A.’s Comments (group member since Apr 08, 2009)

A.’s comments from the Gig Harbor AP Language reads Dead Man Walking group.

I suppose when you consider the US legal system, the only options for crimes as heinous as the ones discussed in DMW would be the death penalty or life imprisonment. Those two are really the only punishments I'd think people consider to be appropriate for crimes that are past a certain point (we can discuss that in another thread ;) ). So, honestly, what other methods could be used? Deportment would be silly, wouldn't it? Personally, I side with Michael and Sarah. But it's difficult to think that the only opportunities these "reformed men" will have is to MAYBE get parole. Other than that, they are stuck inside 23 hours a day, with too few televisions. That, or death. Obviously, most would pick less television. But still, it's hard to conceive that (even though they deserve their punishment) they cannot be made to pay it back in a way that keeps society safe, as well as being constructive. The death penalty kills people, and life imprisonment kills people's productivity. Of course, there are cases where life in prison for society's sake is necessary and inevitable, but what about the other cases? Who could decide that people like Pat Sonnier regretted their decision and (given the financial chance) could actually have a positive effect on society? It seems like their first crime was to be poor... Why not give them a second chance through life with a possibility of parole?
I guess I don't even know what I'm asking... Anyone want to build off of that? We shouldn't all agree, at least for the sake of argument ;)