Marissa Alexander Gets 20 Years For Firing Warning Shot
Writeonwater commenting at Huffington Post
“Mandatory-minimum sentencing laws are an example of the all or nothing thinking that seems to be gaining momentum with our contemporaries.They could be called don’t trust the judge laws.The thinking is archaic and simpleton. Take as an example, if one get’s caught stealing you lose your right hand. If a man steals everything a widow has and she is reduced to starvation he will lose his hand if caught. If she steals some vegetables to feed her kids as a result of the other mans theft she loses her hand too.
Is it justice? Your damn right it is. They are judged by the same standard. Is it fair? Hell no!
One source of the problem is the refusal to reason from particular circumstances and take refuge in a general rule. One of those courses of action requires discrimination, fact finding and weighing principles that may be at odd’s with each other. The alternative lets the work be done by a general rule laid down and enforced by authority that knew nothing (I mean NOTHING) of a current particular case.
Regardless of that authority being public opinion or that of a potentate makes little difference.
How many of us Americans love low effort thinking?”
–By Todd Vickers