Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The reinstitution of banishment

Justice:

  1. A crime is committed by a person or group of people.
  2. This person is brought before a judge and a jury of his peers.
  3. He is tried and judged, and if applicable: sentenced to undergo a punishment.
  4. The person serves his time, repays his debts.
  5. The person is once again a free man.

Well, often there are some additional conditions, you can lose your right to vote or that to own a target rifle, but generally, you do the time and your time is done.

Not so in Manchester New Hampshire where the major seeks to return to the dark ages by effectively banishing a man who has previously served his time. The man, a convicted killer who has been released from prison after serving his 25 year sentence and ten years more, now lives in a boarding house where probation officers intend to monitor him. Mister major demands he be removed and placed elsewhere, in someone else's city.

The major joins the ranks of other countless majors who seek to usurp additional powers, other than those granted by the electorate. He does not want this man, who was already punished for his actions, living in "his" town. "His" town? ... the majors? Isn't it the town of the people who live there?

I have little sympathy for this criminal as a person. He did after all kill somebody, but he also served his time, forfeited a certain amount of civil rights and now he is a free man once more. Free to go and live wherever he pleases. He needs not be punished any further by being bounced forth between nanny statist trying to control his life further.

Furthermore, I find it repulsive that an elected official show such a lack of faith in the justice system! Why doesn't he want that guy around? Does he know something we don't about the effectiveness of prison terms, probation and rehabilitation? Does he intend to openly admit that the prison based justice system doesn't work? If so, does he not have bigger fish to fry than dogging this one old man who just spend 35 years in captivity?

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