[djacques]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but wnd.com is not a reliable source. Have you ever read their account of Saddam Hussein's execution? They said everyone was quiet and solemn (this was before the audio was released). As far as I know, that 'columnist' is still employed there. They claimed a year ago that soy milk makes boys homosexual. I can cite many other examples of WND simply inventing things, if you like.

Even as far as this story goes,

The sex act took place in his apartment, with no force, but the law stipulates a 15-year-old cannot consent to sexual relations.

In other words, it wasn't actually a "rape" at all, as the term is colloquially used. It sounds like an entirely reasonable case for probation, if it was a first offense.

[tallrick]

If a person faces life in prison he would also be more likely to shoot it out with officers while making a run for it. Mandatory sentencing is very, very stupid, but the sheeple seem to love it. That's fine until it affects one of them.

[floridasandy]

the point is that mandatory sentencing on felony criminals would not affect the law-abiding citizens, but would act to protect them. there is very little going on now in the court system to protect the non-lawbreakers from the lawbreakers. if someone shoots officers, they should get the death penalty also. we have a right to be protected from the predators! btw, i don't think that there are very many people out there that think it is okay for a 26 year old to be having sex with a 15 year old (consensual or otherwise).

[LM1]

Originally Posted by floridasandy

the point is that mandatory sentencing on felony criminals would not affect the law-abiding citizens, but would act to protect them. there is very little going on now in the court system to protect the non-lawbreakers from the lawbreakers. if someone shoots officers, they should get the death penalty also. we have a right to be protected from the predators! btw, i don't think that there are very many people out there that think it is okay for a 26 year old to be having sex with a 15 year old (consensual or otherwise).

I also don't know many people who believe a 26 year old sleeping with a 15 year old should warrant life in prison, either.
I mean, lets face it. It's a magical, totally arbitrary line in the sand... That very scenario is legal in a kajillion other countries, including a number of industrialized, modern ones (Britain, for example)

The fact is, we've been rapidly ratcheting up the consequences for every offense for about three decades now- we've made misdemeanors into felonies, we've made the punishments for certain felonies extraordinarily harsh (I don't care who or what you are... There isn't a pound of any product on this earth short of maybe plutonium that is so nefarious, it warrants completely destroying someones life over). It's gotten to the point that we in the "land of the free" incarcerate more people per-capita than any other nation on earth. We spend substantially more to incarcerate people than we do to educate them.

When we discarded the rehabilitation model back in the 1970's to placate the hordes of mentally retarded pitchfork-and-torch bearing masses who were demanding "punishment" in lieu of rehabilitation, we created a procedural system that makes things much, much worse for society at large, given that these people are going to eventually be released completely unrehabilitated (by design) without any viable life skills (by design) and entirely unable to obtain meaningful employment (an unintended consequence of the $9.95 Internet Background Check era)- yet we wonder why they reoffend? No, they didn't "do it to themselves". We do it to them, particularly with non-violent, victimless offenses that by every single measure of morality, should be forgiven after their debt is paid and some time has passed. Certain sex offenders, they're another story, but there are "sex offenses" such as indecent exposure (I know a guy who has an IE charge for urinating in an alley in NYC) that just don't warrant the "sex offender" tag, yet that's precisely what they get.

We wonder why we incarcerate more people per-capita than any other country on earth?
The answer is right in front of our faces, but the circus-watching bread eaters are just too many...

[LOVE THE U.S.A.]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

The bill unanimously cleared the House Budget and Policy Council after lawmakers and the audience gave Lunsford a standing ovation. It next will go to the House floor after the Legislature convenes its regular annual session in March. An identical Senate bill (SB 496) has not yet had a committee hearing.

It includes tougher penalties for sex crimes against children and requires lifetime electronic monitoring for sex offenders who target children once released from prison. Another provision requires fingerprinting and background checks for contractors, vendors, sports referees and others who regularly go onto school property. Those convicted of certain crimes are barred from schools and their grounds.

What are your views?

