Quote:
Originally Posted by DCforever
10 miles over the speed limit is not a crime. It's a civil offense, at least in 49 states. It is irrelevant in the discussion of three strikes laws.
Stealing socks is not what the dirtbag went to prison over. He was a career criminal.
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No, it is not a civil offense in 49 states. It probably is in most, but there are a decent number of states where it is technically a crime. In my state, there is an entire class of crimes punishable only by a fine (Class C misdemeanors; look it up).
Stealing socks is the offense that actually got him sent to prison. I don't at all disagree with sending people with three violent felony convictions to prison for life. But sending someone to prison for stealing socks simply because of a past history of crime is unjust, not to mention possibly dangerous to society. If there is no difference in punishment, why would a career criminal merely steal socks? Why wouldn't they go out and shoot someone or rape someone? The punishment would be the same and the worst "dirtbags" wouldn't really care about the impact to others.
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