To Punish or Not To Punish

To Punish or Not To Punish

By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 http://billoreilly.com/index.jsp

Here's the state of American justice right now:

- Andrew Selva, 46, confesses to raping two young boys in Ohio and is sentenced to probation by Judge John Connor who believes Selva has a curable "disease."

- Debra LaFave admits to having sex with a 14-year-old boy in Florida but does not receive prison time. The 25-year-old LaFave was a teacher at the school she seduced the student.

- Andrea Yates murdered her five children by drowning them one by one. A Texas jury found her sane and very guilty. She was sentenced to life in prison. But the conviction was overturned because an expert witness falsely testified about a TV program that had little to do with the crime.

Despite that, The Houston Chronicle is calling for "enlightened justice" in the case. The paper wants Ms. Yates sent to a mental hospital instead of prison.

Enlightened justice? Sounds to me like that might be avoiding punishment for violent actions. Somehow, Andrea Yates walked around the planet for almost 40 years and did not kill anyone. Then, suddenly, she was compelled to drown her five little kids? She couldn't stop herself? That is what the people who don't want Yates in prison believe.

The jury did not see it that way. After hearing both sides, they came to the conclusion that while Yates is undoubtedly disturbed mentally, she CHOSE to kill her kids. She planned it and then phoned police when it was done.

Does that action not warrant punishment? Five human beings destroyed? What's "enlightened" about not fitting the punishment to the crime?

Debra LaFave looked good at her press conference. Hair freshly dyed, makeup perfect, eyes sparkling. Before the cameras, Ms. Lafave wove a tale of sorrow and pity. She was contrite, she announced she is bi-polar, she told the world she is being treated.

Okay. She didn't kill anybody but, again, she CHOSE to molest the kid. No prison time because the prosecutor did not seek it.

In Ohio, it is far worse. Andrew Selva admitted everything. He confessed to the court he sexually abused two young boys. One of the boys told me on television, Selva physically forced him to perform a sexual act. But Judge Connor, who has two D-U-I convictions himself, was unmoved. Casually, he issued this stunning statement to the court: "he (Selva) has a disease, like I have a disease."

Selva nodded and then went home to serve his probation. Connor's incredible sentence was supported by most newspapers in Ohio and the largest legal group in the state.

I understand that I am not "enlightened," but this is insane. Selva should be sitting in a prison cell for at least 20 years. Chances are those boys will be screwed up for life. Selva robbed them of their childhood and their dignity. Yet, this very evening, Selva will eat dinner in his own home and enjoy the comforts of that sanctuary.

Something is desperately wrong in America. The doctrine of "moral relativism" where judgments are not made about even dastardly behavior is taking root, just as it has in Western Europe. There is nothing "enlightened' about allowing violent criminals to escape punishment; It is flat out dangerous for society.

Selva, Yates, and Lafave are just the beginning. There will be more of these kinds of stories coming. Count on it.

Howdy Y'all,

Bill summarizes:" Something is desperately wrong in America. The doctrine of "moral relativism" where judgments are not made about even dastardly behavior is taking root, just as it has in Western Europe. There is nothing "enlightened' about allowing violent criminals to escape punishment; It is flat out dangerous for society."

I'd say that's a pretty good take on the situation--what say y'all ?

Have a good one...

Howdy Torog,

Absolutely disgusting! I wonder why these judges are doing this...kind of makes ya wonder about their personal lives.
I'm afraid if I were one of those parents I'd have to enforce a little post-court justice of my own....do ya think I'd get probation for protecting my kids rights?

Have a good one bro!!!:thumbsup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

Howdy Torog,

Absolutely disgusting! I wonder why these judges are doing this...kind of makes ya wonder about their personal lives.
I'm afraid if I were one of those parents I'd have to enforce a little post-court justice of my own....do ya think I'd get probation for protecting my kids rights?

