We have just had an horrific (is there any other kind?) murder here in New Zealand. A convicted murderer, out on parole, was on the run from the Police after an alleged assult he committed. While on the run in the bush he allegedly killed man for his Quad bike and then assaulted some others that were mountain bike riding in the area. He himself was eventually shot in the leg by the Police and has lost a leg. This has led to all usual rantings from people about how sentences must be harsher, life must mean life and there should be no parole for some prisoners.
There is no way a good spin can be put on the situation. A man was murdered and others traumatised and injured. Yet I fear there will be an over reaction that could do harm.
The issue of parole is complex, as is the whole prison and sentencing situation. In saying this however we do need to realise that in the midst of this we need to ensure that those who do change and will not reoffend are not all penalised by the few who do. We need to ask why it is that those in the prison service do reoffend and whether we are doing all we can to give them every opportunity to change and be supported in this change.
We do need to punish crime appropriately (which is not always with longer sentences), we do need to protect the public, we do need to ensure that people are given the chance to change and we do need to ensure we take a wise approach....not a knee jerk reaction!
This entry was posted by Angry and Shallow, on
Wednesday, January 10, 2007.
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6:24 am
Daz I tried ths comment before so perhaps God (or you)is blocking me, but I really do wonder if capital punishment is appropriate in these situations. I know its not pc to say it here and I am probably go to get it for saying so, but I do think there are cases where it is appropriate.
3:58 pm
When is capital punishment ever appropriate?
Alan must be under the influence of that nasty, vindictive, Old Testament God who commanded the wholesale slaughter of whole societies (although that same God sometimes spared the virgins so the soldiers could enjoy some "rest and recreation").
9:27 pm
David, I don't think that comment deserves any serious response. But it does highlight a serious intolerance to other people's views. The problem with this issue is that the word police come out with alarms balring making it well nigh impossible to be heard meaningfully.
5:41 pm
Give an example, constructed or historical, where you think capital punishment is appropriate, Alan.
Also, those violent Old-Testament stories must shape the world view of some Christians and/or Jews - it forms part of their sacred scriptures.
What is the purpose of these stories? May they not be used to bolster arguments for capital punishment? Or is it one rule for God and His agents, and another rule for mankind?
How is increasing the incidence of killing in the world a good thing, whether God/state sanctioned or not?
[What "word police"? Who cares? Just present your arguments, not complaints about process]
8:38 pm
Darryl's last 4 postings have touched on subject of killing.
Now I hope that does not indicate you are suffering from depression or such at the moment, Darryl.
There seem to be two reactions, polarised as they are, the horror at condoning capital punishment, and the other, vengeful reaction to bring it (capital punishment) on.
Just as anger is an inappropriate reaction to another's anger, so too is not further killing the wrong response to any killing, no matter how horrific?
In fact, I'd go further in equating anger with the desire for capital punishment. Anger is never an appropriate response in any situation. Neither is capital punishment.
7:54 pm
I have to agree with David... I cannot envision ANY situation where CP is the apprpriate response.
To put a different slant on this... what is our society doing to prevent these people from becoming killers? We see youth crime rates on the rise all the time... does our future look any brighter or are we resigned to the fact that tomorrow will possibly only be worse?
2:06 pm
Sorry for the delay bit i have been locked out of my site. i think its fixed now.
David...I am not depressed by it all...just amazed its going the way it is so easily.
Al.....You're comments are noted and...in this case disagreed with.
The Rock...yep spot on....what allows these people to become who they are needs looking at and what our responsibilities are.
8:57 pm
How can people in other countries have the death of someone else on their hands. if you kill someone a life time sentence can give you time to think about what you have done and where you went wrong so you can reform yourself. Capital punishment is wrong and horrible.