************************************************** **********
Hey,
Anyone who molests a child should be put away on the first offense.
For life of course.....If you want to give them a second chance to molest
your child and they do ....second offense should be death....We have
an obligation to protect our children...

LOVE THE U.S.A.

[sunrico90]

The cost to US tax payer will be huge....

[Petertherock]

Originally Posted by djacques

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but wnd.com is not a reliable source. Have you ever read their account of Saddam Hussein's execution? They said everyone was quiet and solemn (this was before the audio was released). As far as I know, that 'columnist' is still employed there. They claimed a year ago that soy milk makes boys homosexual. I can cite many other examples of WND simply inventing things, if you like.

Even as far as this story goes,



In other words, it wasn't actually a "rape" at all, as the term is colloquially used. It sounds like an entirely reasonable case for probation, if it was a first offense.

These are all actual cases. You can find these articles on other sources...it's just WND was the first article that came up. I am from this area and I saw these cases on our local news channels.

Even the National Enquirer has a few factual articles in it beyond the Bill Clinton is an alien stories...actually...that could be a truthful story.

[Petertherock]

Originally Posted by tallrick

If a person faces life in prison he would also be more likely to shoot it out with officers while making a run for it. Mandatory sentencing is very, very stupid, but the sheeple seem to love it. That's fine until it affects one of them.

So let's not put anyone in prison for life because they might shoot it out with police and kill innocent people? I mean these monsters already ruined kids entire lives so who cares about putting these creeps away? Actually...better yet, just release these animals and put a big sign on them saying "I rape and kill little kids" and let the general public deal with them. Just like I feel the best way to deal with these terrorists is to release them in the streets of New York and let the citizens take care of them.

[LM1]

Originally Posted by Petertherock

So let's not put anyone in prison for life because they might shoot it out with police and kill innocent people?

You didn't understand what he was saying.
He was talking about mandatory sentencing, not the overall concept of incarceration.

[floridasandy]

Originally Posted by LM1

I also don't know many people who believe a 26 year old sleeping with a 15 year old should warrant life in prison, either.
I mean, lets face it. It's a magical, totally arbitrary line in the sand... That very scenario is legal in a kajillion other countries, including a number of industrialized, modern ones (Britain, for example)

The fact is, we've been rapidly ratcheting up the consequences for every offense for about three decades now- we've made misdemeanors into felonies, we've made the punishments for certain felonies extraordinarily harsh (I don't care who or what you are... There isn't a pound of any product on this earth short of maybe plutonium that is so nefarious, it warrants completely destroying someones life over). It's gotten to the point that we in the "land of the free" incarcerate more people per-capita than any other nation on earth. We spend substantially more to incarcerate people than we do to educate them.

When we discarded the rehabilitation model back in the 1970's to placate the hordes of mentally retarded pitchfork-and-torch bearing masses who were demanding "punishment" in lieu of rehabilitation, we created a procedural system that makes things much, much worse for society at large, given that these people are going to eventually be released completely unrehabilitated (by design) without any viable life skills (by design) and entirely unable to obtain meaningful employment (an unintended consequence of the $9.95 Internet Background Check era)- yet we wonder why they reoffend? No, they didn't "do it to themselves". We do it to them, particularly with non-violent, victimless offenses that by every single measure of morality, should be forgiven after their debt is paid and some time has passed. Certain sex offenders, they're another story, but there are "sex offenses" such as indecent exposure (I know a guy who has an IE charge for urinating in an alley in NYC) that just don't warrant the "sex offender" tag, yet that's precisely what they get.

We wonder why we incarcerate more people per-capita than any other country on earth?
The answer is right in front of our faces, but the circus-watching bread eaters are just too many...

probably the reason we have more people in prison per capita is because we are so lenient on crime! i could care less about rehabilitation. you can take sides in this country and you chose the criminal (and worry about their rehabilitation) and i will chose the victim every time (and worry about their protection). the law applies, once again, to over 18 year old with under 12 year old repeat offenders.