quote:

Originally posted by FourString:

quote:

Originally posted by onionhead71:
Never said I would murder anyone...

And as for my frame of reference? Parent. That's all I need. Now obviously, my wish to take a knife to someone would never come to fruition. But there are no amount of days spent in prison that can make up for the innocence, joy, and potential that are stolen from a child when someone hurts them like that. Sorry, I have no pity. Let someone sit in prison for years dreaming about what they're gonna do when they get out? There's no little voice telling people like that they shouldn't have done what they did. No regret. Just biding their time till they can get out and do it again. They got all the time in the world to figure out better ways to get away with it.

"We are a civilized society based on order and the rule of law. There is no room for vigilantism. We must accept the fact that while our system is by no means perfect, it is one of the most fair systems the world has ever seen."

..........How are you gonna feel when it's YOUR child and not just a hypothetical?

So you would just find a really big knife and do nothing with it? I guess, in your anger, you misspoke.

I usually don't engage people like you in this debate since you never listen. You act all high and mighty because you happen to have children, and anyone who does not have children has no business commenting. I'm here to tell you just how wrong you are. I'm really tired of people with kids thinking that just because they engaged in procreation that their IQ is a hundred points above everyone else's. If having children would make me an irrational knee jerker (as most parents act when this issue is brought up) then I will remain happily without children. But then again, I have views on having a family while on active duty that would most likely not jive too well with the family folks around here.

P.S. You're last little comment is very typical. In the absence of a reasoned and logical response, just say things like that.

Four String-

Being a parent myself, I can see where Onion is coming from. I also agree with your assertion that is a knee-jerk reaction. Would I kill to avenge a wrong done to my children? I would like to think I could, but do not know for certain unless that issue cropped up during my stay on this planet. I hope to never find out. On the other hand, I am damned certain I would kill to protect my children from being harmed if I could see no other way-that blindness either coming from passion, ignorance or the actuality of the situation. Perhaps some combination of all three. I get the feeling that is probably one of the most logical explanations you will hear on the subject. And, by definition, it isn't logical because where our children are concerned parents' reactions run the full gambit of emotion, all the way from destruction to worship. I'd like to think I am more logical in my approach, but that is a highly subjective issue.

On the other hand, could we as parents understand accepting the consequence of our actions should we choose to act on those emotions and our protective instincts? I speak for myself when I answer in the affirmative. Should passion be as much an excuse for killing as a history of being sexually abused should be for committing child molestation or rape? I don't think so.

That brings me back to the topic.

Is the system of laws we have adequately punishing this man for betraying the innocence and unqualified faith the 12 year old boy had in this man? I really don't know. I, too believe it may be a light punishment. Eight years may not be much compared to all the hell the kid may have been through and may yet go through. I am thankful the man will not have the opportunity to do it again for a better part of a decade. But, is our system just biding time?