested. Killing is the easy way out, but in real life it makes the situation more complicated for the victim. I know an eye for an eye isn't the right thing to do either, but killing someone deserves a harsh punishment in my eyes.
Posts
The whole ex-rapist thing, I totally agree with that. On the other hand, the teenage boy killing the family friend not so much agreeing with you. The boy probably felt that he was a teenager and needed to do it himself with out his parents help and one day he just snapped. I think he should have maybe served a little time but not as much as some guy who just randomly murdered someone on the the street.
ReplyDeleteShelby,
ReplyDeleteYou are directly looking at a very debated question: What crime (or violation) correlates with the correct punishment?
Do you think that judges should be able to determine all punishments on a case by case basis or should there be set fines or sentences, despite circumstances, like your speeding ticket?
I am pretty sure that not a lot of murders happen randomly on streets. And there are so many other ways to handle the situation. But thank you for your feedback (:
ReplyDeleteWell, I was trying to prove a point but your welcome! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you have some very good examples Shelby.
ReplyDelete