Have a good one bro!!!:thumbsup:

---

Hey Torog, and psycho! Count me in on this too.:thumbsup:

And how much jail time is Marc Emery gonna see for selling seeds? 30 years wasn't it?:mad:

And that is just the headline news...don't you read in your own local papers or even in socializing with others that there are many,many "people" doing these evil acts and going unpunished?! It's just like the language being used now...many are offended by it but don't even speak out about it on the darn internet because they are scared of being ridiculed and not being "popular"..so then it becomes more "normal" and acceptable...and before long...people are unfazed until it hits HOME or one of their own. Sexual Predators will continue until they breathe no more imo...and women like Andrea Yates..I believe she had a severe case of stress and PP'blues but in no way should she ever be free again and procreate..or allowed around other children. Torog..I think she will spend a few years (if that long) in a mental institution and be quietly released back into society. Lord forgive me but I want to put her head in a toilet and keep it there until she stops moving..I know,I know..thats not the right thing but its the truth how I feel about her (Yates). Yates is out on bond right now but voluntarily checked into a institution..that is what makes me say she will win this time...that thing is out on bond!:mad:

It's absoluetly disgusting what people get away with here. It's obvious that the punishments handed out these days are not deterrents to others thinking of committing the same crime. If anything its like hanging out the welcome sign.

Many will have heard me mention this before, but I lived for a while in a country that is known for it's quick and harsh justice of criminals-China. We can whine all we want about the human rights violations but, honestly, it seems to be working. I lived in a city with 14 million people, that makes NYC look like a small village. It had almost all the same problems of a typical big US city: overcrowding, poverty, income disparity, etc. What it didn't have was violent crime. Even though I, a white, rich (by comparison), foriegner stuck out like a sore thumb, I could walk down any back alley, at any time of the day, and never fear for my personal safety. I'm sure some of it was cultural but I can't help but believe that the fact that everyone knows that if they commit a violent crime they will be faced with quick and harsh, often permanent, justice.

All the loopholes that allow criminals to get off the hook are even worse. The worst case I ever heard was from quite a while back so I don't remember all the details. What I do remember was that in some Midwestern area there was a serial killer on the loose. One day a cop pulls over a guy for something like a broken tail light and then demands to search the car. He ends up finding a bunch of arms and legs, not attached to their owners, in the trunk. Yeah, the serial killer has been caught. Unfortunately they had no other hard evidence against the guy and the search was detremined to be illegal because the cop didn't have probable cause. They had to let the guy go. Of course they knew who the guy was and were able to build another case against him eventually but not before he killed again. It's disgusting that so much is done to protect criminals rights but not the victims.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

Howdy Torog,

Absolutely disgusting! I wonder why these judges are doing this...kind of makes ya wonder about their personal lives.
I'm afraid if I were one of those parents I'd have to enforce a little post-court justice of my own....do ya think I'd get probation for protecting my kids rights?

Have a good one bro!!!:thumbsup:

---

Great post I just don't get where there heads are on this seriously what did the judge mean when he said "he got a disease just like i've got a disease" what the fuck is that spose to mean?I come to the conclusion that he has done stuff like this as well and doesn't have a problem with this?:confused: Is there something i'm not getting here or what?.And this isn't a good situation instead of worrying about cannabis users and grower why don't they nail the real crimminals?:mad: And wasting money on this when they could be getting the real crimminals were are there heads at?:mad:

My grandfather grew up in NYC, in the early 20th century. He worked with cars when he was young, and knew cops. They used to have an elite underground organization called the "Suicide Squad". Basically, these were volunteers that would leave their badge at home, use their own transportation and weapons, and "take care" of people that they knew were guilty, but were somehow found innocent, or released, because of lack of evidence, connections, etc.

If any members of the police force that were "suicide squad" members were caught, they were sworn to secrecy about the squad and had to keep quiet, even if it meant serving time.

I'll tell you one thing: the cops did not treat child rapists and other assorted degenerates with kid gloves in those days.

My mother once told me a story about an attempted violation by a predator. While waiting for a bus, in the 1940s, she accepted a ride with a man, in upstate NY (where they had relocated from the Bronx), who offered to drop her off at her school. He didn't drive to the school, but headed out toward the highway. She told him that her father was a big Irish cop (which was not true) He didn't say a single word -he immediately turned the car around and dropped her off at school.