Uhh...drinking and driving is not victimless. Many are killed each year by people who do this.
Selling crack? The entire surrounding community is a victim here. It creates violence and so many other problems.
Ignoring how stupid the war on drugs is, and that repeat offenders shouldn't always get life in prison: would you throw a guy in prison for life for punching three different people in the face? (assault)
So a guy sells some crack, and the result of this is punishing him such that it is infinitely harder to do anything OTHER than selling crack. This guy already feels he has enough incentive to sell crack and then is given more incentive. Is anyone surprised he does it again? Was anything ever done to reduce his incentive to sell crack?
Call me a bleeding heart liberal, or call me someone who doesn't want to open his pocketbook to throw money down a sinkhole.
Wasn't there a story a while back about a guy who got his third strike stealing a candy bar? Seems harsh for the specific crime but taken as a whole, three felony convictions pretty much means you are incapable of living in a civilized society.
Well the problem is not all crimes fall into the 3 times = life category.
Anyone that gets to strike two on something like selling crack or say DUI and still does it when facing the next time is life in jail, is a fucking moron plan and simple.
The victims in DUI/DWI are those arrested....MILLIONS of arrests per year and a terribly low amount of deaths and injury for that.
DUI is about revenue though, even the founder of MADD doesn't stand behind the laws now. Limit is far too low and the penalties are financially very high for even a first time arrest.
The problem is statistically it's improbable to impossible, but everyone knows someone personally when this is discussed that was killed as well as somehow knows a person with 3+ DUI's that wasn't penalized.
It's crazy those defending crack dealers and even crazier those trying to say it's just like marijuana.
Crack is one of the drugs that people will kill for due to the addiction it causes. Marijuana only if that person would kill to begin with the addiction is more habitual in nature than taking over one's personality.
That said I think most of the above are teenagers trying to be pro-drug.
or just desperate
write him a letter in jail and ask what his story is?
What would you give them to harvest coal and crops? You can't expect someone with nothing to live for to be trusted with tools. They would just kill each other all day.
You were the one that brought up his desperation.
Do you believe that his financial situation is so desperate that it was worth risking life in prison?
MotionMan
I can't speak for his specific situation but if it was between risking my life or providing for my family, I wouldn't think twice.
Did I miss where the article mentioned a family and his desperate attempts to save them?
You can assume one thing. I will assume the more likely explanation.
MotionMan
No it didn't say that in fact I opened with "I can't speak for his specific situation". Desperation is one reason why people do stupid things, stupidity is another reason. nobody knows his situation.
Byers' prior criminal record includes five drug convictions.
Yeah, we pretty much do.
MotionMan
Well the problem is not all crimes fall into the 3 times = life category.
Anyone that gets to strike two on something like selling crack or say DUI and still does it when facing the next time is life in jail, is a fucking moron plan and simple.
Yeah, we pretty much do.
MotionMan
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14490187
whoa that 3rd strike law ain't no joke. but life without parole? DAYUM!!D:
